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.

This year, the Race of the Torch, a 5-kilometer road race, does not open the Olympics, but takes place instead at 4 p.m..  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. 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 (last updated 2006)

Daily Admission:

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 (from their list)

2008 Games

 Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Daytime events free admission 

2-5pm    Arts & Crafts

10:00am    ATHLETE REGISTRATION

11:00am    TOE KICK - Finals                           

12:00pm    KNEEL JUMP – Finals

2:00pm      ONE HAND REACH – Preliminaries

4:00pm      RACE OF THE TORCH

Evening               ( Adults $10, Elders & Students $8  )

6-10pm Arts & Crafts

6:00pm                 WELCOME – Marching of the Dance Contestants & Athletes, Native Veterans Color Guard

                              Permission to host games on Athabascan Lands - TBD

Invocation

National Anthem

                              Proclamations:

                              Welcome Address from Mayor

                              Recognition of Dignitaries

                              Lighting of the Seal Oil Lamps – Recognition of Lamp Tenders

                              Sponsorship Recognition

                              MEDALS CEREMONY – Race of the Torch, Kneel Jump, Toe Kick Demonstration

                              WOMEN’S BLANKET TOSS – Preliminaries

                              Dance Performance

                              Miss World Eskimo Indian Olympics Pageant Intro & Talent Show

                              Dance Performance

                              ONE HAND REACH – Finals/Medals Ceremony

                              FISH CUTTING CONTEST – Finals/Medals Ceremony
                                                                                     (depending on availability of fish)

                              Dance Performance

                              4 MAN CARRY – Finals/Medals Ceremony

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Daytime events,  free admission 

2-5pm               Arts & Crafts

9:30am             ATHLETE REGISTRATION

10:00am           ESKIMO STICK PULL – Finals

12:00pm           ALASKAN HIGH KICK – Preliminaries

2:00pm             GREASED POLE WALK– Finals/Medals Ceremony (Outdoors conditions permitting)

3:00pm             NATIVE BABY CONTEST (Skin, Fur & Cloth)

 Evening                Adults $10, Elders & Students $8

6-10pm               Arts & Crafts

6:00pm              Dance Performance

                              ESKIMO STICK PULL, FOUR MAN CARRY– Demonstrations/Medals Ceremony

                              NATIVE BABY CONTEST – Parade & Awards

                              ALASKAN HIGH KICK – Finals/Medals Ceremony

                              Dance Performance

                              MEN’S BLANKET TOSS - Preliminaries    

Miss World Eskimo Indian Olympics – Impromptu Speeches

                              Dance Performance

                              MUKTUK EATING CONTEST - Finals/Medals Ceremony

 Friday, July 18, 2008

Daytime events,  free admission

2-5pm                     Arts & Crafts

9:30am                 ATHLETE REGISTRATION

10:00am               INDIAN STICK PULL – Finals      

12:00pm                TWO FOOT HIGH KICK – Preliminaries

2:00pm                 EAR PULL – Finals

3:00pm                 NATIVE REGALIA CONTEST (Skin, Fur & Cloth)

 Evening    (Adults $10, Elders & Students $8 ) 

6-10pm                Arts & Crafts

6:00pm               Dance Performance

                              INDIAN STICK PULL & EAR PULL – Demonstrations/Medals Ceremony

                              TWO FOOT HIGH KICK – Finals/Medals Ceremony

                              NATIVE REGALIA CONTEST – Parade & Awards

WOMEN’S BLANKET TOSS - Finals/Medals Ceremony

                              Dance Performance

                              Miss World Eskimo Indian Olympics – Coronation

Dance Performance

                              SEAL SKINNING CONTEST – depending on seals available

DROP THE BOMB – Finals/Medals Ceremony

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Daytime events,  free admission

2-5pm                    Arts & Crafts

9:30am                 ATHLETE REGISTRATION

10:00am               ARM PULL – Finals

12:00pm               ONE FOOT HIGH KICK (Canadian Style) – Preliminaries

2:00pm                 SCISSOR BROAD JUMP-Finals

3:30pm                 General Membership Meeting

                               Board Elections

Membership Comments

 Evening                Adults $10, Elders & Students $8

6-10pm                 Arts & Crafts

 6:00pm                Athletes/Dancers Entry as 1 Group

                              Alaska Flag Song-Group: TBD

                              ARM PULL & SCISSOR BROAD JUMP – Demonstrations/Medals Ceremony

                              Dance Performance

                              ONE FOOT HIGH KICK (Canadian Style)– Finals/Medals Ceremony

                              MEN’S BLANKET TOSS – Finals/Medals Ceremony

                              Dance Performance

                              EAR WEIGHT – Finals/Medals Ceremony

                              Dance Performance

                              KNUCKLE HOP - Finals/Medals Ceremony

                              DANCE GROUP COMMAND PERFORMANCE

                              Closing of the Games 

NOTES: 

Ø      “OPENING CEREMONY” only on first night.

Ø      “CLOSING CEREMONY” on last night consists of AK Flag Song and brief Thank You from the Board.

Ø      WHITE MAN vs. NATIVE WOMEN TUG-O-WAR would be a ‘floating’ event, to be held on any night as time allows or, if necessary, omitted.

Ø      All evening athletic events will warm-up/check-in/line-up during the prior event.  This way, athletes will be ready to go right into the competition, can start at a higher mark and take less time to the finish.

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:

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