It wasn’t quite business as usual —masks and COVID-19 screening were an unavoidable presence —but the Traditional Games returned to Juneau this weekend.
Over 100 athletes from 20 communities competed in 10 events in Thunder Mountain High School’s gym. Athletes traveled from Hoonah, Haines, Skagway, Petersburg, Metlakatla, Hydaburg, Anchorage, Nome, Fairbanks, , Bethel, Homer, the Pacific Northwest, Chickaloon, Seward, White Horse, Kenai, Kotzebue, Lower Kuskokwim, Kwigillingok and Fort Simpson.
Check out photos from the first morning of the two-day competition below. Results and a stream of events are available through the Traditional Games’ website at https://traditionalgames.sealaskaheritage.org/.
Easton Berger, 13, a Floyd Dryden Middle School student competes in the scissor broad jump Saturday during the 2022 Traditional Games held at Thunder Mountain High School. This year’s games, which feature 10 events, were held in person after multiple pandemic-marred years. Berger said he was happy to see them return to an in-person format. Berger said the Denè stick pull is his favorite event. He placed first in it among middle school boys. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Paige Hansen, 12, of Petersburg competes in the kneel jump Saturday during the 2022 Traditional Games at Thunder Mountain High School while officials Ezra Elisoff and Anna Eason observe. Hansen said the kneel jump is her favorite event. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Donovan Jackson, 12, of Juneau competes in the one-foot high kick Saturday morning during the 2022 Traditional Games. The games were held at Thunder Mountain High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Augustin Greetham, 14, of White Horse connects with his target during one-foot high kick at the 2022 Traditional Games held Saturday at Thunder Mountain High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Aaron Lyons, 14, of Chickaloon is hangs onto the bar during the wrist carry at the 2022 Traditional games held Saturday at Thunder Mountain High School. Lyons placed third in the event for his age group with a time of 24.59 seconds. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Layla Harrison, 12, of Chickaloon and Dawnielle Patterson, 14, of Bethel compete in the Denè stick pull during the 2022 Traditional Games. Harrison placed third and Patterson placed fifth in the event for their age group. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
