Darlene Hokanak is a coach for Nunavut's Inuit Games team, and hails from Kugluktuk in Nunavut's Western Kitikmeot Region. She was surprised to see that I knew how to spell Kugluktuk, but was not surprised by the success Nunavut has in all the traditional Games. She had high hopes for her girls heading into the Alaskan High Kick final.
I did get to check out the High Kick event last night, and there will be video here before I hit the road. Today, it is my turn to do our "Today in the AWG" for APTN National News, so I need to get out from behind a computer and get out in the field.
I should be able to blog while I'm at it. I mean, Anderson Cooper from CNN blogs DURING his show...
I have this bizarre picture in my head of Larry King scolding me.
"I know Anderson Cooper. Anderson Cooper is a friend of mine. And you sir, are no Anderson Cooper."
I know what I am doing tonight, I'm going to the Alaskan High Kick finals. Just stopped by for a little (after sneaking aboard the VIP van, thanks to a Mayor who shall remain nameless).
For now, just a little taste of what I saw out there. More to follow, it seems exciting. The high kicking in the video below is of the Alaskan variety, and is just the prelims. Legs will fly tonight.
Here comes the pain game. Finger pull looks like it hurts. It is a traditional Dene Game, and kids from all over were ready to try and dislocate each other's fingers.
You don't need to dislocate a finger to win, but it helps. Sportsmanship (or sportswomanship) is a big part of this game. You help each other to your feet when it is done, that part is mandatory. It is a best of three, each side getting a chance on offence and defence. In the case of a tie after two rounds, there is a coin toss, and the winner gets to pick offence or defence... like overtime in the NFL without all the pointless dancing or lousy field goals deciding games.
Like Halifax singer/songwriter Joel Plaskett says, "The reason I like the instrumentals is 'cause they haven't got any words"
So, no more from me on Finger Pull (and no "pull my finger" jokes), just watch the video without any talking by yours truly... enjoy the "instrumental":
Dallayce Smith -- Team Yukon -- must be one of the youngest competitors in the Arctic Winter Games, at the tender age of 12-years-old. She is here for Dene Games, and is having a fantastic time... even though she wouldn't smile for me. I tried everything I had, this young lady would not crack a grin for me.... but she would talk for the blog about her experience in Yellowknife.
They don't give out medals for pin trading, maybe they should. Earlier in this blog, I chatted with the pin-a-holic Mayor of Iqaluit. She said that the pin trading was great, because many of the kids are from small communities and get shy when they go to the AWG's. Pin trading brings them out of their shells. I had two media pins, I gave one to the Mayor. They are rare here, and she was on her way to a full set of official pins. In turn, I got a handful of City of Iqaluit pins.
From left are Don Oyukluk, Kelvin Kotchilea and Joe Audlakiak, and they were in possession of some very rare pin sets. Don't just look, listen, they will tell you about it themselves:
The Arctic Winter Games will begin March 9th to the 15th in Yellowknife, North West Territories Canada. APTN National News will be there. Check here daily for updates and new blog posts.
