World Eskimo Indian Olympics
Encyclopedia
The World Eskimo-Indian Olympics (or WEIO) is an annual event held over a four-day period in July or August, designed to preserve cultural practices and traditional survival skills
essential to life in circumpolar areas of the world. The WEIO features games rooted in ancestral hunting and survival techniques employed by Native Americans
, as well as dance and storytelling
competitions.
, Fairbanks, Alaska
, as part of the Golden Days
celebration festivities. The event was sponsored by the City of Fairbanks, through the city's Chamber of Commerce.
in Alaska), and several revisions were made. This includes the name change — which inserted "Indian" to better reflect the ethnicity of the participants — and the introduction of events for women. The first decade of the events featured male-only participants; eventually, the number of events which women competed increased. Women now participate in some of the more arduous events, including ear pull
s and high kicks.
Six years later, the WEIO reorganized as a 501(c) non-profit organization
, which took over sponsorship from the newspaper, and has been responsible for plans, preparations, and stagings related to the event.
in 2007 following a successful bid to host the event. WEIO board members were concerned that Fairbanks officials were becoming complacent, and elected to examine other venues.
The general assembly voted to have the games held at the new location earlier that spring.
Survival skills
Survival skills are techniques a person may use in a dangerous situation to save themselves or others...
essential to life in circumpolar areas of the world. The WEIO features games rooted in ancestral hunting and survival techniques employed by Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, as well as dance and storytelling
Storytelling
Storytelling is the conveying of events in words, images and sounds, often by improvisation or embellishment. Stories or narratives have been shared in every culture as a means of entertainment, education, cultural preservation and in order to instill moral values...
competitions.
History
In 1961, the WEIO (formerly World Eskimo Olympics), held its inaugural event held on the banks of the Chena RiverChena River
The Chena River is a 100-mile-long river in the Interior region of the U.S. state of Alaska. It flows generally west from the White Mountains to the Tanana River near the city of Fairbanks, which is built on both sides of the river...
, Fairbanks, Alaska
Fairbanks, Alaska
Fairbanks is a home rule city in and the borough seat of the Fairbanks North Star Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska.Fairbanks is the largest city in the Interior region of Alaska, and second largest in the state behind Anchorage...
, as part of the Golden Days
Fairbanks, Alaska
Fairbanks is a home rule city in and the borough seat of the Fairbanks North Star Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska.Fairbanks is the largest city in the Interior region of Alaska, and second largest in the state behind Anchorage...
celebration festivities. The event was sponsored by the City of Fairbanks, through the city's Chamber of Commerce.
Sponsorship
In 1970, sponsorship of the event was transferred to Tundra Times (a statewide newspaperNewspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
in Alaska), and several revisions were made. This includes the name change — which inserted "Indian" to better reflect the ethnicity of the participants — and the introduction of events for women. The first decade of the events featured male-only participants; eventually, the number of events which women competed increased. Women now participate in some of the more arduous events, including ear pull
Ear pull
The ear pull is a traditional Inuit game which tests the competitors' ability to endure pain. In the ear pull, two competitors sit facing each other, their legs straddled and interlocked. A two-foot-long loop of string, similar to a thick, waxed dental floss, is looped behind their ears,...
s and high kicks.
Six years later, the WEIO reorganized as a 501(c) non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
, which took over sponsorship from the newspaper, and has been responsible for plans, preparations, and stagings related to the event.
Relocation
After four and a half decades of hosting the WEIO in Fairbanks, the games were relocated to Anchorage, AlaskaAnchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
in 2007 following a successful bid to host the event. WEIO board members were concerned that Fairbanks officials were becoming complacent, and elected to examine other venues.
The general assembly voted to have the games held at the new location earlier that spring.
See also
- Arctic Winter GamesArctic Winter GamesThe Arctic Winter Games is an international biennial celebration of circumpolar sports and culture.-Background:The Arctic Winter Games were founded in 1969 under the leadership of Governor Walter J. Hickel of Alaska, Stuart M. Hodgson, Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, and Yukon...
- Nalukataq -- traditional blanket toss celebrations
External links
- Official site
- History of the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics
- World Eskimo-Indian Olympics News article from Indian Country
- Eskimo-Indian Olympics Capture Native Traditions as covered by the NPRNPRNPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
programme, All Things ConsideredAll Things ConsideredAll Things Considered is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio. It was the first news program on NPR, and is broadcast live worldwide through several outlets...