A messenger would race inland toward their village after a good catch and jump and kick both feet into the air as soon as they were in view. The village then realized it was time to move quickly and assist in bringing the catch home.
But not all kicks were used to deliver good tidings. If someone was hurt, one may be utilized to raise the alarm.
These long-distance communication methods eventually became obsolete due to time and technical advancements. However, the custom is reintroduced once a year as a community gets together.
The World Eskimo-Indian Olympics (WEIO) in Fairbanks, Alaska, will feature the one- and two-footed high-kicks on July 12, 2023, along with competitions in the ear pull, seal hop, and Indian stick pull.
After Bill English and Tom Richards Sr., two non-Native airline pilots, came upon the traditional games while flying over Alaska’s rural towns, WEIO was established in 1961.
By that time, the dominant American culture had already begun to expand into these villages, posing a threat to completely homogenize indigenous traditions.
The first WEIO was held on the banks of the Chena River and featured native athletes and dancers from a few different villages that were brought to Fairbanks. Since then, it has flourished, and this year, 3,000 fans are anticipated to fill the Big Dipper Ice Arena to witness the best Native athletes from Alaska compete.
According to Kalloch, who is of Koyukon Dena and Creole descent, all of the games have their roots in Native villages and date back farther than anyone can remember.
“You share legends to transmit your people’s history and impart wisdom. You pass down the games to develop and hone the abilities necessary to live a subsistence lifestyle, to survive in an extremely hostile world. She claims that they are survival skills.
The goal of the ear pull, or tug-of-war with your ears, is to either pull the sinew from your opponent’s ear or to subdue them. The winner demonstrates their ability to endure pain, a quality necessary to survive the harsh reality of rural Alaska. It is a test of stamina.
The four-man carry gauges how far one contestant can drag four volunteers across their body. It brings to mind a time when hunters had to travel great distances with their heavy captures in icy conditions.
In the Indian stick pull, participants try to pry a short, greased stick away from their opponent. It is similar to grasping a freshly hooked fish by the tail.
In contrast, the Eskimo stick pull requires a longer stick and more strength—the same strength required to extract a seal from an ice hole.
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