W.E.I.O.

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WEIO History

World Eskimo-Indian  Olympics

Summer visitors have a chance to see the four-day World Eskimo-Indian Olympics held in mid-July in Fairbanks. Natives from Alaska, the Pacific Northwest & Canada gather to compete in traditional athletic competitions (which include some unusual ones like ear-pulling, knuckle hop, high kick and the nalukatak [blanket toss], where age and wisdom often defeat youth and strength), games and dances.

The Olympics open on the first day at 6 p.m. with the Race of the Torch, a 5-kilometer road race. Male and female winners earn the honor of lighting the  WEIO torch for that year. Each year a Miss Weio is crowned. There are events scheduled all day Wednesday through Saturday, Free to the public. There is a charge for evening events (box  office opens at 6 p.m.) Traditional Native dancers perform throughout the games and each night.

The event usually includes a native "potlatch", sort of a pot luck supper with traditional native foods, perhaps including Eskimo Ice Cream.

Miss WEIO 2005, 
Gussie Ivanoff
(Miss Arctic Native Brotherhood,
from Unalakleet)

The W.E.I.O. will be at the Carlson Center this year. For dates and times, check our Calendar, July.  For more information, call (907) 452-6646. If you miss it in July, they have rented cabin #26 at Pioneer Park, where you can get some authentic native arts and crafts.

History

We discovered so much information on the history of the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics that we had to make a separate page on the history of the event.

WARNING: This is a major event in Fairbanks, occurring in the same time period as Golden Days, and rooms are at a premium, so early reservations are a must.

Cost (updated 2006)

Daily Admission:

bulletChildren 4+ Under FREE
bulletYouth 5-15 $ 8.00 (with Parent supervision)
bullet Adults 16-60 $10.00
bulletSeniors 61+ $ 8.00
bulletAdult Season Pass:  $35.00 ($5.00 savings)
bulletYouth Season Pass: $27.00 ($5.00 savings)

Note: The charges are for evening sessions - there is no charge for  the daytime events. See more information at this site (see link in next paragraph).

Events

For more information on tickets and a download link for their schedule of events, go here.

To give you an idea of what happens at the Olympics, we have made a page describing them. Here is a list of the events, along with the record holders:

ALASKA HIGH KICK: MEN: Jesse Frankson 7'9" 2002 AWG
WOMEN: Donna Elliot 6'1" 1994 WEIO
ONE-FOOT HIGH KICK (Canadian Style): MEN: Brian Randazzo 9'6" 1988 AWG
Jesse Frankson 9'6" 2002 AWG
WOMEN: Ingrid Green 7'8" 1988 AWG
ONE-FOOT HIGH KICK (Alaska Style):

MEN:Brian Randazzo 8'10" 1986 AWG and Steve Coulsen 8'10" 1986 AWG
WOMEN: Candace Parker 7' 1989 NYO

TOE KICK: MEN: George Curran 7'8" 1980 NYO
WOMEN: Luanna Penatak 6'9" 1986 WEIO
ONE-HAND REACH: 

MEN: Bon Tate 5'5" 1986 WEIO
and Ralph Clairmont 5'5" 1991 NYO
WOMEN: Audrey Smith 4'11" 1995 NYO
Elizabeth Rexford 4'11" 2001 WEO

KNEEL JUMP:  MEN: Don G. Ayalik 5'3" 1988 KNG
WOMEN: Eleanor Matthias 4'5" 1993 NYO
KNUCKLE HOP: MEN: Rodney Worl 191'10" 1988 AWG
WOMEN: Louise Charles 45' 1984 WEIO
SEAL HOP:  MEN: Clinton Johnson 160'2 1/8" 1987 NYO
WOMEN: Shawna Nicholson 159'4" 1997 NYO
ESKIMO STICK PULL:  MEN: Robert "Big Bob" Aiken, Jr. 6 gold medals 1982-7 WEIO
WOMEN: Chugie Keller 4 gold medals 1982-5 WEIO
and Drena McIntyre 4 gold medals 1986-9 WEIO
TWO-FOOT HIGH KICK:

MEN: Brian Randazzo 8'8" 1988 AWG
WOMEN: Nicole Johnson 6'6" 1989 WEIO

SCISSORS BROAD JUMP: MEN: Stanley Swetzoff 36'6" 1991 NYO
WOMEN: Christina Long 28'9" 1997 NYO
INDIAN STICK PULL: MEN: Robert "Big Bob" Aiken, Jr. 7 gold medals WEIO
WOMEN: Chugie Keller 4 gold medals NYO
RACE OF THE TORCH: MEN: William Roland 5 wins 1980-4 WEIO
WOMEN: Julie Jones fastest time 1984 WEIO
(Top time 2001 WEIO was Stuart Grant, 18:19, and La-ona DeWilde-Lydic, 19:46.)
BLANKET TOSS (Nulakatuk): MEN: Reggie Joule 10 gold medals WEIO
WOMEN: Jenny Felder 3 gold medals WEIO
FOUR MAN CARRY: OPEN: Homer Lord 187' 1997 WEIO
EAR WEIGHT CONTEST: OPEN: Michael Paulsen 2,886'10" 1998 WEIO
FISH CUTTING CONTEST: OPEN: Rhoda Nageak 3 wins WEIO
DROP THE BOMB: MEN: Jeff Maupin 266' 1987 WEIO
WOMEN: Lady Lareaux 102' 1982 WEIO
GREASED POLE WALK: MEN: Gene Andrew 13'6" 1981 WEIO
WOMEN: Louise Charles 8'7" 1982 WEIO 
and Doris Ahgeak 8'7" 1982 WEIO
MUKTUK EATING CONTEST: OPEN: Rossman Peetook 3 gold medals WEIO
(Janie Snyder took first in 2001 WEIO with 1:12).
SEAL SKINNING CONTEST: OPEN: Rhoda Nageak 57 seconds 1967 WEIO
ESKIMO DANCE TEAM COMPETITION: OPEN: The Barrow Dancers 14 gold medals WEIO
INDIAN DANCE TEAM COMPETITION: OPEN: The Minto Dancers 10 gold medals WEIO
EAR PULL: MEN: Robert Okpeaha, Jr. WEIO
WOMEN: Asta Keller WEIO
ARM PULL: MEN: Robert "Big Bob" Aiken, Jr. WEIO
WOMEN: Drena McIntyre WEIO
Key: WEIO=World Eskimo-Indian Olympics

NYO=Native Y0uth Olympics

AWG=Arctic Winter Games

KNG=Kitimeot Northern Games of Canada

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