Colton Paul, a senior at Mt. Edgecumbe High School, said the Native Youth Olympics the one sport that competes in, but this year marked his first time traveling to Juneau for the annual Traditional Games.
The games are a program featuring events based on the hunting and survival skills of the Indigenous peoples of Alaska and the Arctic.
Paul’s specialty event is the one-foot high kick for which he’s completed a best height of 110 inches. Paul was named one of this year’s overall athletes with a total of 40 points, as well as set several Traditional Games records for such events as the scissor broad jump, kneel jump, one-foot high kick, two-foot high kick and the Alaskan High Kick.
“I’ve always competed in little tournaments back home,” Paul said. “I went to a statewide tournament last year, World Eskimo Indian Olympics, Arctic Winter games just two months ago, but this is my first Traditional Games and it feels great to be here, I’ve never experienced anything quite like this. I think it’s very diverse, lots of sportsmanship. I just think it’s great that everyone helps each other; it just means a lot to be here because the Native Youth Olympics is the only sport I’ve always competed in, so I really take this sport to heart.”
Nancy Barnes leads the Yees Ku.oo Dancers through a performance for the opening ceremony of the sixth annual Traditional Games this Saturday at Thunder Mountain High School.
The sixth annual Traditional Games officially got underway at Thunder Mountain High School on Saturday and continued on into Sunday starting at 9 a.m. and wrapping up at 4:30 p.m.
Saturday’s evening events started off with a performance from the Yees Ku Oo Dancers led by Nancy Barnes. After the dance performance was the opening ceremony and parade of athletes, followed by nalukataq (blanket toss) and the one-foot high kick finals and one-foot high kick awards. Lastly, the evening closed out with the Wrist Carry Finals (high school)/Airplane (open) and the awards for both games, as well.
Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire Matthew Quinto of Team Juneau demonstrates a backflip during the nalukataq (blanket toss) at this year’s annual Traditional Games on Saturday at Thunder Mountain High School.
The Traditional Games and Juneau’s NYO team are a community collaboration made possible by Sealaska Heritage, Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, Sealaska, University of Alaska Southeast, Select Physical Therapy, Juneau School District and Trickster Co.
The games include teams competing for over two days in various events that test skills of strength, agility, balance, endurance and focus, all based on the hunting and survival skills of Indigenous peoples of Alaska and the Arctic that takes place in Juneau.
Rosita Worl speaks to a record-setting number of youth athletes on Saturday at Thunder Mountain High School during the opening ceremony of the sixth annual Traditional Games. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Traditional Games coach Kyle Kaayák’w Worl said this year’s games set a new record for overall participation, with over 200 athletes competing. Worl said in the immediate wake of COVID-19, the games took a downturn in participation, however, attendance started to improve last year and has only continued to increase, putting the games on a “good trajectory.”
“It’s exciting, it’s been a long time coming. It’s been a lot of planning to make this happen and so far it’s been a success. We’ve had a record number of athletes, we’ve had teams from several new locations with this being their first time coming to Juneau, we have a new award for college teams, we have a new event we’re doing with archery, so given everything that we’ve put into it, it’s doing good. I’m happy about it so far.”
All ages are welcome at Alaska’s Traditional Games, this year taking place at Thunder Mountain High School on Saturday and Sunday. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Local teams include Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé, Thunder Mountain High School, Yakoosgé Daakahídi High School, Dzantik’i Héeni Middle School and Floyd Dryden Middle School. Visiting teams consist of Hoonah, Sitka, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Metlakatla, Southeast Island School District, Anchorage, Service High School, Fairbanks, Unalakleet, the Homer Halibuts, Chickaloon, Qutekcak Native Tribe of Seward, Kenai, PNW All Nations, Mt.Edgecumbe High School, Sante Fe Indian School, Whitehorse and from Canada’s Northwest Territories, Yellowknife.
A record-breaking number of athletes from local and visiting teams gather in the gymnasium at Thunder Mountain High School on Saturday to take part in this year’s annual Traditional Games. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
• Contact reporter Jonson Kuhn at jonson.kuhn@juneauempire.com.
