2023 Arctic Winter Games in photos

Athletes at the Arctic Winter Games gather before the opening ceremonies on Jan. 29 at MacDonald Island Park. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Mary Jane Alaku, a table tennis player, carries the flag for Team Nunavik at the opening ceremony of the Arctic Winter Games in Wood Buffalo, Alta., on Jan. 29. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Team Nunavut’s flag-bearer, basketball player Haley Hachey, leads her team into the opening ceremony of the Arctic Winter Games in Wood Buffalo, Alta., on Jan. 29. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Halluci Nation perform at the opening ceremony of the Arctic Winter Games on Jan. 29 in Wood Buffalo, Alta. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

The cauldron is lit at the Arctic Winter Games in Wood Buffalo, Alta. on Jan. 29. The flame was carried into the outdoor stadium by a dog sled team. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Premier P.J. Akeeagok watches Team Nunavut's curling teams on Monday at the Arctic Winter Games alongside parents of some of the competitors. From left to right: Kyle Sheppard, Akeeagok, Kirt Ejesiak andJeff MacDonald, who were there to support their children Aubrey Sheppard, Naja Ejesiak and Sophia MacDonald. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Team Nunavut hurries hard on the curling rink a the Arctic Winter Games on Monday. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Team Nunavut hurries hard on the curling rink a the Arctic Winter Games on Monday. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

The most coveted souvenirs at the Arctic Winter Games are not T-shirts or toques, but trading pins. And when athletes and spectators want to add to their collections, they go see the pin lady, Janet Pacey. Pacey said she got hooked on pin trading years ago and has been bringing her massive pin collection to Arctic Winter Games throughout the years. It’s a popular attraction at the Games: the goal is to collect pins from other competing regions and add to your set. “Some kids come here 10 times a day [to get new pins,]” Pacey laughed. “It’s a lot of fun.” (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Kadin Eetuk of Rankin Inlet, wearing No. 16 for Team Nunavut, chases the puck in the male under-19 hockey game against Team Yukon on Monday at MacDonald Island Park at the Arctic Winter Games in Wood Buffalo, Alta. Team Nunavut skated away with a 2-1 victory on goals from Terence Pilakapsi and Sandy Tattuinee. Garren Voisey picked up an assist for Nunavut. The under-19 male team has a record of one win and one loss after falling 6-3 Monday against Alberta North, before heading into a game late Tuesday against Alaska. Nunavut also has male under-15 and female under-20 hockey teams competing at the Games. Full results are posted on the Games website. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Team Nunavut rushed to the net in their hockey game against Team Yukon on Monday at MacDonald Island Park at the Arctic a Winter Games in Wood Buffalo, Alta. Team Nunavut skated away with a win finishing 2-1. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Fans cheer on Team Nunavut at the male team’s hockey game against Team Yukon on Monday at MacDonald Island Park at the Arctic a Winter Games in Wood Buffalo, Alta. Team Nunavut skated away with a win finishing 2-1. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Nunavut athletes for the Arctic Sports team train at the Arctic Winter Games in Alberta. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Marty Anaittuq of Team Nunavut attempts the triple jump in Arctic sports at the Arctic Winter Games in Alberta. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Aloupa Watt of Team Nunavik attempts the triple jump on Monday at MacDonald Island Park at the Artic Winter Games in Wood Buffalo, Alta. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Aidan-Kuutirq Qaunaq from Team Nunavut attempts the triple jump in Arctic sports at the Arctic Winter Games. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

James Qajaaqjuaq Tautu of Team Nunavut Arctic sports shakes the hands of officials before attempted the triple jump at the Arctic Winter Games. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Sammy Kaitak of Nunavik (right) battles for control in Stick Pull, one of several Dene game events at the Arctic Winter Games on Monday in Wood Buffalo, Alta. Kaitak went on to win a silver ulu medal in the event. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Naja Pearce attempts the two-foot high kick, one of several Arctic sports she'll be competing in at the Arctic Winter Games. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Team Yukon's cultural contingent performs at MacDonald Island Park at the Arctic Winter Games. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Team Nunavut (in yellow) plays in mixed doubles table tennis at the Arctic Winter Games. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Team Nunavut's female futsal team races for the ball against Team Sapmi on Tuesday at the Syncrude Wellness Centre in Wood Buffalo, Alta for the Arctic Winter Games. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Team Nunavut's female volleyball face off against Team Northwest Territories on Tuesday at the Arctic Winter Game sin Wood Buffalo. Competing cheers of "N-U!" and "N-T!" from fans in the crowd kept the energy high throughout the match, NT walked away with the win at 3-1. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Team Nunavut's female volleyball face off against Team Northwest Territories on Tuesday at the Arctic Winter Game sin Wood Buffalo. Competing cheers of "N-U!" and "N-T!" from fans in the crowd kept the energy high throughout the match, NT walked away with the win at 3-1. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Jonah Kunilusie of Team Nunavut competes in the mixed team wrestling event on Tuesday against Team Alberta North at the Syncrude Wellness Centre in Wood Buffalo. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Team Nunavut competes in the mixed team wrestling event on Tuesday against Team Alberta North at the Syncrude Wellness Centre in Wood Buffalo. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Futsal assistant coach Shawna Kyak (left) and coach Colby O'Donnell say Nunavut has a wealth of sports talent. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Volleyball coach Bev Netusil (left) and co-captain Alyson McKay of Rankin Inlet smile ahead of their second game on Tuesday at the Arctic Winter Games in Wood Buffalo. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Arctic Winter Games mascot Nitotem the Lynx braves the cold to support the snowshoe athletes early Wednesday morning. Nitotem is a Cree word that means "my friend." (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Elisapee Adams of Team Nunavik competes in the snowshoe races at the Arctic Winter Games. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Penina Alasuak (10) of Team Nunavik competes in the 100-metre snowshoe race in the female 2003 or later category at the Arctic Winter Games. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

