Nunavik students use games to promote sports, good health

A vollleyball team competes April 9 a the Nunavik School Games in Kuujjuaraapik. The event drew 200 students from across Nunavik,Whapmaghoostui and Sanikiluaq, to compete in five sporting events. The event ends April 13. (PHOTO/ KSB)

Saali Mangiuk has almost made it to the finish line.

Since April 8, when the Nunavik School Games started in Kuujjuaraapik, the 16-year-old student from Ivujivik has run a six-kilometre race and played many games of basketball, volleyball and soccer.

But Mangiuk saved his best for this week, when he and 11 Ivujivik teammates participated in a floor hockey tournament.

“I love hockey, but I’m a little bit tired,” said Mangiuk, one of 200 students aged 11 to 16 who were at the games.

During the week-long event’s 12-hour days, teams of 12 athletes from every Nunavik community, Whapmagoostui and Sanikiluaq competed in five sports at Kuujjuaraapik’s triple gymnasium.

“It’s fantastic to have this many young people here from all across the region,” said Adam Gardner, who works with the Kativik Regional Government’s recreation department. “I think everyone’s enjoyed their week, but they’re also looking forward to catching up on their sleep. There are a lot of sore muscles.”

The main goal of these games, organized by the Kativik School Board and Nunavik’s health board, was to promote fitness and healthy living, he said.

To this end, booths set up on the sidelines of each sporting event promoted a different health issue, such as good nutrition, sexual health and addictions prevention.

Each community team received a health quiz to fill out at the end of the day.

The team scoring the highest grades on these quizzes will take home the “Health Challenge” cup at the games’ April 13 closing ceremonies, while a “Sports Ethics” cup will be go to the school team showing the best sportsmanship.

Winning aside, 16-year-old Julia Lucassie from Aupaluk said she’s had a fun week competing and spending time with friends.

Lucassie said her months of training paid off — she’s now a strong volleyball server, proud to bring home a bronze medal she picked up in the day-long basketball tournament.