SCISSOR BROAD JUMP
High School Girls
1st: Lydia Alverts, CHI, 27 feet, 6 inches
2nd:Amelie Guilbeault, YK, 26’ 7 ¼’’
3rd: Jade Wren, SHS, 26’ 6 ½’’
4th: Charity Gordon, HOM, 23’ 10 ½’’
Middle School Girls
1st: Molly Evans, HOM, 25’ 4”, (New Traditional Games Record)
2nd: Maya Sabila Boger, Chi, 24’ 2”
3rd: Finya Nolting, NWT, 21’ 6”
4th: Ruth Mackay, NWT, 21’ 6”
5th: Minali Reid, FDMS, 21’ ½”
High school, Boys
1st: Colton Paul, MEHS, 37’ 3 ¼”, (New TG Record)
2nd: Alex Covey, SHS, 32’ 7”
3rd: Alan Borbridge, MEHS, 32’ 6 ¼”
4th: Elijah Gordon, HOM, 32’ 3 ½”
5th: Melvin Pavala, MEHS, 32’ 2 ½”
Middle school, Boys
1st: Donald Heflin, KIN, 28’ 3 ½”, (New TG Record)
2nd: Calder Hyer, PSG, 25’ 6 ½”
3rd: Cullen Sias, YK, 25’ 3”
4th: Kohner Turner, DHMS, 25’ ¾”
5th: Finn Mullin, SIT, 25’ ¼”
Open Male
1st: Colin McFarland, UAF, 34’ 10 ¾”
2nd: Caleb Evans, HOM, 33’
3rd: Parker Kenick, UAF, 32’ 11”
4th: Judah Eason, ENA, 32’ 9 ¾”
5th: Matthew Quinto, JNU, 32’ 8 ¼”
Open Female
1st: Eden Hopson, ANC, 26’ 1”, (New TG Record)
2nd: Amber Vaska, FAI, 24’ 1 ¾”
3rd: Jenni Klebesadel, UAF, 21’ 8”
4th: Maio Nishkian, CHI, 21’ 8”
5th: Wendy Barr, UAF, 20’ 5 ½”
KNEEL JUMP
High School Girls
1st: Amelie Guilbeautt, YK, 33”
2nd: Jordan Bennett, JDHS, 32 ½”
3rd: Isabelle Paquette, YK, 31 ½”
4th: Leah Evans, HOM, 29 ¼”
5th: Autumn Nanouk, 27 3/4
Middle School Girls
1st: Abigail Semaken, SDN, 32 ¾”
2nd: Maya Sabila Boger, Chi, 32”
3rd: Finya Nolting, NWT, 25 ¾”
4th: Layla Harrison, Chi, 24 ¾”
5th: Molly Evans, HOM, 22 ¾”
High School Boys
1st: Colton Paul, MEHS, 65”, (New TG Record)
2nd: Alex Covey, SHS, 50”
3rd: Augustin Greetham, YK, 47 ½”
4th: Braydon Jackson, MEHS, 47”
5th: Leif Richards, TMHS, 41 ¼”
Middle school, Boys
1st: Eli Anderson, PSG, 35 ¾”
2nd: Cullen Sias, YK, 29 ¾”
3rd: Calder Ratliff, PSG, 29 ½”
4th: Donald Heflin, KIN, 28 ¾”
5th: Nate Lalonde, NWT, 26”
Open Male
1st: Daniel Peters, UAF, 53”
2nd: Matthew Quinto, JNU, 50 ¼”
3rd: Reggie Joule, ANC, 47 ¼”
4th: Caleb Evans, HOM, 45 ¾”
5th: Denzel Henderson, APU, 45 ½”
Open Female
1st: Amber Vaska, FAI, 48 ½”, (New TG Record)
2nd: Sharlane King, PNW, 39 ¼”
3rd: Eden Hopson, ANC, 35 ½”
4th: Patrice DeAsis, JNU, 32 ¾”
5th: Jaclyn Weston, BET, 27 ½”
WRIST CARRY
High School Girls
1st: Kate Koepke, YK, 183’ 5 1/2’’
2nd: Amelie Guilbeault, YK, 125’
3rd: Helen John, YDHS, 80’ 5’’
4th: Nakita Epps, SWD, 36’ 8’’
