Indigenous athletes from around the world competing in Ottawa

Northern athletes from Alaska through Canada’s Arctic to Greenland have made their way to Ottawa for this weekend’s Masters Indigenous Games, which are held every two years.

“Spectators will witness action-packed athletic competition alongside a showcase of diverse performances, Indigenous cuisine and interactive activities,” spokesperson Emily Goodwin said in an email.

This year, about 300 Indigenous athletes from as far off as New Zealand are competing at venues across Ottawa. While there will be many contemporary sports competitions like volleyball, basketball and golf, traditional sports from Indigenous cultures around the world will also take place.

Kyle Worl from Anchorage, Alaska, tries his hand at the traditional Central American sport of Ulama. (Photo by Jorge Antunes)

The games are open to Indigenous athletes aged 19 or older. There are no qualifying meets or tryouts; anyone can enter a team with Indigenous athletes, according to the Games website.

Before events officially got underway Friday evening, the athletes and spectators got a taste of Indigenous during demonstrations at the Cultural Village at Landsdowne Park in Ottawa.

An Indigenous group from Mexico and Central America demonstrated the traditional game of Ulama, which involves using your hips to pass or shoot a ball. A group of Arctic games athletes waiting to demonstrate their sports got to a chance to try the difficult Mexican sport.

After that, the Masters sports teams got the chance to demonstrate their events such as the two-foot high kick and knuckle hop.

The Masters Indigenous Games kick off Friday at 7 p.m. at Ottawa’s Algonquin College with an opening ceremony followed by the one-foot high kick competition at 7:30 p.m. and the Dene stick pull at 8:45 p.m.

Events pick up again Saturday with the majority of Arctic sports competitions held throughout the day at Algonquin College starting at noon with the Inuit stick event. Events wrap up Sunday.