The World Eskimo Indian Olympics (WEIO) bring ancient tundra survival skills back to life each year in Fairbanks, Alaska.
The annual event, held from July 15 to 18 this year, draws hundreds of Indigenous athletes from Alaska, Greenland, Siberia and Canada.
>>> Silverwingkiller Crafts Delirious Industrial Dance Soundtracks for Summer Heatwave
Participants compete in traditional games that originated from their ancestors' daily life.
One such game is the two-foot high kick, where athletes jump and kick a seal-skin ball with both feet simultaneously.
Nicole Johnson, an Iñupiaq athlete, set the women's world record in this sport in 1989 at age 22, striking the target at 6 feet 6 inches.
Now 57, she will compete in the dene stick pull, a test of grip strength where two contestants hold a greased stick and try to wrest it from each other.
The two-foot high kick has deep historical roots.
>>> South Carolina GOP Races to Hold Primary After Sen. Lindsey Graham Dies at 71
In the past, messengers who were too far to be heard would kick both feet in the air to signal that hunters had caught a whale.
This method of long-distance communication was vital for survival in the Arctic.
Johnson, who serves on the board of governors and as head official of WEIO sporting events, has competed in the games for most of her life.
She emphasizes that these games are not just sports but a way to preserve Indigenous heritage and pass on ancient skills to younger generations.
>>> Florida DMV Accidentally Sends Grandma X-Rated License Plate, She Keeps It
WEIO continues to be a platform for celebrating Alaska Native culture and keeping traditional survival techniques alive in a modern context.
