The first annual Sitnasuaġmiut Christmas Games was a success! Throughout the course of the event on December 28th, participants jumped in a series of 12 different games ranging from One Foot High Kick to Musical Chairs and Snertz. The gym was filled with laughter and amazing competitions all day and ended with a high intensity game of Eskimo Bingo!
Keepie Uppie was a fun game with the children, as they bounced around the gym trying to keep up with their flying balloons. In another game the children giggled as the adults raced around the gym trying to pop other opponents balloons that were tied to their ankle during Balloon stomp. In a surprise move the women joined forces to pop all the men’s balloons first, and proved successful! Snertz, a familiar card game to many Western Alaskans, dealt a close game as Anna Ashenfelter won the tournament by only 4 points! Toward the end of the evening the crowd was all on pins and needles as Parker Kenick attempted to kick the world record for the Alaskan High Kick, he passed the ball twice meeting his own personal best but not quite the record.
So much fun and community camaraderie was shared through the event. The Katirvik Cultural Center would like say a huge Quyana to all the volunteers and partners to help host the 1stannual Sitnasuaġmiut Christmas Games! Particular thanks goes to the planning committee: Vanessa Tahbone, Maggie Miller, Kiminaq Alvanna-Stimpfle, Krystal Hensley, and Ashley Payenna as well as our partners at NSHC and Behavioral Health Liitfik Services. We would also like to recognize and thank our donors TT Tahbone, Marjorie Tahbone, Kendra Nichols-Takak, Donna Pushruk, Jennifer Renkowski, and Pam Smith that allowed us to give cash prizes during the event.
We hope to add more days to the games next year and look forward to more positive partnerships for our community of Nome.
