The Arctic Winter Games draw athletes from Alaska, Yukon, northern Alberta, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, northern Quebec, Greenland, Sápmi (in the northern reaches of Sweden, Norway, Finland and Russia) and Russia’s Yamal peninsula to compete in sports ranging from hockey and table tennis to traditional Arctic sports like the jaw-dropping two-foot high kick and knuckle hop.
The biennial event got its start when a contingent from Canada’s north competed at the Canada Games in the late 1960s and got trounced by the more wealthy and populous provinces to the south. To level the playing field and give their athletes a chance at success, a small group of politicians and coaches organized a games where northern athletes could compete “on their own terms, on their own turf.” One of the founders, Stuart Hodgson, called it “the best idea since 7-Up.” The first instance of the Arctic Games took place in Yellowknife in 1970, with Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in attendance. Since then, athletes from the Circumpolar North have gone on to compete (and win) at national and international events, including the Olympics.
Photographer Pat Kane covered the 25th Arctic Winter Games in the towns of Hay River and Fort Smith, Northwest Territories. Here’s his photo essay from the games which ran from March 17-24.
A group of athletes walk to events in the small town of Fort Smith, Northwest Territories.