INUVIK - For Kyle Kuptana and Noel Leigh Cockney their commitment to the traditional Northern Games has never been about the glory, it's been about sharing and carrying on a vital piece of their culture.

So when they found out last month that they were among eight male and female Inuit athletes from Inuvik, Paulatuk, Tuktoyaktuk and Yellowknife chosen to showcase their own games throughout the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games starting in February, they were over the moon.

Kyle Kuptana is shown competing in the one hand reach event at the Circumpolar Northern Games held here last August. He and Noel Leigh Cockney are among those selected to demonstrate traditional Inuit Games at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

"It's a once in a lifetime opportunity," said Kuptana, 22. "I want to show what my ancestors did and hope people see how much of a team sport it is, how we all support each other, encourage each other. That's what it's all about."

Cockney, 20, who competed in the Northern Games alongside his buddy last summer, couldn't agree more. The pair are well known for the athletic ability and have made their mark at venues such as the Arctic Winter Games, the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics in Alaska, and the 2007 Canada Winter Games.

"I love educating people on the Inuit culture, how it was in the past and how it has changed since," said Cockney.

"I'm proud of how we've been able to survive in the harsh land of the Arctic. We've been there for thousands of years. We're still up there; we're still surviving. That's worth sharing."

Inuvik resident James Williams was also selected as a member of the Inuit Games team and Karis Gruben was chosen as an alternate athlete.

The athletes were chosen by members of the Northern Games Society and territorial government officials based on skill level, a commitment to a healthy lifestyle and overall ability to showcase the Inuit culture. Robert McLeod, minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, announced the selections Sept. 16.

Kyle will also be joined by his father Donald Kuptana, a longtime Northern Games coach, who was chosen by the committee, along with Lena Kotakak of Tuktoyaktuk, to coach the crew.

Though scheduling hasn't been finalized, the group will perform during the Olympics in a medal ceremony for athletes as well as at NWT Day during Northern Weekend. They'll join several Northern artists and performers such as Inuvik's own Leanne Goose and the Inuvik Drummers and Dancers as well as 40 youth ambassadors from across NWT, including Nicole Lindsay and Tamara Voudrach from Inuvik.

In fact last weekend the group of athletes and ambassadors met in Yellowknife for orientation in preparation for the Olympics.

Elder Abel Tingmiak, a veteran Northern Games participant, will perform with the athletes during the 2010 Winter Games as a blanket toss specialist. It will be his second time being selected to perform at the Olympics; the last time was at the 1988 Winter Games in Calgary. He's confident it will be just as special this time around.

"I was really proud," he said. "It's Inuvialuit culture and we're showing it to the world."