Native Youth Olympics – Exercise and Learning Together for Fun

Each spring, Alaska Natives gather for the Native Youth Olympics to preserve the games and activities of our ancestors. Qutekcak sponsors teams for elementary school, middle and high school youth. Contact us if you want to participate.

Our ancestors used the skills honed during the Native games to become better hunters and fishers. The endurance often helped them with every day survival in their traditional lifestyle. Join the group and learn these skills:

Eskimo Stick Pull—A game of strength. Successful hunters must be able to pull a seal out of the water. This is no easy task while maintaining balance on snow and ice. Hand, back and leg strength are essential.

Wrist Carry—A test of survival. This event has origins based on hunters being able to carry their game back to the village. Hunters had to develop endurance and strength in order to carry the game over a long distance.

One-Hand Reach—A game to test a person’s control over their body. If a hunter was to become lost on water, for example, they must know the skills to control their body in order not to panic and tip their kayak.

Kneel Jump—Similar to the Scissor Broad Jump in that the hunters must develop the skill of quick movement to be successful in jumping from one ice floe to another. This game also develops leg muscles necessary to lift heavy game and carry it back to the village.

Alaskan High Kick—A test of both the mind and body working together to maintain control.

Seal Hop—A game of sheer endurance - to see how far a person can go on pure determination. This game originated from the hunter imitating the movement of a seal during the hunt.