TRADITIONAL NORTHERN GAMES
The traditional northern games are composed of four categories: Strength and Endurance games, Agility games, Resistance to pain/Survival games, and Social games. Below you will find a brief introduction to each category as well as a list and demonstration of the different types of performances for each.
Strength and Endurance Games
The strength and endurance games are activities that the Inuit Elders introduced to children to build survival skills to handle long distance travel in the summer, fall, spring, and winter. They would have to run with the dog teams or walk with the dogs to go from camp to camp, following the food sources. Therefore, individuals young and old needed a lot of strength to live off the land. There are many different stories of these games from different communities and elders.
Click here to learn more about each Strength and Endurance Game
Agility Games
The agility games were developed to help the individual deal with different types of land conditions they would have to travel during spring, summer, fall, and winter. They were also played to develop hunting skills. A lot of the games were also just for fun to keep the group active and healthy, to learn stories of past family members.
The Alaskan High Kick was introduced to Inuit people in the Western Arctic from the Inuit travelling from Alaska. As families travelled to the Western Arctic, this game was adopted from the Alaskans and made it our own. We also passed on many of our games to them.
Resistance to Pain/Survival Games
The resistance to pain and survival games were to help the individual deal with cold/freezing weather and land conditions they would have to endure while travelling from camp to camp or hunting in the fall and winter.
The knuckle hop was to mimic the seal; the hunter needed to get close enough to harpoon seals that were lying on the ocean ice beside their escape holes.
The triple jump was to keep warm during long distance travel between camps or to jump over open leads on the ocean and creeks on the land.
There are many different story variations from different communities in the North.
Click here to learn more about each Resistance to Pain/Survival game
Social Games
The social laughing games were very important to keep the group social and engaged with each other. They played the games to learn the youth different types of animals from the food sources they had to follow. The games were played during blizzards or if they were stranded out on the land in the summer or fall. The games were played to have fun most importantly.