Eighth annual Traditional Games to kick off this weekend in Juneau

The eighth annual Traditional Games will kick off this Friday in Juneau for athletes from 25 teams across Alaska, Canada and the Lower 48.

More than 270 middle school, high school, college and adult athletes from more than 20 communities will compete in 12 events that are based on ancient hunting and survival skills of Indigenous people.

The event will feature visiting teams from Seattle and Whitehorse and from across Alaska, including Hoonah, Metlakatla, Ketchikan, Sitka, Petersburg, Kake, Klawock, Thorne Bay, Anchorage, Seward, Sterling, Homer, Chickaloon Village, Utqiagvik and Nome. Students will represent teams from across the University of Alaska system, as well as Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado and the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Sante Fe, New Mexico.

It will also feature Juneau teams from Dzántik’i Héeni Middle School, Floyd Dryden Middle School, Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé, Thunder Mountain Middle School, Yaaḵoosgé Daakahídi High School, University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) and the Tlingit Culture, Language and Literacy Program.

The games are different from most other sports in that athletes competing against one another in the same events also encourage each other to reach new personal bests. Coaches give helpful tips and guidance to athletes from opposing teams.

The result is an uncommon comradery and respect among athletes who find a new network of supporters and friends through the games.

The free event is scheduled from 5:30 pm-8:45 pm on Friday, April 4; 9 am-6:30 pm on Saturday, April 5; and 9 am-6 pm on Sunday, April 6 at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. Event organizers are looking for volunteers. To volunteer, contact Coach Kyle Worl at kworl@tlingitandhaida.gov or 907.227.4998.

The games will be livestreamed from noon to 6 pm, Saturday, April 5, and from noon to 6 pm, Sunday, April 6, on Sealaska Heritage Institute’s YouTube channel which will be accessible through the Traditional Games website. Spectators are also welcome to attend in person at Juneau-Douglas Yadaa.at Kalé High School at 1639 Glacier Ave. in Juneau.

Athletes who have questions should contact Coach Kyle Worl at kworl@tlingitandhaida.gov or 907.227.4998.

About Traditional Games

The Traditional Games include a variety of athletic events that test skills of strength, agility, balance, endurance and focus. These games are based on hunting and survival skills of the Indigenous peoples of Alaska and across the Arctic going back hundreds of years. Athletes strive to perform at their personal best while helping and supporting their fellow competitors, no matter what team they represent. This is the spirit of the games: to work together toward common goals and learn from the skills and values that have allowed Alaska Native people to survive and thrive in some of the harshest conditions.

Sponsors and Partners

The Traditional Games and Juneau’s NYO teams are a community collaboration made possible by the following major sponsors:

• One Foot High Kick Level
  • Central Council Tlingit & Haida 
  • Sealaska 
  • Sealaska Heritage Institute 
  • Charlotte Martin Foundation
    
    
• Two Foot High Kick Level
  • Select Physical Therapy
  • University of Alaska Southeast
    
    
• Alaskan High Kick Level
  • Juneau Community Foundation’s Blackwell Fund
  • Travel Juneau
  • Coffman Engineer
    
    
• One Hand Reach Level
  • Trickster Company
  • Pat Tynan & Rick Harris
  • Byron Mallott Memorial
    
    
• Partners
  • Juneau School District 
  • UAS Wooch.Een
  • Zach Gordon Youth Services

Sealaska Heritage Institute is a tribal organization founded in 1980 to perpetuate and enhance Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian cultures of Southeast Alaska. SHI also conducts scientific and public policy research that promotes Alaska Native arts, cultures, history and education statewide. The institute is governed by a Board of Trustees and guided by a Council of Traditional Scholars, a Native Artist Committee and a Southeast Regional Language Committee.

CONTACT: Therese Pokorney, SHI Communications Officer, therese.pokorney@sealaska.com; Kyle Worl, Director of the Traditional Games Competition/Coach, 907.227.4998, kworl@tlingitandhaida.gov.