Eskimos live throughout northern Canada, Alaska, Greenland, and eastern Siberia. They have their own culture. That means they have their own traditions, languages, art, beliefs, and ways of doing things. Much of Eskimo culture has grown out of the harsh conditions of the region where they live. It’s not surprising that the games in Eskimo culture have their roots in a polar way of life.
The World Eskimo-Indian Olympics is held every summer. Here are a few of our favorite games:
High Kick—If you are out hunting in vast, snowy lands, how do you communicate to someone a long way off? You don’t want to trudge through the snow until you are close enough to yell. So wave your arms, or kick your legs high in the air. That’s how Eskimo hunters would let people back in the village know that game had been killed.
Game: You may take a running start. But you must take off and land on the same foot. How high can you go and still touch the ball?
Toe Kick—Eskimos went out onto the sea ice to hunt. It took agility and balance to skip across cracks or to leap from one piece of floating ice to another.
Game: Leap forward with both feet. Use your toes to flick the stick backward before you land. Now move the stick farther away and try again.
One-Hand Reach—In the Arctic regions, igloos or huts were small. Here’s a game Eskimos could play in those small spaces. It takes big strength and coordination.
Game: Balance on one hand. No other part may touch the ground. Reach up and tap the ball. Raise the ball. How high can you go?
Arm Pull—After a successful hunt, it took a lot of strength to pull a seal out of an ice hole.
Game: Sit with one leg each over and one under. Hook arms at the elbow. Pull your opponent over to your side.
Ear Pull—This contest is all about pain. Who can endure the most? In Alaska, the weather can get so cold that it hurts. But sometimes, Eskimos had to be able to tough it out and keep going.
Game: A piece of sinew is looped over the ears—right-to-right or left-to-left. Contestants pull until one gives up and lets the sinew slip off.
Try the other games, but please don’t try this one. Ouch! You could get hurt.
