Brent Reaney
Northern News Services

Arviat (Aug 10/05) - "Did you know she's known as the Super Granny of the summer games," the man says as she's having her picture taken, and then laughs.

Elder Annie Sewoee, 73, sits outside the community hall on the last day of the Kivalliq Traditional Summer Games, July 24.

He's referring to 73-year-old Annie Sewoee.

In the photo, Sewoee, who can't be much more than four-feet tall, is busy looking up at a chart to see how Team Arviat is doing on July 24, the final day of this year's games.

Arviat is in fifth place out of six teams, but that does not seem to bother the elder.

Even after all these years, this is a woman who truly loves the summer games.

In an interview given with translation assistance, Sewoee remembers what having the games on the land was like.

Born in 1932 near Ennadia Lake, about 100 miles northwest of Arviat, she did not move to the settlement until 1958.

Many of the games were just like those played today and she feels she was best at the juggling event.

"In the past, the games would help the body to be fit for everyday life," she said. "They're similar nowadays, but I don't remember the one-foot high kick. Maybe it's from a different region.

And it's lots of fun going to games in different communities."

She also liked to compete in tag, but says she can't run now.

Something she remembers as part of past events was a game to see who could run to the top of a rock the fastest.

She makes the motions with her hands while explaining the concept, clapping her hands together forcefully when finished.

She likes the fact the games make everybody happy, and likes to share her stories from the past, though many of her playmates have now passed away. Her message is "to enjoy life, have fun while you can, and out there, try and get along with each other."

- translation assistance by Obed Anoee