"These are actually all kind of rites of passage for northern youth in their cultures as they evolve from a youth to an adult," Rodda said. "Not many people know what they are… And it brings a huge crowd to the venues. It's amazing to watch the excitement, the energy is over the top."
This year's competitors come from Alaska, Alberta North, Greenland, the Northwest Territories, Nunavik-Quebec, Nunavut, Yukon and Sapmi . There are approximately 2,000 athletes. "It almost just sucks you in because of the chanting in the background and the kids get so engaged in this. It's remarkable," Rodda said.
The games kicked off on Jan. 29 and will finish Feb. 4 in Wood Buffalo, the municipality that contains Fort McMurray in northern Alberta. The games were planned for Whitehorse in 2020, but were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year's competition is the first since 2018.