The World Eskimo-Indian Olympics (WEIO) began in 1961 as the World Eskimo Olympics. The event was initially held along the Chena River in downtown Fairbanks, Alaska, during the Golden Days celebration, sponsored by the City of Fairbanks and its Chamber of Commerce. The first World Eskimo Olympics drew participants and dance teams from Barrow, Unalakleet, Tanana, Fort Yukon, Noorvik, and Nome. The success of this event led to it becoming an annual tradition.

Historically, Native peoples from circumpolar regions gathered in small villages to participate in games that tested strength, endurance, balance, and agility. These gatherings also included dancing, storytelling, and audience participation games, creating opportunities for friendly competition, entertainment, and socializing. Hosts provided food and lodging, while visitors shared news, fostering community bonds and renewing friendships. This tradition inspired the creation of the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics, aiming to replicate this atmosphere.  In the early years, key figures like A. E. “Bud” Hagberg and Frank Whaley, employees of Wien Airways, organized the initial events, with Bill English and Tom Richards, Sr., serving as emcees. The rapid development of Alaska and the influence of non-Native cultures in rural areas raised concerns that these traditional games might be lost.
The first event featured four Eskimo dance groups, two Indian dance groups, and competitors in events like the high-kick, blanket toss, seal skinning, and the Miss Eskimo Olympics Queen Contest. Exhibitions included the teeter board and Eskimo “piggyback” baby buggy show, setting the stage for a four-day event. In 1970, the Tundra Times, Alaska’s only statewide Native newspaper, took over the sponsorship from the Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce. The Tundra Times Board of Directors saw it as a fundraiser to support the newspaper’s mission, as defined by founder and editor Howard Rock, to aid the Alaska Native movement. In 1973, the board renamed the event to the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics to better represent its participants’ diverse ethnicities. Over the years, WEIO has grown, attracting increasing crowds, record-breaking performances, and more villages sending dance groups and athletes. In 1976, an independent, non-profit corporation, World Eskimo-Indian Olympics, Inc., was formed to manage the event. This 501(c)(3) organization relies on gate proceeds, merchandise sales, and donations from friends and corporate partners.
Throughout its 60-plus year history, WEIO has gained global media attention, with coverage from magazines like Cosmopolitan, People, and USA Today, and appearances on shows like Good Morning America, the Learning Channel, Discovery Channel, CNN, ESPN, and the Tonight Show. International television programs have also featured WEIO, highlighting its cultural significance and rich history.  Each year, four awards honor contributions to WEIO: the A. E. “Bud” Hagberg Memorial Sportsmanship Athletic Award, the Howard Rock Memorial Outstanding Athlete Award, the Frank Whaley Award for Outstanding Contributions, and the Olive Anderson Volunteer Award. Survival has always been a core theme for Alaska’s Native people. Elders’ stories highlight the need for physical and mental discipline, cooperation, and reverence for nature’s resources. They lived off the land, relying on hunting, fishing, and gathering for sustenance, clothing, and medicine. Strength, agility, and endurance were essential for survival, as failure could mean the difference between life and death.

Photos courtesy of Alaska.org, Quiltripping, www.Smithsonianmag.com, flu-taganskij.ru, BBC and the Yukon