Nunavut, Nunavik wrap up the 2012 AWG with hefty ulu counts

Arctic Winter Game athletes coming back from the 2012 games in Whitehorse, Yukon, got a special welcome in Kangiqsualujjuaq: a triumphant ride around town in a fire engine on March 11. (PHOTO BY PASCAL POULIN)

Team Nunavut’s female basketball players hit the court last week in Whitehorse during the 2012 Arctic Winter Games. (PHOTO COURTESY OF TEAM NUNAVUT)

Nunavik’s Aisa Pirti’s winning one-foot high kick of 9’2″ March 8, during the Arctic Sports competition at the Arctic Winter Games. (PHOTO BY KRG/MATHIEU COUTURE)

Athletes from both Nunavik and Nunavut returned home this week a little richer, after the 2012 Arctic Winter Games wrapped up in Whitehorse March 10.

Athletes from both teams — about 230 from Nunavut and 53 from Nunavik — participated in a dozen activities at the Whitehorse games, including Arctic sports, Dene games, badminton, basketball, gymnastics, hockey, indoor soccer, speed skating, table tennis, wrestling, volleyball and snowshoeing.

The final tally: Team Nunavut finished with 50 ulus, while Team Nunavik-Quebec raked in 36.

Although one of the games’s smaller contingents, Team Nunavik gave a strong showing at this year’s event, picking up 10 gold ulus. About 90 per cent of the team’s wins were in Arctic Sports and Dene Games events.

Open category Arctic Sports athletes Aisa Pirti, 25 and Inukjuak’s Deseray Cumberbatch, 20 collected two and seven ulus, respectively.

Twelve-year-old Charlotte Aculiak, the team’s youngest member, won a bronze ulu in the table tennis with her partner Sasha Kokiapik.

During the Games, Nunavik culture was also well represented by its cultural delegation from the communities of Kuujjuaq, Salluit, Quaqtaq and Akulivik, who performed during the closing ceremony and in two gala events.

“The Arctic Winter Games are a chance to showcase not only the quality of our athletes, but also the region’s incredible culture and creativity,” said Maggie Emudluk, chairperson of the Kativik Regional Government, who attended the games. “Participating in the games helps us build both team and regional pride.”

In Nunavut, athletes also showed strong results in Arctic Sports and Dene Games events, where the team picked up most of its five gold ulus.

Kugluktuk’s Andrew Bell, 27, won gold in both the two-foot high kick open male event and triple jump.

Teammate and fellow Kugluktuk resident Ikey Bolt, 16, won gold in the junior male one-foot high kick event, while his teammate Brandon Qiyuk picked up silver.

And Arctic Bay athletes Jordan Levi, 19, and Johnny James Kilabuk, 24, won gold and silver respectively in their snow snake events.

Nunavut also won the Hodgson Trophy for Sportsmanship following the 2012 games.

Visit www.awg2012.org for all the event’s results.

A group of six cultural representatives from Nunavut perform in Whitehorse during the 2012 Arctic Winter Games held there. The event wrapped up March 10. (PHOTO COURTESY OF TEAM NUNAVUT)