ItSA国际影视传媒檚 no secret the peoples of the Beaufort Delta are tough. But how tough?

How about Aussie rules football tough?

Tunisha Ouvluviac Kikoak, a first-generation descendant of Inuvik, was eligible for the Australian Football Leagues WomenSA国际影视传媒檚 division (AFLW) draft, having spent the better part of her teens developing her skills on the field. The Tasmanian resident is aiming to take her sport to the next level.

SA国际影视传媒淚 nominated myself to go into the draft,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淥n Monday, the 18th of December, the draft was held. I went through that process but didnSA国际影视传媒檛 get drafted, but thereSA国际影视传媒檚 still a lot of other opportunities to be drafted.

SA国际影视传媒淭his is just the beginning. ISA国际影视传媒檓 going to stick to the league that I play in and keep developing.SA国际影视传媒�

Kikoak said she now has her eyes on making an impact during the upcoming AFLW 2024 under 18 championships, where she will join the SA国际影视传媒淓astern Allies.SA国际影视传媒� Players on that team come from a number of Australian states, including Tasmania. There, she will be able to showcase her skills to the top recruiters from across the country and beyond.

Having run the draft gauntlet, Kikoak said sheSA国际影视传媒檚 learned a lot about patience and mental discipline to apply to her sport.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was a long process,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 started getting anxious and really couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 wait. I learned how I react to hard news, but I think resilience and strength carried me through.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 not like any sport. YouSA国际影视传媒檝e got to think, youSA国际影视传媒檝e got to use so many skills,SA国际影视传媒� she added. SA国际影视传媒淭he game can be unpredictable with the weather and the physicality of the game.SA国际影视传媒�

Keeping up to competitive standards takes a lot of training and dedication. Kikoak said she runs seven to 10 kilometres an evening during her preseason conditioning sessions. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 on top of drills and strength training. With the season fast approaching, sheSA国际影视传媒檚 shifted her focus to game-specific training scenarios, training for two-and-a-half hours thrice per week and hitting the gym four times.

Tunisha is daughter of Josh Kikoak, who married her mom Kelly in Inuvik. Tunisha has been a force for her team, the North Melbourne VFLW.

SheSA国际影视传媒檚 been aiming for the top league draft since the fall and while she wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 picked in the first round, sheSA国际影视传媒檚 confident her abilities will land her on a team.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 just focusing on being in my best physical shape,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檒l just play the best I can, and in March I may have the opportunity to get picked up or ISA国际影视传媒檒l re-enter the draft for 2024.SA国际影视传媒�

A Tasmanian-based womenSA国际影视传媒檚 football program is also in the works, with the Australian government announcing funding for developing both a Victorian Football League (VFLW) and AFLW team as of Dec. 19 of last year.

Kicking butt runs in the family. KikoakSA国际影视传媒檚 sister, Lelanni Siqinnaaq Kikoak, is also an avid footballer. She too is hoping to make the jump to the big leagues in a few years. SheSA国际影视传媒檚 joined the newly-minted Tasmanian Devils U18 womenSA国际影视传媒檚 team, which will make its debut in March.

With winter lows bottoming out at 3 C, Tasmania, also referred to as Apple Island, is vastly different from Inuvik. But Kelly Kikoak noted there are some similarities.

On the southern portion of the island, Tunisha noted her team had to travel long distances to compete with other teams, often flying into Melbourne to play for her current team.

Notably, the islandsSA国际影视传媒� isolation from mainland Australia means the cost of living is higher than normal, similar to the isolated North.

SA国际影视传媒淲e do have kangaroos in our back yard,SA国际影视传媒� said Kelly. SA国际影视传媒淓verything gets flown in because itSA国际影视传媒檚 an island. So you see price increases as well.

SA国际影视传媒淲here on the Gold Coast in Queensland we pay $1 for a whole watermelon, so itSA国际影视传媒檚 hard to come down here and a quarter (of a watermelon) is $7. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 frustrating.SA国际影视传媒�

Josh joked that it helps him keep from getting homesick.

SA国际影视传媒淚t reminds me of Inuvik during freeze up and break up,SA国际影视传媒� said Josh. SA国际影视传媒淓verything gets flown in and certain stuff gets bumped off the shelves.SA国际影视传媒