For centuries the people who called the circumpolar areas of the globe home have survived and thrived in some of the harshest conditions imaginable. They lived off what God and Mother Nature provided.
Shelters were built to shield families from the elements from primitive materials. Imagine, if you can, building a home capable of enduring a harsh Alaskan winter without making a single trip to Home Depot. Hunting parties tested their patience, endurance and skill against the animals that shared the landscape with them. The byproducts of their hunting also provided the raw materials necessary for clothing to keep them warm and dry.
Their very survival meant always being mentally and physically prepared to face and handle the challenges of daily life. Not being prepared could easily be a death sentence in a beautiful but very unforgiving environment.
The World Eskimo Indian Olympics seeks to be an active link to history by bringing people together to both celebrate and remember the history of a proud culture. 2009 marks the 45th year of the annual World Eskimo Indian Olympics.
So, you think you're tough enough to compete? A few of my favorite events are...
- Seal Hop - This is a game of endurance to pain and a testing of strength. The object is to see how far on can go in a "push-up" position, with elbows bent and knuckles down. The only parts of the body touching the floor are knuckles and toes... It's all I can do to get on my knees on our tile floor to find the ball the dog loves to push under the couch.
- Ear Weight - The weights used in this event are 16 one pound lead ingots, which are threaded through twine. The contestant must loop the twine around one ear and by lifting straight up, without using the cheek, pack the "weight" and go for distance... Imagine carrying that weight (and more) on your ear for up to 2,000 feet!
- One Hand Reach - This game requires the athlete to balance on his/her hands with at least one elbow tucked under the lower abdominal area. The rest of the body is parallel to the floor. The participant will then use one hand to reach up and touch the suspended target. The balance and strength these folks exhibit is amazing.
One of the most anticipated events of the Olympics is the Blanket Toss where a group of people toss the person on the blanket (usually made out of seal pelts) as high as 30 feet into the air. Some say this hearkens back to a time of celebration over a successful hunting season while others claim it was a means of being able to spot game animals at great distance. Regardless, it's an exhilarating event to watch.
Below are a few videos of past WEIO performances...
Join us for the 2009 World Eskimo Indian Olympics July 5th through the 18th at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks. Daytime admission is free! For more information contact WEIO at (907) 452-6646 or by email at weio@weio.org
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