5th: Leo McNaughton, JDHS, 34’ 8’’
Middle School Girls
1st: Madelyn Breisbach, PSG, 26 sec
2nd: Mila Neely, DHMS, 12.9 sec
3rd: Ruth Mackay, NWT, 12.22 sec
4th: Minali Reid, FDMS, 12 sec
5th: Maria Toth, PSG, 7.56
High school, Boys
1st: Sampson Oliver, KTN, 251’5’’, (New Record)
2nd: Harley Huntington, MEHS, 204’ 11 1/2’’
3rd: Colton Paul, MEHS, 145’
4th: Jackson Clark, JDHS, 128’ 9 1/2’’
5th: Augustin Greetham, YK, 108’
Middle school, Boys
1st: Calder Ratliff, PSG, 27 sec
2nd: Aiden Andrew, SIT, 24 sec
3rd: Gage Keller, FDMS, 8 sec
4th: Lincoln Odegaard, PSG, 6 sec
4th: Henry Agoney, KIN, 6 sec
ONE-FOOT HIGH KICK
High School Girls
1st: Lydia Alverts, CHI, 90”
2nd: Charity Gordon, HOM, 78”
3rd: Leah Evans, HOM, 78”
4th: Amelie Guillbeautt, YK, 78”
5th: Isabelle Paquette, YK, 78”
Middle School Girls
1st: Molly Evans, HOM, 79”
2nd: Abigail Semaken, SDN, 78”
3rd: Maya Sabila Boger, CHI, 65”
4th: Josie Andrews, SWD, 64”
5th: Layla Harrison, CHI, 64”
High school, Boys
1st: Colton Paul, MEHS, 110” (new TG record)
2nd: Alex Covey, SHS, 102”
3rd: Peter Griggs, MEHS, 100”
4th: Melvin Pavala, MEHS, 100”
5th: Matthew Chagluak, SHS, 98”
Middle school, Boys
1st: Donald Heflin, KIN, 88” (new TG record)
2nd: Daniel Rodgers, CHI, 86”
3rd: Eli Anderson, PSG, 82”
4th: Cullen Sias, YK, 80”
5th: Finn Mullin, SIT, 78”
Open Male
1st: Parker Kenick, UAF, 108” (new TG record)
2nd: Stewart Towarak, ANC, 108”
3rd: Judah Eason, ENA, 104”
4th: Denzel Hendersen, APU, 104”
5th: Caleb Evans, HOM, 98”
Open Female
1st: Eden Hopson, ANC, 82” (new TG record)
2nd: Amber Vaska, FAI, 78”
3rd: Jenni Klebesadel, UAF, 74”
4th: Patrice DeAsis, JNU, 72”
5th: Wendy Barr, UAF, 64”
DENÉ STICK PULL
High School Girls
1st: Leah Evans, HOM
2nd: Charity Gordon, HOM
3rd: Dyani Brown, SHS
4th: Lyric Ashtenfelter, TMHS
5th: Helen John, YDHS
Middle School Girls
1st: Molly Evans, HOM
2nd: Crystal Maddox, SWD
3rd: Aliyah Adam, STL
4th: Josie Andrew, SWD
5th: Mila Neely, DHMS
High school, Boys
1st: Josiah Gordon, HOM
2nd: Colton Paul, MEHS
3rd: Elijah Gordon, HOM
4th: Alex Covey, SHS
5th: Matthew Chagluak, SHS
Middle school, Boys
1st: Jensen Ekelmann, CHI
2nd: Daniel Rodgers, CHI
3rd: Kohner Turner, DHMS
4th: Easton Berger, FDMS
5th: Eli Anderson, PSG
Open Male
1st: Mark Gordon, HOM
2nd: Duc Ngo, CHI
3rd: Joevahnta Usugan-Weddington, UAF
4th: Reggie Joule, ANC
5th: Kyle Abbott, JNU
Open Female
