Started in 1972, the NYO Games, previously known as the Native Youth Olympics, includes 10 events based on games past generations of Alaska Native people played as a way to test their hunting and survival skills, increase strength and maintain endurance, agility and the balance of mind and body. The Eskimo stick pull, for instance, is based on a strengthening exercise that Native hunters would do to prepare themselves for pulling seals out of the water. Although events are based on traditional Alaska Native activities, the competition is open to all Alaska students from seventh to 12th grade, regardless of ethnicity. – from Anchorage.net
I love the Native Youth Olympics. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the unique and wonderful Alaskan heritage and Alaskan school kids. I bet they had a blast!
Big Congrats to everyone who participated- Especially, hometown Valdez girl, Marian Wamsley. She set a WORLD RECORD in the one-toe high kick.
ADN Coverage: Native Youth Olympics kick off today: Arctic Games | Alaska news at adn.com. and ADN Photos: Native Youth Olympics 2012: Nyo | Alaska news at adn.com
Cook Inlet Tribal Council – NYO main page and official information
Pamyua played a concert:
The Native Youth Olympics Events:
- Seal Hop
- One-Foot High Kick
- Indian Stick Pull
- Two-Foot High Kick
- One Hand Reach (Aisa Pirti of Puvirnituq during the Arctic Winter Games 2012)
- Toe Kick (if you have a video, please share the link in a comment)
- Eskimo Stick Pull
- Alaskan High Kick
- Wrist Carry
- Kneel Jump
The Results of the 2012 Native Youth Olympics!
Thank you Cook Inlet Tribal Council
Kneel Jump – Female
1st Apaay Campbell, BSSD, 50 1/2″
2nd Kendall Dray, Dillingham, 44 1/2″
3rd Jordan Kashatok, LKSD, 44 1/4″
4th Autumn Ridley, ANCA, 43 1/4″
5th Molly Norback, MEHS, 41 1/4″
Kneel Jump – Male
1st Austin Sundown, Anchorage Team B, 61 3/4″
2nd Dylan Magnusen, Unalaska, 60″
3rd Yako McCarr, LKSD, 57 1/2″
4th Steven Ahvakana, Anchorage Team A, 53 1/2″
5th Martin Gardiner, Dillingham, 51 1/2″
Wrist Carry – Female
1st Jorden Lisak, Dillingham, 373′ 4 1/2″
2nd Samantha Ishnook, SWRSD, 307′
3rd Amanda Burke, Mat-Su, 282′
4th Rizalie Rollin, Unalaska, 259′ 8″
5th Elena Evan, LKSD, 251′ 8″
Wrist Carry – Male
1st Daniel Miller, Dillingham, 593′ 4 1/2″
2nd Jacob McAnulty, Mat-Su Team B, 488′ 1/2″
3rd Aaron Ulroan, Chevak, 481′ 7 1/2″
4th Solomon Nashookpuk, Pt. Hope, 469′
5th David Chagluak, LKSD, 424′ 9″‘
Alaskan High Kick – Female
1st Autumn Ridley, Anchorage Team A, 82″ (New World Record)
2nd Kaley Rolf, Dillingham, 77″
3rd Chinace Egoak, LKSD, 73″
4th Raven Phillips, Aniak, 68″
5th Tahnee Esparzam, BSSD, 68″
Alaskan High Kick – Male
1st Yako McCarr, LKSD, 93″ (Tied State Record)
2nd Andrew Demientieff, Anchorage Team A, 90″
3rd Daniel Adams, Mat-Su, 86″
4th Austin Sundown, Anchorage Team B, 86″
5th Everdan Sugabo, Unalaska, 84″
Eskimo Stick Pull – Female
1st Mariam Wamsley, Valdez
2nd Mesa Rohrer, Gilson
3rd Shalisa F., Anchorage Team B
4th Amber Shields, Anchorage Team A
5th Kaity Wasillie, Bristol Bay
