The NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 Dene games team for the 2024 Arctic Winter Games has been selected, and for the first time ever, an open womenSA国际影视传媒檚 category will be included.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 the first time theySA国际影视传媒檝e had an open womenSA国际影视传媒檚 category, so itSA国际影视传媒檚 quite a historical event,SA国际影视传媒� said Shawna McLeod, one of four women to earn a spot in the new category. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 really excited. My sisterSA国际影视传媒檚 actually representing Yukon for the Dene games open women category. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 really cool that weSA国际影视传媒檙e able to come together through Dene games again and compete and celebrate this wonderful, historical time for women in Dene games.SA国际影视传媒�
Theresa Lynn, another team member, added, SA国际影视传媒淭he men had an open males division for I donSA国际影视传媒檛 know how many years now, so it works out perfectly now because the women are finally able to compete. There are a lot of women that I know that competed when they were younger, but now theySA国际影视传媒檙e able to come back and join the games as an adult.SA国际影视传媒�
The 2024 Arctic Winter Games (AWG) are scheduled for March 10 to 16, 2024 in AlaskaSA国际影视传媒檚 Mat-Su Valley.
Tryouts for the NWT Dene games team occurred at the recreation centre in Fort Simpson from Dec. 15 to 17.
According to McLeod, who was also volunteering at the tryouts, 64 athletes showed up from all over the territory to vie for spots in one of four age categories split between genders.
Participants competed in stick pull, snow snake and finger pull SA国际影视传媒� all traditional games SA国际影视传媒� with the highest four scorers in each category earning a spot on the team.
SA国际影视传媒淚t was all individual events,SA国际影视传媒� said McLeod. SA国际影视传媒淥nce youSA国际影视传媒檙e selected for the team, at the Arctic Winter Games, youSA国际影视传媒檙e expected to do pole push as a team and hand games as a team [as well].SA国际影视传媒�
A Dene and M茅tis citizen who was born in Fort Providence but now lives in Fort Simpson, McLeod has been practising Dene games she was about 14, and will bring a significant amount of experience to the 2024 AWG.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e been to a couple of Arctic Winter Games,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 participated in the Youth Ambassador Program as sort of a Dene games rep at the 2010 Olympics. I went to Los Angeles with NWT Tourism to do Dene games demonstrations, and then I worked with the Aboriginal Sports Circle (of the NWT) developing the Dene games (territorial sport organization).
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e got lots of experience with Dene games.SA国际影视传媒�
Lynn, a Yellowknives Dene First Nation member who works as a recreation coordinator in Dettah, will be competing at the AWG for the first time. She didnSA国际影视传媒檛 initially intend to try out for the Dene games team, but after helping area youth practice for several weeks, she decided it was worth a shot.
Despite her inexperience, she ended up setting the highest score for the open womenSA国际影视传媒檚 category in snow snake at 252 feet.
SA国际影视传媒淚 just set (the record) SA国际影视传媒� ISA国际影视传媒檓 sure there will be lots of people breaking it down the road,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
McLeod and Lynn will be joined in the open womenSA国际影视传媒檚 division by Lydia Nelner from Fort Simpson and Courtney Charlie from Aklavik. With a blend of experience and raw talent on the team, both women are optimistic the NWT will perform well in Dene games at the 2024 AWG.
SA国际影视传媒淥ur team, for the open womenSA国际影视传媒檚 category, weSA国际影视传媒檝e got a really strong team,SA国际影视传媒� said McLeod. SA国际影视传媒淎ll of the other divisions as well, they competed hard and worked really hard to make it to the top, and the top four are all really strong in each category.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 excited for sure,SA国际影视传媒� added Lynn. SA国际影视传媒淚 definitely need to get some more training in now that ISA国际影视传媒檝e made the team. The other women ISA国际影视传媒檓 competing with have gone to the games before, and they know what theySA国际影视传媒檙e doing, so ISA国际影视传媒檓 definitely going to learn from them and also the coaches.SA国际影视传媒�
