Hundreds of students gear up for another Native Youth Olympics

Wednesday, April 25, 2018  

More than 500 students are expected in Anchorage, Alaska, this week for the Native Youth Olympics.

The event takes place April 25-28 at the Alaska Airlines Center. Youth will participate in traditional tests like the seal hop, the high kick and the wrist carry.

"That's really the catalyst of sharing the culture and creating awareness of the differences for all the attendees and the students to share their unique heritage, and learn a little about each other and come together under the aspect of sportsmanship," Tim Blume, a spokesperson for the Cook Inlet Tribal Council, the non-profit that puts on the Native Youth Olympics, told The Associated Press.

The event isn't only about sports,or just for youth. Ben Snowball, a Yupik elder, serves as ambassador for the Native Youth Olympics, where he enjoys sharing drum-making, carving and other cultural traditions.

“He helped us to understand it was okay to be Alaska Native and we should embrace our Native heritage,” Sheila Randazzo, a prior competitor, says on the Cook Inlet website.

Results from the games will be posted online.

Read More on the Story:
Alaska Olympic events mimic hunts, like sneaking up on seals (The Associated Press April 25, 2018)