The sixth annual 2018 Dene Games Summit, showcasing the skills of nearly 200 student athletes from across the Mackenzie Delta region, was held at East Three Secondary School Monday Feb. 12 and Tuesday Feb. 13.

Colin Pybus, lead summit organizer, said the summit is an SA国际影视传媒渁mazing opportunitySA国际影视传媒� for student athletes to showcase skills they donSA国际影视传媒檛 get to use or see very often.

SA国际影视传媒淭he variety and the uniqueness of some of the Arctic sports and the Dene games are not in the traditional sports mind,SA国际影视传媒� Pybus said. SA国际影视传媒淏eing able to live oneSA国际影视传媒檚 culture and compete in that environment, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 so much pride that I, as a non-Indigenous individual, take in watching and seeing it. So I can only imagine the pride and the desire to do games like this, seeing as it is tied to traditional values, to traditional skills that you needed to survive.SA国际影视传媒�

Pybus added that the summit is a great way for communities to connect, given that student athletes from Fort McPherson, Tsiigehtchic, Aklavik, Tuktoyaktuk, Ulukhaktok, Paulatuk, and Newmarket, Ont., were all participating.

SA国际影视传媒淭he kids love being here. There are students from Ulukhaktok that I only see at this event. ISA国际影视传媒檝e seen them, in a way, grow up,SA国际影视传媒� Pybus said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 an awesome opportunity for family and friends to get together and share in this amazing aspect of the two Indigenous cultures that are inherent to the area that we live in.SA国际影视传媒�

Pybus said being able to host the summit every year is a fantastic opportunity for Inuvik.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 very proud to be able to host and showcase our school and the community of Inuvik for everybody,SA国际影视传媒� Pybus said.

However, he noted running this event is becoming more difficult because of funding considerations.

SA国际影视传媒淲e were facing a $25,000 shortfall at the beginning of this year, which has been made up generously through donations,SA国际影视传媒� Pybus said. SA国际影视传媒淭he biggest hit that we took going into this year was the dissolution of the Beaufort Delta Sahtu Recreation Association (BDSRA). With BDSRA not functioning currently in a funding capacity, we were falling short of the funding dollars that usually came in.SA国际影视传媒�

Pybus said he was considering making some budget cuts in October and November of last year, but the necessary funding was pulled together to make the event happen. The summit was funded by Municipal and Community Affairs, the Beaufort Delta Education Council, the Inuvik District Education Authority, as well as some of the community district education authorities, the Inuvik Justice Committee, and the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and the GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Tribal Council.

SA国际影视传媒淲e appreciate all of those donations to make an event like this possible. We are always facilitating new partnerships to help with funding,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淎 huge thank you to our sponsors, to the chaperones, to the communities for letting us have their students for a couple days and having the trust in us to take care of them.SA国际影视传媒�

Donald Kuptana, one of the officials at the summit, said over the last few years students have been improving their technique and skills.

SA国际影视传媒淎thletes have gotten better at the technical part of it. They can kick a little bit higher, theySA国际影视传媒檙e a little bit stronger, theySA国际影视传媒檙e learning techniques, so itSA国际影视传媒檚 taking a little bit longer to do the games, which is great,SA国际影视传媒� Kuptana said. SA国际影视传媒淲e want them to be walking away from these games, and coming back, and wanting to do better.SA国际影视传媒�

He said participating in the games is important for students to continue to develop personally and athletically.

SA国际影视传媒淭he best thing about these games is the camaraderie between the kids to help each other,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 the best thing I see, and theySA国际影视传媒檙e making a healthy choice to be participating in the games, and theySA国际影视传媒檙e building confidence, too.SA国际影视传媒