1st: Kayla Olhausen, ANC
2nd: Maio Nishkian, CHI
3rd: Kunaq Tahbone, OME
4th: Shondiin Mayo, FAI
5th: Megan Gordon, HOM
INUIT STICK PULL
High School Girls
1st: Lydia Alverts, CHI
2nd: Jade Wren, SHS
3rd: Kaasgeiy Bowers, JDHS
4th: Lyric Ashenfelter, TMHS
5th: Dollie Martin, MEHS
Middle School Girls
1st: Crystal Maddox, SWD
2nd: Abigail Semaken, SDN
3rd: Avery Sauve, NWT
4th: Josie Andrews, SWD
5th: Scarlet Tourageau, NWT
High school, Boys
1st: Iosefa Allen, TMHS
2nd: Ryan Oliver, SHS
3rd: Augustin Greetham, YK
4th: Axel Coxwell, SDN
5th: Josiah Gordon, HOM
Middle school, Boys
1st: Daniel Rodgers, CHI
2nd: Elias (Eli) Anderson, PSG
3rd: Gunner Washke, PSG
4th: Josiah Bergtold, MET
5th: Tanner Washke, PSG
Open Male
1st: Mark Gordon, HOM
2nd: Judah Eason, ENA
3rd: Denzel Henderson, UAF
4th: Colin McFarland, UAF
5th: Ian Standard, APU
Open Female
1st: Margo Livermore, SIT
2nd: Jenay Mike, APU
3rd: Jenni Klebesade, UAF
4th: Kya Anlers, SDN
5th: Daphne Green, APU
TWO-FOOT HIGH KICK
High School Girls
1st: Charity Gordon, HOM, 68” (new TG record)
2nd: Lydia Alverts, CHI, 66” 2miss
3rd: Isabelle Paquette, YK, 66” 3miss
4th: Amelie Guilbeautt, YK, 64”
5th: Leah Evans, HOM, 62”
Middle School Girls
1st: Molly Evans, HOM, 62”
2nd: Abigail Semaken, SDN, 60”
3rd: Maya Sabila Boger, CHI, 54”
4th: Aliyah Adams, STE, 54” 3miss
5th: Mila Neely, DHMS, 50”
High school, Boys
1st: Colton Paul, MEHS, 98’’ (New TG Record)
2nd: Peter Griggs, MEHS, 88’’
3rd: Alex Covey, SHS, 86’’
4th: Elijah Gordon, HOM, 80’’
5th: Alan Borbridge, MEHS, 80’’
Middle school, Boys
1st: Donald Heflin, KIN, 70” (new TG record)
2nd: Eli Anderson, PSG, 66”
3rd: Daniel Rodgers, CHI, 62”
4th: Jaxin Jim, FDMS, 58” 4 miss
5th: Staxx Van Kirk, KIN, 58” 5miss
Open Male
1st: Parker Kenick, UAF, 90”
2nd: Stuart Towarak, ANC, 88”
3rd: Colin McFarland, UAF, 84” 1miss@84”
4th: Judah Eason, ENA, 84” 1miss@76”
5th: Matthew Quinto, JNU, 84” 3miss@76”
Open Female
1st: Amber Vaska, FAI, 70”
2nd: Eden Hopson, ANC, 68”
3rd: Sharlane King, PNW, 64”
4th: Jenni Klebesadel, UAF, 60”
5th: Patrice DeAsis, JNU, 54”
ONE-HAND REACH
High School Girls
1st: Sophielynda Agoney, KIN, 54”
2nd: Kate Koepke, YK, 52”
3rd: Autumn Annook, UNK, 52” 1miss
4th: Lydia Alverts, CHI, 52” 2miss
5th: Dollie Martin, MEHS, 48”
Middle School Girls
1st: Abigail Semaken, SDN, 38’’
2nd: Maria Toth, PSG, 30’’
3rd: Minali Reid, FDMS, 30’’
