A flock of green and teal jackets identifies the 2024 Mat-Su Arctic Winter Game volunteers, each adjourned with a graphic-designed songbird on its back . Is it a Sparrow? A Junko? A Whiskey Jack? None of the above. It's a Chickadee! Angie, the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for Chickaloon Native Village, first nominated the Chickadee as the animal ambassador for 2024 Mat-Su Arctic Winter Game. In favor of a new, more reverent representation of the spirit of the Games and our animal ambassador, the Mat-Su Chickadee, a culturally significant bird to the Mat-Su Valley, serves as the official animal ambassador of the 2024 games, rather than a caricatured mascot. “Birds taught us how to speak, then we forgot how to listen,” she said. “Each bird has its own role for us.” Rain Wade, a culture-bearer for Chickaloon Native Village, said the Chickadee works well for the Arctic Winter Games. “They are non-threatening and non-competitive, having a good time and hanging out in groups. Everyone welcomes them,” like the athletes in the Games. “And they’re just so darned cute.” The Chickadee is Ne’inne in the Ahtna Dene language. The literal translation is “our thoughts.” The Ahtna say that the call of a Chickadee, or being followed in the forest by a Chickadee, means that someone is thinking of you. It is one of the few birds that stays in the Mat-Su area of Alaska all winter. Ne’iine brings a smile and makes everyone happy even in the dark mid-winter days. Katie Wade, clan grandmother for Chickaloon Native Village, loved to watch the black and white bird flitting in and out of a huge lilac bush in front of her house in Sutton. The 2024 Mat-Su Arctic Winter Games Ne’inne pins and stickers help preserve memories of athletes, new friends, experiences, and the beauty of Alaska. Next time you see a Chickadee, on a pin, a jacket or in a tree, know that the green and teal volunteers, along with the rest of the Mat-Su community, are thinking of you.

Kyla Kahrs sat down for an interview with Alaskan photojournalist, documentary photographer, and filmmaker Katie Basile. Katie’s work focuses on her home, the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region. She has appeared on PBS NewsHour as well as in The Washington Post Magazine, NPR, and The New York Times. Kyla: How did you get into photography? Katie: I was introduced to photography in junior high. We were still shooting film and working in the dark room at that point, and I fell in love with it. I later went to school for photojournalism and have worked in media for the past 12 years. Kyla: What has it meant for you to be involved in documenting different peoples throughout the world and showcasing the youth of your homeland? Katie: Photography and filmmaking have allowed me to meet and connect with so many incredible people throughout Alaska and the world. I love sharing that passion with youth by teaching multimedia workshops and classes in Bethel where I grew up. When I was a kid, most of the films and photographs about Alaska were produced by people from outside the state. It's important for Alaskans to author our own stories, and I hope that by sharing my love for photography and filmmaking I can encourage youth to make storytelling a part of their lives. Kyla: What has been your favorite project? Katie: In 2022 I worked with a youth drone club in Napakiak, Alaska to document their eroding shoreline. We interviewed community members and they sketched out some of their memories of the land before it eroded away on drone images of the shoreline. The final piece was a five-minute digital story. I loved the way we all collaborated to tell the community's stories and learn more about their efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Kyla: How did you get involved in AWG? What has been your favorite event/experience? Katie: I did another storytelling project in the Mat-Su Valley a few years ago. A colleague I worked with on that project is on the Arctic Winter Games planning team and she reached out to see if we could work on a storytelling project to celebrate Alumni Athletes. I was so excited when she reached out! Kyla: What is your favorite piece at the Depot this week? Do you have a picture you could share to put in the newsletter? Katie: I have so many favorites! I'll share a few. Kyla: Any funny anecdotes for the kids reading? Katie: This week we met two women who played basketball for Team Alaska in 1970. They came to our photobooth to share their memories of the Arctic Winter Games. One of them, Linda Chapman Cordle, said that during the 1970 Arctic Winter Games in Northwest Territories she met another teenager who brought her to a snowmachine race. Linda told him that she wished she could join the race so he found a snowmachine for her and brought her to the starting line. Before she knew it, she was racing down the course. As she was crossing the finish line she saw an official wave a checkered flag, and it turned out that she had won the race! She joked that she went to the Arctic Winter Games to play basketball and she ended up winning a snowmachine race! Kyla: Is there anything else you would like readers to know? Katie: We have a pop-up portrait studio at The Depot in Palmer for alumni athletes. It's only open on Tuesday, March 12. I hope more alumni athletes stop by for a quick photo and interview. I'd like to collect as many stories as we can!

Under high lenticular clouds* with interludes of bright blue over the mountains, ten boys lined up behind the orange starting line striped across the packed snow. All competitors were 15 years old or younger, and they all wore short, wooden-framed snowshoes with criss-crossed moose sinew webbing and traditional mukluks. Their competition snowshoes were reminiscent of the ones traditionally created in the Ahtna style, renowned for the ease with which people could run in them. At the starting horn, they all broke as a pack. Each snowshoer launched into a smooth loping run, swinging legs in a shifting rhythm that would keep them going for the next 2.5 km (1.6 miles). Five minutes later, a group of eight girls leapt off the starting line and down the wide snow track. On the side lines, coaches jogged up and down with their teams, warming up for the 5km race. “They use the same muscles as in speed-skating”, said Janet Morrill. It was the first time that Janet and her husband Cam – originally from Winnipeg – had attended the Arctic Winter Games. They, and relatives from Yellowknife and Fort Simpson, came to cheer on Lyndsey Stipdonk. Lyndsey is 12 years old, competing as part of Team Northwest Territories. Lyndsey’s father, Chris, holds the world championship in knuckle-hop. Teams from Northwest Territories, Alaska, Alberta North, Nunavik, and Yukon Territories were competing in 2.5 km or 5 km races. Racers were in age groups of youth born in 2009 or later, or youth born in 2015 or later. Racers came down the final stretch to spectators yelling encouragement and ringing cowbells. First-time runners Micah McConnell and Sylas Sanderson of Team Yukon crossed the line first and second, with Micah standing out in red and black flannel. Lung-pumping exhaustion slowed to deep breathing. Charlotte Adkins of Team Alberta North and Mikayla Saviadjuk-Paquet of Team Nunavik, both age 14, were the first in for the girls 2.5 km race, followed by Sigrid Eller and Kaia Rose Mangaccat, both of Juneau Alaska. Young Lyndsey came jogging across the line in sixth place, a great finish for her first Arctic Winter Games event! We applaud all the young snow-runners for their balance and persistence in this sport! *Did you know? Lenticular (/lenˈtikyələr/) clouds are shaped like a lens or an eye, and if you see them high in the sky, it’s a sign that the wind is blowing over the mountains like a wave.. If you’re standing on the ground, you might feel a very strong gusty wind in one spot, but a few hundred meters away, the air will feel completely still.

What to do in the Valley? From exploring local cafes, local history and the great outdoors, there is so much to experience. In downtown Palmer on Colony Way, you’ll find the Palmer Museum of History and Art where you can learn about the establishment and development of Palmer. The museum offers local scavenger hunts, tours, and a gift shop perfect for souvenirs. Continuing towards downtown, Colony Way becomes S. Alaska Street, where you’ll find local cafes for your daily coffee fix. Vagabond Blue's has fresh brewed coffee from local vendors and daily fresh food options, including gluten-free choices. For a laid-back vibe and delicious acai bowls, smoothies, and teas, head to The Fern on Dahlia and Cobb. Further up Alaska street, you’ll come across the classic Valley Hotel coffee shop and Turkey Red, which serves Mediterranean-inspired food, and fresh baked goods. Alaska has more coffee shops per-capita than any U.S state, so there are plenty of local coffee huts, to stop for coffee, red-bull italian sodas and lotus drinks before morning games. Stop by Perk Up, Perfect Start, Elwoods, or Purple Moose to try the AWG drink specials. If you prefer a sit-down restaurant, visit the Noisy Goose across from the Alaska State Fair Grounds known for its friendly family-run atmosphere and comical wall signs. After sampling the Valley's delicious food,  get outside and enjoy some local outdoor activities.  There are lots of different outdoor activities to engage in. Right near Palmer are trails in the Butte and on Lazy Mountain. Or drive north up the Parks Highway to Talkeetna and visit Denali National Park. If you are lucky you may get a glimpse of the elusive peak of Mount Denali. East of Palmer, visit the Matanuska Glacier for hiking or helicopter tours. Nearby, Sheep Mountain Lodge offers skiing and hiking. For more sport-oriented activities, and a scenic drive head south from Anchorage to Girdwood, where Alyeska Resort offers downhill skiing and snowboarding. This is only a glimpse of some of the local stores and activities in the Valley. There's so  more to explore during your stay for the Arctic Winter Games. Happy Exploring!

The view from Skeetawk was breathtaking this morning as the sun lit up the Chugach Mountains across the Mat-Su Valley on one side, and illuminated the jagged ridges of the Talkeetnas on the other. The temperature hovered around 25F (-3.89C) degrees with minimal wind–perfect conditions for the opening day of the alpine competitions. The single three-person chair lift was running and open to the public, and locals gathered to make the most of the great conditions and excellent views from the rotating lift. The mix of local skiers and boarders along with competitors is fitting for the community ski area.  Skeetawk is derived from the Dena'ina word Shk'ituk't, which means "where we (all) slide down.”  Today, the lower terrain park was alive with snowboarders while giant slalom racers sped down the Cat-accessed mid-mountain runs. On the top of the slope, the Rail Jam competition rallied over a 100 yard (92m) run. Four different rails challenged riders in each of two parallel runs. With the very last rail close to a steep embankment, practice runs were important to ensure that athletes knew to take the last one at a speed just fast enough to carve out one last turn- but not so fast so as to go off the edge. The riders practiced on the rails, taking them one at a time and respecting each other’s space. If an athlete fell off a rail, those waiting above to “drop in” to the course patiently waited while the area cleared. As athletes descended the course, a wiggle of the hips positioned the board crosswise to the mountain and allowed them to check their speed before taking a rail. Later in the afternoon, athletes were scheduled to compete over an hour and a half of snowboarding tricks and skills. In snowboarding, each run is not scored, but the progression of difficulty of the athlete’s tricks is noted over the collection of runs. An overall score for style is determined at the end of the group of runs. Northwest Territories parents Cynthia White and Jennifer Lavers watched and cheered as team members warmed up on the course. “Ideally they choose their moves and line at the top of the course,” White said. “During the competition, they will need to advance their moves with each run, in order to earn a better score.” Four athletes came out on top after today’s Rail Jam competitions: Miah Gillis (U14F) is bringing home the gold for Alberta North while Team Yukon’s Aven Sutton (U16F), Leo Spiers Leung (U14M), and Stian Langbakk (U16M) secured the remaining three golden ulus! AWG concerns itself with safety within all competitions, and safety in alpine sports is no different. Ski patrol plays a vital role with athletes reaching speeds of 70-95 miles per hour in the Giant Slalom and the potential of injury during a Rail Jam. Skeetawk’s dedicated professional ski patrol and AWG volunteers are supported by a nine-person group from Minnesota. Over 70 athletes will be competing in alpine sports over the course of the AWG. Bryanna Kollmann, a professional ski patroller in Minnesota just happened to know one of the alpine sport coordinators for AWG. He asked if she would come up for the Games and she said, “Sure! Can I bring some friends?” Mary Helm is a registered nurse on the Minnesota ski patrol. She emphasized the efforts to keep the athletes safe. The ski patrollers work together with a “safety first” mantra. They approve everything from checked equipment before competition, to the groomed surfaces, to safety logistics regarding the athlete transport vehicles. The ski patrol is ready to respond to injuries and save lives. “If they fall, we haul!,” Mary said.

Birdies Zip in Badminton Birdies zipped. Players dove and smashed. A psych-out “dink” nearly made it past the player at the net. The gym was packed wall-to-wall on Monday with six active badminton courts. Volunteer sweepers attended one court to keep the surface clear of debris and sweat. For those not fluent in badminton, the sport is fast paced, played either as single’s game per side or as a doubles pair working together to keep the shuttlecock from touching the ground. Rallies between doubles pairs didn’t last very long today at Colony High School; players quickly sized up the location of their opponents on the court and aimed their shuttlecocks for the gaps where rackets couldn’t reach. Badminton originated around 400 years ago, played primarily in Greece and Asia, and is now the second most played sport in the world. The highest quality shuttlecocks are made from sixteen goose feathers–specifically from the bird’s left wing– and are sewn onto a natural cork base which is covered by a thin layer of leather. The fastest speed of a shuttlecock ever clocked during a competition was 259 mph (approx. 417 kph) hit by Lee Chong Wei from Malaysia in Tokyo, Japan in 2017. Methma De Silva of Team Alberta North was excited to compete at Colony High School in Palmer today. She started playing badminton in grade seven, just for fun. “It’s totally random that I’m playing badminton”, said De Silva. Her friend’s uncle was a coach and talked her into joining a team. As it turns out, De Silva was really good at Badminton! Ever since, she’s been competing in matches in Canada, but this year’s Arctic Winter Games is De Silva’s first international Badminton competition. “We practice as a single, standing in the middle of the court so that we have to reach all areas of the court by ourselves.” This helps players get comfortable with their reach around the entire court, using both forehand and backhand swings. “Getting to the birdie is the hardest thing to master”, she said. “It’s easier to move your arms quickly, but getting the rest of your lower half to move quickly too, can be challenging.” Players try to take advantage of that slight delay between the incoming sight of a shuttlecock zooming across the net, and the time it takes to get one’s body positioned to return the birdie back to the other team. Paningaya Kiatainaq (Nunavut) loves the thrill of the trick shot: using a backhand hit from the far left back line to smash the shuttlecock to the opposite far corner on the right. A power player who plays the backfield in her doubles team, she’s only been playing badminton for four months. Her sisters convinced her to play and compete with her team at the 2024 Arctic Winter Games because they’d previously competed, too, in years past. When asked “what is most fun about badminton?” Kiatainaq answered with a gleam in her eye and a huge smile. “Winning!”

We saw our youth excel tonight at the men’s basketball game featuring Team Alaska and Team Yukon. It was a display of sportsmanship and leadership at its prime.. With eager anticipation, we felt the charged atmosphere swirling around us as the teams made their first entrance. Team Alaska burst out of their locker rooms at a heroic stride.  Yukon tiptoed at the growing cheers of their fans. Alaska started strong, scoring 4 points right away. Cheers for Yukon grew with every score, resulting in a 4-4 tie. Despite some rough falls and hard slides both teams showed remarkable resilience, always swiftly getting back on their feet. After some encouragement from their coach, Yukon took the lead, prompting frantic cheers from the audience. Throughout the game both teams displayed determination and drive. Despite Alaska’s efforts to cut Yukon’s lead, Yukon maintained their advantage, leading 42-25 by the end of the second quarter. As the game progressed, Alaska fought hard to narrow the gap, eventually bringing the score to 53-47. The tension in the room was palpable as both teams fought relentlessly. The crowd erupted with joy and amazement as Team Alaska closed in on Yukon’s lead, eventually taking a momentary lead themselves. With the score tied multiple times, the fourth period became a wild frenzy of excitement, with elated fans bouncing in the bleachers. Blood rushing, the teams gathered again, Alaska still in the lead! A wild chant pealed out for Yukon.  “Yukon do it!” echoed across the court. We saw the score rise again to yet another tie.  Despite Alaska’s efforts Yukon managed to score the win in the end. The final buzzer marking the end of an exhilarating and well-fought game.

Since its inception in 1970, the Arctic Winter Games has hosted large scale international events, and have made it a point to acknowledge and appreciate the lands on which the games are played. But this year, through strategic local partnerships, the 2024 Arctic Winter Games’ Sustainability Committee is making changes to further reduce impact on the environment. Small intentional projects have the power to make a larger impact than you’d think. That’s why this year, elimination of single-use materials, composting, and recycling are major focus areas for the 2024 AWG Sustainability Committee. Thanks to Gateway Community Council and other generous sponsors, volunteers and participants are now armed with reusable water bottles and have easy access to refilling stations. As a result, single-use water bottles have been nearly eliminated from the event altogether, preventing thousands of tossed plastic bottles from entering Alaska’s landfills and waterways. The Sustainability Committee has also taken steps to eliminate single-use materials across cafeterias, sporting events, and athlete villages, and compostable versions are being supplied instead. Receptacles are available to collect used compostable materials and food waste, which will go to local farms. Unused prepared food will be donated to local nonprofits to feed hungry folks in the Valley, and further decrease food waste. AWG has even assigned specific volunteers to help with waste management, and help attendees place their trash and food scraps in the correct bin– whether it be compostable, recyclable, or trash. These new initiatives join sustainability efforts implemented in previous years, including reusable signage and pop-up tents featuring the Arctic Winter Games signature colors and logos, so they can be used in this round of the Games and those to come in the future. Additionally, much of the media content, marketing materials, handbooks, and volunteer guides are available digitally, significantly cutting down on the amount of discarded paper waste resulting from this monumental week-long event. The AWG International Committee kindly asks that you consider supporting local sustainability projects and nonprofits throughout the 2024 Games experience, and beyond. If you would like to help support the sustainability efforts of the 2024 Arctic Winter Games, you can learn more and take actions at www.awg2024.org/sustainability. Thanks for helping us keep Alaska clean, beautiful, and healthy for all of us. Every international event brings a potentially significant toll on the land. Committees for some other international sporting events build brand new facilities in which to hold events then abandon them once the games have ended. In contrast, the Arctic Winter Games use scheduling and careful planning to use existing area infrastructure.

Team Alberta North from Canada has competed in the Arctic Winter Games since 1986. This year they are competing in 17 of the 20 sports in total. Team Alberta has 250 participants including 192 athletes, 43 coaches, two cultural participants, and 13 mission staff. Featuring 93 male athletes and 99 female athletes, and two female cultural participants, they represent 28 different communities n\orth of the 55th parallel in Northern Alberta. The youngest member of Team Alberta North, ten-year-old Kateyln Siebert from Sexsmith, is looking forward to competing in gymnastics which kicks off on Wednesday. The team’s oldest participant, Michael Boudreau (21) from Fort Chipewyan, is competing in the Dené games. After the 2022 Games were postponed, Team Alberta North hosted the Games in 2023 in Wood Buffalo where they collectively won 144 medals: 42 gold, 60 silver, and 42 bronze. Théa Thompson of Peace River carried Alberta North’s flag on Sunday’s opening ceremonies representing women's hockey. Thompson competed internationally in the 2022 Lions Cup in Finland and won a golden ulu at last year’s Games. Isabella Scheers from Fort McMurray and Nikita Tsyruk from Grand Prairie proudly carried the team’s banner Sunday. Scheers is representing Figure skating, while Tsyruk is excited to represent wrestling. Discover more about the Alberta North’s team website at https://teamalberta.org/arctic-winter-games/. Did you know? Dene Games allow adult participants in some events. This combination of age groups is a part of handing culture on to the next generation.

The Menard Center in Wasilla was rocking today as athletes proudly marched in from all over the Arctic. They were there to represent their homes in the Indian Stick Pull competition. Each region cheered on their teammates' feet stomping on the bleachers, voices vibrating across the complex as the energy rose to a crescendo. In the end, for the boys, Jasper Charlie from Yukon, Canada snatched the gold ulu. Canan Joe Olverra, representing North West Territories, took the silver ulu. Aqqalu Lukassen, from Kalaallit Nunaat, won the bronze ulu and third place. The girls' teams were as energized and as fierce competitors as the boys were. At the end of the day, Maria Aitchison representing Nunavik took first place and received the gold ulu in the girls' competition.  Followed by Myka Quist, snatching  the silver ulu for second place. Alohna Johnson won the bronze ulu for third place. It was for Team Alaska. The Indian Stick Pull competition has its roots in the Dene people. They wanted to keep their fish-grabbing skills sharp all year. To strengthen their hand and arm muscles, they grease a stick with bear fat, to mimic a slippery salmon. These days, practitioners use Crisco instead of bear fat. They use it to slather up those sticks. It’s important to keep those muscle groups toned and ready for fish harvesting. Competitors stand facing opposite directions, with their feet and shoulders touching each other. Then they both grasp the greasy stick. They hold on with sheer will. Their muscles tense. Their faces scrunch up. They look determined and pained. Many of the athletes look toward the heavens, for added strength. When the body gets weak, the mind gets strong! The determination to hold on a bit longer reaches its limit, enabling one to bring home the gold!

We are the people of the North! The chants echoed in unison throughout the arena as the Mat-Su 2024 Arctic Winter Games officially commenced with an inspiring opening ceremony. The Menard Center arena, decked out in vibrant teal, purple, and silver, was packed with enthusiastic spectators. As the ceremony began, teams from across the Arctic, including the Northwest Territories, Yukon, Nunavut, Kalaallit Nunaat, Nunavik-Quebec, Northern Alberta, Sápmi, and the host contingent Alaska, paraded into the arena amidst waves of cheering fans, their spirits and determination high. Following the teams' entrance, the ceremony continued with an opening prayer, invoking blessings for a successful and harmonious event, followed by the playing of the national anthems– each one symbolizing the pride and heritage of the participating countries. This year's theme song was crafted by none other than the internationally acclaimed rock group, Portugal. The Man, hailing from Wasilla, Alaska. The custom-crafted theme song is called “Runners in the Snow” and totally captures the spirit of the circumpolar north and the overall positive vibes of the 2024 Arctic Winter Games. Opening Ceremonies festivities continued with vibrant speeches from various leaders, underscoring the importance of friendship, cultural exchange, and fair play. Nancy Dahlstrom, Lt. Governor of Alaska, noted, “It’s not just about sports, it’s about the cultural exchanges, the friendships formed, and shared experiences that transcend borders. The Games are a testament to the spirit of the Arctic North, a spirit of resilience, camaraderie, and mutual respect.” Musical performances also included a moving traditional dance by Yah Ne Dah Ah School from Chickaloon. Ashley Young, a Tlingit musician, also took to the stage, her soulful voice weaving a tapestry of melodies that clearly resonated with and moved the audience. Two young tribal members from the Chickaloon village proceeded to ignite the ceremonial torch, symbolizing the eternal flame of hope and solidarity that burns bright throughout the duration of the Games. With the torch ablaze and the spirit of competition ignited, the Mat-Su 2024 Arctic Winter Games officially began, promising days filled with thrilling athletic feats, cultural exchanges, and unforgettable memories for all. As the Opening Ceremony concluded, I had the privilege of speaking with the parents of an athlete preparing for her second Arctic Winter Games experience. Their pride and excitement was evident as they shared their daughter's journey and the significance of this momentous occasion. Esther Kim said, “we love that the kids get such a wonderful opportunity, it’s great they get to come here and show off what they’ve been working so hard for. It’s really cool for Alaska too so we’re just looking forward to it!” Her daughter, Ruby Kim, age 11, will be competing in Figure Skating later this week. As the world turns its gaze towards the Arctic, the stage is set for a celebration of sport, unity, and the enduring human spirit. As Amy Spargo, AWG Host Society Chair, stated, “If you are wondering what the future is for the North, look no further than this beautiful sight right before you. We are the people of the North.”

Shoes squeaked on the polished hardwood gym floor and the crowd called out encouragement to blue- and red-clad U16 female Futsal players running back and forth across the court this afternoon. A woman next to me spoke up, “It’s the first game of the day, and it’s a good one!” Squeezing onto the packed bleachers, I found myself a seat just as the game was nearing its end. With a deep thud, the ball hit the goalpost and bounced into the net, causing the spectators to cheer, or groan loudly, depending on which team they were rooting for. Alberta North scored! The Alberta North and Yukon U16 females played hard for the final few minutes of the game, and Alberta North secured the win with a final score of 2-1. Next up was Sápmi v Alaska, U16 male division. Sápmi scored four minutes into the game and continued to score regularly with machine-like precision throughout the game. Team Alaska kept up their high energy, covering all corners of the court, but saved most of their goal attempts for the second half. The Sápmi team members worked well together, synchronized, setting up plays, and executing them with a clear strategy. “This is a really good team!” I overheard one impressed spectator say to a friend. At halftime, the scoreboard read 7-0. Despite Team Alaska playing much closer to their opponents and making more bold goal attempts during the second period, Sápmi was the stronger team in the end, winning the game 10-4. After the game, Sápmi players Nipa Aasprong, Leon Nergård Boine, Vegjørn Torle, were elated with the win as they gathered their gear and stopped to chat with me. Sápmi is a cultural region that includes the countries of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia, and most players on the Sápmi team are bilingual, if not trilingual. “English is actually my third language.” Torle noted with a smile. And contrary to what their team coordination might imply, the U16 male division Sápmi team had very little practice playing with one another until today. “No, no, we haven’t practiced at all,” the players laughed. Boine explained. “We haven’t practiced as a team except for once at the tryouts.” Torle confirmed that the tryouts were back in November 2023, and they hadn’t played together as a team since then. Aasprong chimed in. “Out of twenty [players] at tryouts, [coaches] choose only nine people to compete at the Arctic Winter Games. We are happy to be playing here.” Before bidding the players farewell, I tossed out one more question: what would you like to say to our Ulu News readers? Aasprong immediately clapped his hands together and cheered “Sápmi!” then clarified, “it’s the indigenous people. Sápmi!”