A fox runs across the field at the snoeshoe races at the Arctic Winter Games. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Team Sápmi's performs traditional Sámi folk singing at the Arctic Winter Games cultural gala on Thursday and Friday in Wood Buffalo, Alta. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Iqaluit's Inuksuk Drum Dancers perform at the Arctic Winter Games cultural gala. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Alaska's cultural contingent perform at the Arctic Winter Games cultural gala. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Team Northwest Territories perform folk dancing at the Arctic Winter Games cultural gala on Thursday and Friday in Wood Buffalo, Alta. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Yukon's cultural contingent perform at the Arctic Winter Games cultural gala. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Cirqniq performs as part of Team Nunavik's cultural contingent at the Arctic Winter Games cultural gala on Friday. (Photo courtesy of Rocio Valencia)

Cirqniq performs as part of Team Nunavik's cultural contingent at the Arctic Winter Games cultural gala on Friday. (Photo courtesy of Rocio Valencia)

Performers at the cultural gala at the Arctic Winter Games. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Daniel Samisack warms up before his table tennis game at the Arctic Winter Games on Thursday. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

An athlete from Team Yukon attempts the Alaskan High Kick at the Arctic Winter Games on Thursday. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Daniel Samisack (right) and coach Aftab Khan of Nunavik's table tennis team. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Aidan-Kuutirq Qaunaq from Team Nunavut attempts the sledge jump in the Arctic sports 2005 male or later category on Friday at the Arctic Winter Games. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Colin Inuksaq from Team Nunavut attempts the sledge jump in the Arctic sports 2005 male or later category on Friday at the Arctic Winter Games. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Team Nunavut's youth ambassadors, who volunteer and support athletes and staff at the Arctic Winter Games, pose on Friday at MacDonald Island Park. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Team Nunavut youth ambassadors Rachel Tagoona-Tapatai (left) of Baker Lake and Gavin Kreelak of Chesterfield Inlet are volunteering and support athletes at the Arctic Winter Games by doing jobs like access control and setting up for volleyball tournaments. Both ambassadors previously volunteered at the Canada Summer Games. Kreelak, 17, said he enjoys the chance to travel and meet new people as an ambassador, and Tagoona-Tapatai, 20, has been eager to be at the Arctic Winter Games since she has grown up playing many different sports. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Team Nunavut's short-track speed skating team poses with Premier P.J. Akeeagok (left) at the Arctic Winter Games. The team is walking, or rather skating, away with 11 medals from the Games, including four gold medals. Skater Akutaq Williamson Bathory (middle row, centre) earned three gold medals at the Games but said the best part of the experience was meeting "so many beautiful people." (Photo courtesy of Team Nunavut/Nunavut Speed Skating)

Short track speed skater Akutaq Williamson Bathory, 17, won three gold medals at the Arctic Winter Games in the 500-metre, 777-metre and 1500-metre races in the female 2004-2008 age category. (Photo courtesy of Team Nunavut/Nunavut Speed Skating Association)

Athletes and volunteers gather at the closing ceremonies of the Arctic Winter Games in Wood Buffalo, Alta. on Saturday. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Performers at the closing ceremonies of the Arctic Winter Games in Wood Buffalo, Alta. on Saturday. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Athletes and volunteers gather at the closing ceremonies of the Arctic Winter Games in Wood Buffalo, Alta. on Saturday. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)

Athletes and volunteers gather at the closing ceremonies of the Arctic Winter Games in Wood Buffalo, Alta. on Saturday. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)