Teams from across the state are traveling to Anchorage this week for the annual Senior Native Youth Olympic Games, where athletes will compete in traditional fitness challenges while learning about Alaska Native history and culture.

The Games began in 1971 when students at the Boarding Home Program School in Anchorage couldn’t make it home for winter break, so they brought their individual traditions to the city. From there, the Games became an Alaska tradition.

The Cook Inlet Tribal Council began hosting the Games in 1986, and has held competitions annually. Because of COVID-19 concerns, the events were canceled in both 2020 and 2021, but are back this year with more than 300 participants.

Lexi Trainer, the public relations specialist at the Cook Inlet Tribal Council, said Wednesday that bringing the Games back this year is unique to senior athletes.

“One of the things we’ve been really excited about is that the seniors who are attending this year and have participated for the last four years, the last time they participated at an in-person NYO Games was in 2019, (when they were) freshmen in high school,” Trainer said.

The competition is open to student athletes in grades seven through 12 from all cultures, or those 19 and under enrolled in a GED program, Trainer said, and is meant to give kids an insight into traditional means of fitness and subsistence activities that Indigenous Alaskans have participated in throughout history.

“It’s just that connection to culture and community, and that feeling of we’re all in this together,” she said.

The cultural aspect, she said, is perhaps especially important for the kids who live in larger communities.

“They might not be as exposed to Alaska Native culture, (but) they are able to learn about Alaska Native culture and history, traditions, and just the values that Alaska Natives have in general,” Trainer said. “It’s just fantastic, because we have students from all around the state of Alaska who get to participate and meet each other and just build their networks.”

Teams from around the state will compete in any of the 10 events: Alaskan high kick, 2-foot high kick, 1-foot high kick, one-hand reach, seal hop, scissor broad jump, Eskimo stick pull, Indian stick pull, kneel jump and wrist carry. Each sport is rooted in tradition.

The seal hop, for example, represents sneaking up on a seal on ice, while the Eskimo stick pull is practice for pulling seals out of the ice, according to the Cook Inlet Tribal Council.

The team traveling the farthest is coming from Utqiagvik, Trainer said. One Kenai Peninsula team will also be competing — a squad from Salamatof.

Trainer said the Games are a great way to gather, especially now.

“It’s fantastic to be able to come together and celebrate Alaskan history and traditional activities,” she said.

The Games will commence at 9 a.m. Thursday at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. The last event starts at 3:30 p.m. Thursday. Events will also be held from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

Follow the Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Inc. Facebook page for updates and additional information.

Reach reporter Camille Botello at camille.botello@peninsulaclarion.com.