4th: Madelyn Dreisbauch, PSG, 30’’
5th: Josie Andrew, SWD, 30’’
High school, Boys
1st: Leif Richards, TMHS, 64’’
2nd: Colton Paul, MEHS, 62’’
3rd: Alex Covey, SHS, 62’’
4th: Matthew Chagluak, MEHS, 62’’
5th: Alan Borbridge, MEHS, 60’’
Middle school, Boys
1st: Staxx VanKirk, KIN, 40’’
2nd: Cullen Sias, YK, 28’’
3rd: Henry Agoney, KTN, 26’’
Open Male
1st: Kyle Kanuk, UAF, 62”
2nd: Parker Kenick, UAF, 61” 2miss
3rd: Colin McFarland, UAF, 58”
4th: Kyle Abbott, UAS, 58” 1miss
5th: Joevahnta Usugan-Weddington, UAF, 56”
Open Female
1st: Eden Hopson, ANC, 56’’ (New Record)
2nd: Sharlane King, PNW, 52’’
3rd: Jenni Klebesadel, UAF, 52’’
4th: Shondiin Mayo, FAI, 48’’
5th: Amber Vaska, FAI, 48’’
ALASKAN HIGH KICK
High School Girls
1st: Isabelle Paquette, YK, 66”
2nd: Kate Koepke, YK, 64”
3rd: Lydia Alverts, CHI, 62”
4th: Paige Lliaban, MEHS, 60”
5th: 58”: Leah Evans, HOM + Charity Gordon, HOM + Jordan Bennet, JDHS
Middle School Girls
1st: Aliyah Adams, STL, 62”
2nd: Abigail Semakan, SDN, 60” 1miss
3rd: Molly Evans, HOM, 60” 3miss
4th: Maria Toth, PSG, 56”
5th: Layla Harrison, CHI, 52”
High school, Boys
1st: Colton Paul, MEHS, 92” (New Record)
2nd: Alex Covey, SHS, 90”
3rd: Nate Blake, JDHS, 82”
4th: Alan Bordridge, MEHS, 82”
5th: Leif Richards, TMHS, 80”
Middle school, Boys
1st: Daniel Rodgers, CHI, 78’’
2nd: Donald Heflin, KIN, 62’’
3rd: Aidan Andrew, SIT, 62’’ 4 miss
4th: Gage Keller, FDMS, 58’’
5th: Tanner Washke, PSG, 58’’ 2miss
Open Male
1st: Kyle Abbott, UAS 84’’
2nd: Parker Kenick, UAF, 84’’
3rd: Kyle Kanuk, UAF, 82’’
4th: Reggie Joule, ANC, 80’’
5th: Matthew Quinto, JNU, 80’’
Open Female
1st: Eden Hopson, ANC, 68’’
2nd: Sharlane King, PNW, 64’’
3rd: Amber Vaska, FAI, 62’’
4th: Jenni Klebesadel (Tie), UAF, 57’’
4th: Jaclyn Weston (Tie), BET, 57’’
SEAL/KNUCKLE HOP
High School Girls
1st: Kate Koepke, YK, 109’ 10 ½”
2nd: Amelie Guilbeault, YK, 84’
3rd: Sarah Nanouk Jone, MEHS, 79’ 3 ¼”
4th: Kaasgeiy Bowers, JDHS, 75’ 6”
5th: Lyric Ashenfelter, TMHS, 66’ 7 ¾”
Middle School Girls
1st: Minali Reid, FDMS, 70’ 10 1/2’’
2nd: Maya Sabila Boger, CHI, 56’ 6’’
3rd: Mila Neely, DHMS, 46’ 1 1/4’’
4th: Kendall Haimlton, KTN,45’ 9 1/4’’
5th: Finya Nolting, NWT, 31’ 6 3/4’’
High school, Boys
1st: Braydon Jackson, MEHS, 87’ 1/2’’
2nd: Colton Paul, MEHS, 85’ 7 3/4
3rd: Harley Huntington, MEHS, 72’ 2’’
4th: Alan Borbridge, MEHS, 67’ 6 1/2’’
5th: Elijah Gordon, HOM, 61’ 10’’
