Igloolik welcomes Arctic Winter Games athletes home
SLIDESHOW: Joelie Satuqsi shows his silver medal; Annie-Rose Hanniliaq already planning for 2026 Games
Annie-Rose Hanniliaq, left, and Joelie Satuqsi pose outside the Iglulik High School where a homecoming event was held Monday for the hamlet’s Arctic Winter Games athletes. (Photo by Rania Gordon, special to Nunatsiaq News)
Igloolik welcomed athletes home Monday from the 2024 Arctic Winter Games, which wrapped up on March 16.
The Winter Games brought participants from seven Arctic regions to Alaska’s Mat-Su Valley region for a week of competition in a wide variety of sports.
Annie-Rose Hanniliaq and Joelie Satuqsi received a loving and loud welcome at the Iglulik High School where their peers, as well as students from the elementary and middle schools, had gathered.
“I had a fun time,” said Satuqsi, who took home a silver medal in the kneel jump competition.
“The other competitors were really hard,” he added.
These Games were a first for the pair of competitors, but both said it won’t be their last.
“I definitely want to go back in 2026,” Hanniliaq said.
The 2026 Arctic Winter Games are to be held in Whitehorse. Hanniliaq recalled some words of advice from an elder that she met at the Alaska Games that she says will help her prepare for her next competition.
“He told us that we should keep an eye out for animals and learn about what they do. They are the true athletes,” Hanniliaq said.
“Thank you for being behind such great kids,” said Emily Bruton, a mission staff member for Team Nunavut. “Hopefully in the next few years we can get more Igloolikmiut there to represent our amazing community.”
Students from all three schools in Igloolik wait for Arctic Winter Games athletes Joelie Satuqsi and Annie-Rose Hanniliaq to come into the Iglulik High School gym. The high school was the site of a homecoming celebration for the two Arctic Winter Games athletes on Monday. (Photo by Rania Gordon, special to Nunatsiaq News)
This article and pictures are the result of a partnership between Nunatsiaq News and the Sivuniit Middle School’s journalism club in Igloolik. The club helps students learn about news writing and photography. Students Raina Gordon and Anthony Qrunnut covered the homecoming of two Igloolik athletes from the Arctic Winter Games on Monday.
Good to have met you two, keep up the good work and keep on keeping on and practice.
This is a great article! What a significant partnership between Nunatsiaq News and the school’s Journalism club! And, of course, we are super proud of our student-athletes! Igloolik is on the move with more great things to come!
I first heard of the Arctic Games from a segment of The Rick Mercer Report. Such an amazing event bringing young people from many Arctic nations. Congratulations! To Annie- Marie and Joelie. Well done to Rania Gordon and Anthony Qrunnut for their coverage and report on the Arctic Games.