Native Youth Olympics

Our high schoolers were back in school today after being in Anchorage for several days.  We had to do some creative restructuring with our schedules last week so we wouldn't have classes with only one student because we had so many gone.  The majority of our students were in Anchorage competing in the Native Youth Olympics.  Alaska holds this competition each year to honor the traditional native cultures in the state.  These events look nothing like what you see in the standard Olympics, but require as much skill and strength and a tolerance for pain.  Each event represents a skill necessary in their traditional subsistence lifestyle and the kids take great pride in being a part of the activity.  They've been training and practicing every day for the last few months and were very excited to get to go.  Not all of us could go, but one of the schools broadcast the competitions on their website so we could cheer them on from the classroom.

Timmy - he rests his entire body on the knuckles
of one hand while reaching with the other hand
 for a ball suspended above him

Tania - she holds one foot with one hand while
supporting her body with the other hand and
jumping to kick a ball suspended directly
above her