Kivalliq Summer Games kick off

The Kivalliq Summer Games kicked off with, well, kicks on Friday evening in Chesterfield Inlet.

Miranda Tulurialik, originally from Baker Lake but living in Chesterfield Inlet, competes in the women’s Alaskan high kick on Friday evening. (Photo by Daron Letts)

None landed higher than the six-foot, eight-inch two-foot high kick that earned a gold medal for hometown athlete James Tautu.

The two-foot high kick is a competition where athlete leap with both legs raised and both feet together, trying to make contact with a sealskin ball suspended by a string. The ball is raised after each successful attempt.

How did the 40-year-old make that winning kick?

“I learned how to use muscles I’ve never used before and practised,” Tautu said.

The Games feature more than two dozen adult and teen athletes from Arviat, Baker Lake, Rankin Inlet, Whale Cove and Chesterfield Inlet, competing in 14 Arctic sports over three days.

Elder Leonie Mimialik opened the Games with an Inuktitut prayer. The opening ceremony started a few minutes late because many people rushed outside of the community hall, where the Games take place, to watch hunters in seven small boats pursue a pod of beluga whales a few hundred metres off shore.

“I’m happy everyone could come,” said Mayor Simionie Sammurtok, during an interview after shaking athletes’ hands following the ceremony.

Keagan Kadjuk of Chesterfield Inlet competes in the junior two-foot high kick at the community hall on Friday. (Photo by Daron Letts)

Sammurtok grew up playing Inuit games as a child, he said. Also referred to as Arctic sports, Inuit Games are a collection of jumping and strength challenges that measure endurance, power and dexterity. They’re often associated with feats that are helpful survival skills for hunting and fishing.

“It’s very important for young people to learn about Inuit games,” he said. “It’s good for the elders, and it’s good for the young people.”

Athletes 18 and up compete in the senior men’s or women’s categories. Athletes under 18 compete as juniors.

Barry Turner of Whale Cove won gold in the boy’s two-foot high kick. Barbera Ulurksit of Whale Cove won gold medals in both the women’s Alaskan high kick and kneel jump, where athletes begin kneeling and leap to a standing position. The winner is whoever leaps furthest.

Ivalu Leishman-Brocklebank of Chesterfield Inlet earned gold in the junior Alaskan high kick and kneel jump.

Sean Aggark of Chesterfield Inlet competes in the junior two-foot high kick on Friday evening. (Photo by Daron Letts)

Baker Lake’s Miranda Tulurialik, who has lived in Chesterfield Inlet since 2018, won gold in the women’s aqsaraaq, or finger pull, which requires two competitors to pull one another using only their fingers. Whoever releases first loses.

Troy Innuksuk of Rankin Inlet took gold in the men’s aqsaraaq.

The win “felt good,” he said. ”I like keeping tradition alive. It strengthens my culture.”

Keagan Kadjuk of Chesterfield Inlet won gold medals in the boy’s aqsaraaq and head pull. Ricky Putumiraqtuq of Baker Lake won gold in the men’s head pull. That’s where competitors’ heads are looped together in a loose belt. Each pulls the belt with the back of their head until the belt slips off one of the athletes.

The Games continue through Sunday.