A new venue and a return to in-person competition. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 a recipe of success for the Aboriginal Sports Circle of the NWT and its Traditional Games Championships.

The 2023 edition was held at Sir John Franklin gymnasium from Feb. 10 to 12 with a total of 20 teams doing battle in a mix of Dene games and Arctic sports to win the overall title. In the end, it was William McDonald School which took home the big banner with a total of 33 points scored from all of their events. Mangilaluk School of Tuktoyaktuk finished in second while St. JoeSA国际影视传媒檚 School was third.

Katey Davis, one of William McDonald SchoolSA国际影视传媒檚 coaches, said it was an excited bunch once the final results were revealed.

SA国际影视传媒淭he kids were all sitting on the floor with their fingers crossed,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲hen it was announced, they all jumped up and shouted. I was telling them that it didnSA国际影视传媒檛 matter because they were having fun and learning, but they have that competitive spirit.SA国际影视传媒�

Each of the 20 teams had a roster of four boys and four girls all between the ages of 10 and 12. The teams competed in such events as hand games, pole push, stick pull and the one-foot and two-foot high kicks over the weekend.

Points were given out based on the final results in each event and the team that garnered the most points was declared the winner.

Davis said she felt her students fared best in the kicking events.

SA国际影视传媒淚 know a lot of our boys were in the top-10 or top-12 and we did really good in the stick pull as well,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲e werenSA国际影视传媒檛 a tall team, so some of the strength events were tougher, but we certainly did well in the other ones.SA国际影视传媒�

Davis added that Darren Wicks, the schoolSA国际影视传媒檚 phys-ed teacher, played a big part in why the team did so well as he incorporated traditional games into his curriculum.

Carson Roche, the events manager for the Aboriginal Sports Circle, said everything went as well as it could have.

SA国际影视传媒淲e were coming off of a two-year absence of the in-person competition because of Covid, so I was a bit nervous how it would all work out,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e had four or five teams signed up with about a week to go, but then 10 teams got in on one day. We knew weSA国际影视传媒檇 be in good shape.SA国际影视传媒�

When action began, Roche said it was obvious who had been working on technique.

SA国际影视传媒淵ou could tell which teams had been practising because they had the form down,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淪ome teams were there for the experience, but you have those teams which take this seriously.SA国际影视传媒�

Just to make sure everyone knew what they were doing, some of the officials demonstrated exactly how to do each event before the competition began, he added.

As mentioned, Sir John Franklin was the new venue this year; William McDonald gymnasium had been the venue since the inception.

Roche said making the move meant more room and a better atmosphere.

SA国际影视传媒淲e had the bleachers out and they were full all weekend,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e were able to have more kickstands out; we fed everyone in one venue. The weather was perfect for the outdoor events (snowsnake and pole push).SA国际影视传媒�

William McDonaldSA国际影视传媒檚 victory came with quite the bonus prize as they will now be heading to Juneau, Alaska, to compete in the Traditional Games Alaska event in early April. TheySA国际影视传媒檒l be flying into Juneau from Seattle after getting permission from the Yellowknife Education District No. 1 board to do so.

Davis said the team is practising for that event with some extra attention being given to some disciplines that are new to them.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey play some games over there that we donSA国际影视传媒檛,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭he scissor broad jump is one and the seal hop is another. The seal hop looks a bit like the knuckle hop. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a different area of the North there and whatSA国际影视传媒檚 traditional there may not be traditional here.SA国际影视传媒