Traditional Feast Brings Arctic Winter Games Athletes Together at Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre

After two full days of competition, 325 Dene Games and Arctic Sports participants gathered to attend the AWG Traditional Feast in the Longhouse in the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre.

While the co-coordinators Krista Prochazka and Brooke McKenzie were busy preparing to serve the masses, I moved around the hall asking people about favourite traditional foods from their regions.

Kim Rosing from Greenland listed reindeer, muktuk (from Narwhal) and lamb as his favourites. Suvalik (fish eggs with fruits or wild berries) was a favourite dish shared by a group of athletes from Nunavik. Team Yukon athletes Leonard, Matthew and Marcus said their favourite dish was moose spaghetti, but that there should always be lots of sauce. Beluga muktuk was a favourite of Elijah-Jean Kauki, an athlete from Nunavik. Dominik Qaqasiq from Nunavut listed seal meat, Narwhal blubber, Arctic char and caribou as his feast favourites. Two young athletes from Alaska Lily Schablein and Maddy Fortunati said this was their first time attending a traditional feast and they were excited to try local Yukon foods.

Perfect timing, because at this point the appetizers arrived: bison sliders and bannock, with butter and jam. Yum!

Emcee Gary Sidney Johnson welcomed everyone with the Tlingit word, _koo.eex’ which means ‘to invite.’ Gary told everyone that the bags of Klondike Kettle Corn and local stickers had been placed on the tables as gifts.

Krista (co-coordinator) told me that the buffet-style meal was catered by a local company Takhini River Ranch. On the entree menu was Arctic char, roast pig (that had been roasting outside for the day) and a variety of much-needed carbs, including mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese and salads. Klondike Cakes had made Dene Games and Arctic Sports themed cupcakes.

Once the tables were cleared of empty plates, there were a few speeches, including a message from Tracey Bilsky, AWG Host Society President, reminding people that the traditional feast had become a big part of the cultural experience of the AWGs. These cultural experiences continued with the Kaska Drummers. When the drumming started, people got up and danced around the perimeter of the room, inviting others to join the circle of connection and community. The Drummers received an ‘Encore!’ after their final song so they played another one. Vision Quest, a dynamic contemporary hip hop duo made up of Yudii Mercredi and Nick Johnson performed next and kept the energy going. Athletes spontaneously started taking turns hip hop dancing at the front of the room. Yudii yelled out, ‘We’ve got a room full of athletes!” which received thunderous applause, “and a room full of amazing energy!” he added.

At the end of the night, as the room was emptying, I asked a young man if he had enjoyed the feast and he made a circular motion with his right pinkie finger around his right cheek. I repeated my question and he repeated the motion with his hand and said, “This sign means, yes, I enjoyed it very much!” I believe this sentiment was shared by everyone who attended the feast tonight.

By Grace Snider