TNQ Arctic Winter Games News March 2016: Nuuk, Greenland

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1 TNQ Arctic Winter Games News March 2016: Nuuk, Greenland Even during regularly blowing snow, Games volunteers remained ready with a smile and a helping hand to show visitors where to go or what to do. And while many events lost a day of competition due to weather delays to start the games, the organizers kept everything on track. Nuuk Greenland s capital city of 17,000 is surrounded by dramatic, snow covered fjords and last held the games in Its unique mix of Inuit and Danish culture made for an interesting experience for TNQ s athletes, cultural performers, mission staff and coaches. TNQ Dominates Dene Games: Nunavik has traditionally been strong in Arctic Sports and Dene Games, and this AWG was no different with 13 of the team s 21 Ulus earned in Dene Games competitions such as finger pull, stick pull, pole push and hand games. In this photo, the Open Male team pushes its way to a Silver Ulu.

2 Top of the podium: In this photo, Sarah Angnatuk accepts her Gold Ulu while Saviluk Thomassie earns a bronze in the Dene Games overall Juvenile Female category. The highest kick: Inukjuak s Deseray Cumberbatch competes in the one foot high kick. She earned four ulus in one foot high kick, triple jump, sledge jump and arm pull, which brings her six games total to 29. A veteran of six AWGs, she later described Nuuk as her best ever games experience, which may have something to do with her dad watching her live for the first time. Cumberbatch s father is one of many Nunavik parents who travelled to Nuuk to cheer on TNQ athletes.

3 Sharing knowledge: Resident TNQ Elder, Louisa Cookie Brown, meets with Greenlandic elders to share stories and perspectives from both regions. Cookie Brown helped support the athletes and lifted team morale through her positive spirit and good nature. Coach competes: Philippe Balthazar competes in the sledge jump. Balthazar coached the TNQ Arctic Sports contingent, won two fair play pins and nearly a bronze ulu in the sledge jump Open Male category. He also organizes Arctic Sports competitions in his home community.

4 Eye on the (table tennis) ball: Charlotte Aculiak hones in on a shot during her singles competition. Selected as the TNQ Flag Bearer for the 2016 AWG, she was unfortunately stuck in transit during the opening ceremonies. Even so, she represented TNQ and Inukjuak well, winning another Bronze Ulu in Junior Female singles and a Fair Play pin. TNQ in the Media: Alongside the usual reports from local regional outlets on TNQ athletes and cultural performances, this games saw the team s stories go international. Telefrance1 did a number of stories on the team and TNQ Dene Games and Arctic Sports athletes were featured on CNN s website. There was even a story done by a media outlet in Australia!

5 Message from the Chef de Mission Along with a week of great sport and excellent TNQ results, Chef de Mission Nancianne Grey appreciated the experience of being in Nuuk. "Members of Team Nunavik Quebec feel they've gained many new friends. Also, sharing information about who we are as Inuit has helped us realize how much we have in common with Greenlandic Inuit, says Grey. It's also opened our eyes to how large the Inuit world really is." Message from the KRG Chairperson I was incredibly impressed and honoured to watch our athletes and cultural performers do our region proud, says Jennifer Munick, KRG Chairperson. Our government supports the healthy lifestyles and cultural sharing that the games promote. That s why we ll continue pushing for greater Nunavik involvement in this incredible circumpolar event. Currently competing in Arctic Sports, Dene Games, Badminton, Table Tennis, Snowshoe and Cross country Skiing, the KRG s hoping to increase the number of sports TNQ can compete in. Hockey s of particular interest as it s incredibly popular in the region.

6 See you in 2018 in the South Slave! The next games will be co hosted in 2018 by the communities of Hay River and Fort Smith in the South Region of the Northwest Territories. Held every two years, the Arctic Winter Games started in 1967 in Yellowknife, NWT as a way for circumpolar athletes to compete in sport while also preserving traditional games cultural activities. Sponsors: Many thanks Team Nunavik Quebec would like to thank the following sponsors: Glencore Raglan Mine, Hydro Québec, Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton, Makivik Corporation, the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services, the Ministère de l'éducation, du Loisir et du Sport, all the Northern Villages and the KRG staff. TNQ Final Nuuk Ulu Count

7 TNQ Games Photo Gallery

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