Eskimo Stick Pull – Male
1st Dalton Beatie, Mat-Su Team A
2nd Travis Turgiuna, SWRSD
3rd Jaylin Prince, MEHS
4th Lonner McConnell, Unalaska
5th Johnathan Wilson, Kenaitze
Toe Kick – Female
1st Raven Phillips, Aniak, 76″ (New State Record) Video interview with her from the 2011 NYO
2nd Renee Romer, MEHS, 58″ 3m/50
3rd Alecia Egoak, LKSD, 58″ 4m/50
4th Jonisha Wilson, BSSD, 58″ 6m/38
5th Rebekah Sawers, LYSD, 58″ 8m/50
Toe Kick – Male
1st Michael Charles, LKDS, 90″
2nd Chris Undbo, Anchorage Team A, 85″
3rd Michael Kanuk, Nenana, 84″
4th Kevin Horton, Mat-Su Team A, 76″ 2m
5th Forest Strick, Mat-Su Team B, 76″ 3m
One Hand Reach – Female
1st Revie Tony, LKSD, 59″
2nd Brittany Akaren, MEHS, 58″
3rd Kristen Smecten, Dillingham, 58″ 1m
4th Rebecca Brink, BRHS, 54″ 1m @ 54″
5th Chelsea Morrow, Burchell, 54″ 1m @ 50″
One Hand Reach – Male
1st Jeremy Andrew, LKSD, 65″
2nd Dennis Wilson, Dillingham, 64″
3rd Douglas Krukoff, Unalaska, 63″
4th Andrew Demientieff, Anchorage Team !, 62″
5th Vance Gregory, Mat-Su Team B, 62″ 1m
Two-Foot High Kick – Female
1st Autumn Ridley, Anchorage Team A, 75″
2nd Tahnee Esparza, BSSD, 73″
3rd Frederica Shaeffer, Mat-Su Team A, 67″
4th Kendall Dray, Dillingham, 67″ 1m
5th Teresa Korn, McGrath, 66″ 2m
Two-Foot High Kick – Male
1st Andrew Demientieff, Anchorage Team A, 94″
2nd Austin Sumdum, Anchorage Team B, 94″ 1m
3rd Kevin Brown, LKSD, 90″ 1m
4th Stuart Towarak, BSSD, 90″ 3m
5th Donavan Phillips, MEHS, 90″ 6m
Indian Stick Pull – Female
1st Olivia Shields, Anchorage Team B
2nd Deborah Hersrud, NWA BSD
3rd Summer Ulroan, Chevak
4th Christina Glenzel, KP NYO
5th Lori Paul, LKSD
Indian Stick Pull – Male
1st Mike McCain, Valdez
2nd Randy Standur, Tebughah
3rd Forrest Strick, Mat-Su Team A
4th Charles Teer, Lathrop
5th Daniel Ballais, Mat-Su Team B
One-Foot High Kick – Female
1st Marion Wamsley, Valdez, 92″ (New World Record)
2nd Autumn Ridley, Anchorage Team A, 87″
3rd Tahnee Esparza, BSSD, 82″
4th Jordan Lisac, Dillingham, 80″
5th Ashley Apangolook, Mat-Su Team A, 79″
One-Foot High Kick – Male
1st Stuart Towarak, BSSD, 112″ – Video of the winning effort
2nd Jens Irelan, Nome, 106″
3rd Andrew Demientieff, Anchorage Team A, 104″
4th William Byrd, Mat-Su Team A, 104″ 1m
5th Donovan Phillip, MEHS, 104″ 2m
Seal Hop – Female
1st Dajan Treder, Anchorage Team A, 160′ 9 1/4″
2nd Teresa Korn, McGrath, 128′ 4 3/4″
3rd Kristin Smetchen, Dillingham, 126′ 9 1/4″
4th Haley O’Brien, Bethel, 123′ 9 1/4″
5th Megan Friday, LKSD, 118′ 5 3/4″
Seal Hop – Male
1st Michael Kanuk, Nenana, 139′ 5″
2nd Demck Black, Galena, 133′ 9 1/2″
3rd Fabian Pete, LYSD, 121′ 3 3/4″
4th Eddie Chuchkwurk, LKSD, 120′
5th Wigberto Gonzalez, Mat-Su Team A, 118′ 11″
Records set at this year’s NYO games!
One-Foot High Kick – Female
1st Marion Wamsley, Valdez, 92″ (New World Record)
Alaskan High Kick – Female
1st Autumn Ridley, Anchorage Team A, 82″ (New World Record)
Alaskan High Kick – Male
1st Yako McCarr, LKSD, 93″ (Tied State Record)
Toe Kick – Female
1st Raven Phillips, Aniak, 76″ (New State Record) – Video interview with her from the 2011 NYO