News-Miner opinion: This week, Fairbanks welcomes back one of its most cherished summer traditions: the 64th annual World Eskimo-Indian Olympics.
WEIO is more than just a sporting event. It’s a living testament to Alaska Native heritage — a four-day celebration of strength, resilience and cultural pride that draws participants and spectators from every corner of the state and far beyond. From the return of the games to the Carlson Center to the intergenerational stories woven into every kick, toss, pull and dance, this year’s WEIO promises to be both a homecoming and a renewal.
Founded in 1961, WEIO began as a modest gathering aimed at preserving and sharing traditional games. Today, it stands as one of the most enduring Indigenous athletic and cultural showcases in the world. It connects communities across the circumpolar North — from Delta Junction to Dillingham, Canada to Chukotka — in a shared legacy of survival and celebration.
The competitions are extraordinary not just for their athleticism, but for what they represent. Events like the Ear Pull and the One-Foot High Kick speak directly to ancestral knowledge — simulating endurance against frostbite, signaling success in a hunt or preparing for the rigors of a northern winter. These are not sports invented for an arena; they are born of necessity, designed to train the body and mind to withstand the harshest of conditions. That this knowledge has been passed down, refined and proudly performed for six decades is a triumph in itself.
But WEIO is also evolving. It remains rooted in tradition while adapting to the modern world. Today’s young competitors — some wearing sealskin mukluks, others sporting Nikes — are living examples of how culture is not frozen in time. They compete alongside elders, drawing strength from those who came before while forging new meaning for what it means to be Indigenous in the 21st century.
WEIO is where heritage breathes. It’s Miss WEIO, draped in regalia and poise. It’s the beat of the drum and the precision of a seal-skinner’s blade. It’s the laughter of children seeing their future in the athletes on the floor. It’s the quiet pride of elders watching their traditions honored — not in museums or textbooks, but in action.
As Fairbanks hosts this remarkable event, we thank the organizers, volunteers and athletes for keeping the flame alive. We welcome families, fans and newcomers to join in witnessing not just competition, but community. And we invite everyone to see WEIO not only as a celebration of the past but as a bold promise for the future.
Let the games begin. Welcome home.