Middle school, Boys
1st: Aidan Andrew, SIT, 84’ 3”
2nd: Eli Anderson, PSG, 84”
3rd: Gunner Washke, PSG, 70’ 5 ½”
4th: Calder Hyer, PSG, 62”
5th: Kohner Turner, DHMS, 59’ 6 ¼”
Open Male (Knuckle Hop)
1st: Kyle Worl, JNU, 163’ 10’’
2nd: Haydon Chartier, JNU, 112’5’’
3rd: Parker Kenick, UAF, 84’
4th: Colin McFarland, UAF, 48’ 4 1/2’’
5th: Judah Eason, ENA, 47’ 10 1/4’’
Open Female
1st: Jenni Klebesadel, UAF, 84’’
2nd: Maura Sheakly- Early, JNU, 66’ 1’’
3rd: Eden Hopson, ANC, 63’ 2 3/4’’
4th: Amber Vaska, FAI, 57’ 3’’
5th: Kaytlynne Lewis, JNU, 55’ 1’’
AIRPLANE
Open Female
1st: Jenni Klebesadel, UAF, 49. 65 sec
2nd: Maio Nishkian, CHI, 22.43 sec
3rd: Jessie Huett, SWD, 22.06 sec
4th: Kaytlynne Lewis, JNU, 19.19 sec
5th: Keren Bennett, UAF, 14.12 sec
Open Male
1st: Denzel Henderson, APU, 31. 37 sec
2nd: Haydon Chartier,JNU, 28. 72 sec
3rd: Duc Ngo, CHI, 25.72 sec
4th: Kyle Abbott, UAS, 25.50 sec
5th: Parker Kenick, UAF, 9.20 sec
ARCHERY
Middle School
1st: Jayden Kohn, POW, 271
2nd: Jaxin Jim, FDMS, 263
3rd: Easton Berger, FDMS, 244
4th: Kendall Hamilton, KTN, 234
5th: Mikayla DeGuzman, MET, 215
High School
1st: Alex Beierly, TMHS, 260
2nd: Lyric Astenfelter, TMHS, 253
2nd: Justice Collins, POW, 253
4th: Kate Koepke, YK, 251
5th: Matthew Chagluak, SHS, 248
5th: Nate Blake,JDHS, 248
Open
1st: Jennie Klebesadel, UAF, 262
2nd: Ian Standard, APU, 259
3rd: Eliza Chappell, JNU, 252
4th: Shaun Deardorff, NCSU, 241
5th: Margaret Haube, 238
5th: Eric Porter, YK, 238
OVERALL TEAM:
Middle School:
Petersburg
High School:
Mount Edgecumbe High School
College:
University of Alaska Fairbanks
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Female: Molly Evans, Homer
Male: Natha Blake, JDHS
OVERALL ATHLETE
High School Girls
Lydia Alverts, CHI, 24 pts
Middle School Girls:
Abigail Semaken, SDN, 26 pts
High school, Boys
Colton Paul, MEHS, 40 pts
Middle school, Boys
Donald Heflin, KIN, 21 pts and 2 gold
Open Male
Parker Kenick, UAF, 22 pts
Open Female
Eden Hopson, ANC, 30 pts
Early Bird Team Registration
1st: 1/15/2023
Team: Anchorage
Coach: Mellisa Johnson
2md: 1/17/2023
Team: ANC Service High School – SHS
Photos by Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire Caleb Evans of team Homer Halibuts tries his best at the one-foot high kick competition during the sixth annual Traditional Games on Saturday at Thunder Mountain High School.
