Northern games draw the young
Inuvik Youth Centre hosts popular traditional activities
Andrew Livingstone
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, February 5, 2015
INUVIK
French cows, ankle-biting dogs and monkeys.
Jovian Pokiak gets some serious vertical airtime during a round of one-foot high kick at the Inuvik Youth Centre's weekly Northern games night. - Andrew Livingstone/NNSL photo
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Not your typical animals of the North, but at the Inuvik Youth Centre's weekly Northern games night, it was like a scene out of the zoo.
Each week 10 to 15 youth descend on the youth centre for two hours of traditional games. From one and two-legged high-kick to laughing games, the youth enjoy camaraderie with their peers while running, laughing and partaking in cultural growth.
And despite the frigid cold temperatures, 20 youth were in attendance Jan. 29, some trickling in after the 7 p.m. start time, throwing off their boots and snowmobile pants to jump right into the games.
Kyle Kuptana's laughter infects each child in the room. The youth all know Kuptana, and respect him when he speaks. Some of the children are a little shy, and he works hard to include them all in each game they play.
Kuptana is a dream come true for the youth centre, said executive director Renee Theoret.
"I think the kids come here for Kyle," she said. "He really encourages the girls and the young boys not to be shy and that means a lot to them and they trust him."
Theoret said his personality is larger than life and his connection with the youth in the community helps to keep the room full of children on Thursdays.
"It's a great energy to have him here," she said. "We're so lucky. Even for us as adults, he makes people feel comfortable and he's really in his element."
Joseph Semmler, drop-in supervisor at the youth centre, said when he was growing up not many children his age were involved in Northern games, adding it's important to pass on the traditions to the younger youth.
"To see how many kids like to participate now, it's great to see," he said. "It's important to stay in the culture."
Semmler added that Kuptana is respected by the children and is crucial to the success of the weekly program, which runs during the school year.
"It's awesome to have him come in because the kids, they love him," he said. "He's really good with them and knows the games so well and he's a great teacher. It would be a lot different if someone who barely knew the games taught them. He's great to have involved."
