WEIO 2009 Two Foot High Kick Video
July 21, 2009 | Tags: Alaska Native Culture, Events, Video, WEIO
Imagine a ball suspended over seven feet in the air. Imagine yourself jumping and kicking it with both feet simultaneously, only to land, feet together, without stumbling. Tough to even picture in your mind, right? Well…the participants in the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics do just that and more. Here is a taste of the action from the two foot high kick preliminary at WEIO 2009 in Fairbanks.
WEIO 2009 Two Foot High Kick from insidealaska on Vimeo.
The WEIO homepage is a great place to find more video and lots of information on the games. Also check out our previous posts on WEIO. Is this cool stuff or what?
6/26: The Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center
June 26, 2009 | Tags: Alaska Native Culture, Audio, Events
This week we take a few moments to focus on the Morris Thompson Center, the home of the Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau and a great new community gathering place. If you are (or will be) in Fairbanks, be certain to stop by and pay us a visit. There are some great things to see here, and a variety of resources for helping you plan an Alaskan adventure.
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Download the 6/26 Midday Update
Join us for our Holiday Open House
December 6, 2008 | Tags: Events
Join us for a HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center (101 Dunkel Street in downtown Fairbanks) Saturday, December 13 from 12 to 4 pm. Light refreshments will be served and there will also be crafts for the kids. The day’s schedule will look like this:
- 12 pm – the film “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer”
- 1 pm – a reading of “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus”
- 2 pm – 9th Army Band performing holiday favorites
- 3:30 pm – Athabascan fiddle tunes with the Young Fiddlers and Bill Stevens
The Morris Thompson Center is home to the Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau, Alaska Public Lands Information Center, Alaska Geographic, Denakkanaaga and Tanana Chiefs Conference Cultural Programs.
North Pole Christmas in Ice
December 3, 2008 | Tags: Christmas in Ice, Events, North Pole
Interior Alaska is known for some of the best ice art competition and viewing in the world. For the second year in a row, North Pole is making ice sculpture a centerpiece of their Christmas Festivities with Christmas in Ice 2008.
The Christmas in Ice website announces the following schedule:
Thursday, December 4
- 8:00am – Ice Carving Competition (gates open at 11:00am)
Friday, December 5
- 7:00pm to 9:00pm – Competition Judging
Saturday, December 6
- 10:00am-2:00pm – Kids Carving Challenge
- 12:00pm-2:00pm – Interior Freight Dogs Practice Pull – Free to the Public!
- 3:00pm – Ice Carving Competition Awards Ceremony
- 4:00pm – Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
- 5:00pm – Winter Carnival Fireworks Display at the North Pole Mall
Sunday, December 7
- 2:00pm – Candle Lighting Ceremony at North Pole High School
Saturday, December 13
- 12:00pm-5:00pm – Sponsored by BP! Winter Picnic! FREE Admission to the Ice Park!
Saturday, December 20
- 12:00-4:00 – Interior Freight Dogs Association Competition
Thursday, December 25
- 2:00pm – Family Christmas Celebration with Santa Claus
We interviewed North Pole Mayor Doug Isaacson last year around this time about Christmas in Ice, and are happy to see a bigger and better competition this year!
WEIO 2008 Regalia Competition
July 31, 2008 | Tags: Alaska Native Culture, Events, Video, WEIO
The craftsmanship displayed at this year’s World Eskimo-Indian Olympics Regalia was tremendous. His is a quick video montage from the pageant.
Video: Ear Pull Competition
July 29, 2008 | Tags: Alaska Native Culture, Events, Video, WEIO
One of the most amazing and grueling events in the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics can be seen here. Don’t try this (not like you would anyway) at home!
They have more great videos on weio.org. A spectator has has also put together an ear pull montage from the 2008 WEIO competition.
World Eskimo-Indian Olympics, July 16-19
July 9, 2008 | Tags: Alaska Native Culture, Events, Video, WEIO
For time immemorial, Native peoples of the circumpolar areas of the world have gathered in small villages to participate in games of strength, endurance, balance, and agility. Along with these athletic games, dancing, story telling, and other audience participation games took place. This provided an opportunity for friendly competition, entertainment and laughter. The hosts provided food and lodging, and visitors brought news from surrounding villages and expanded opportunities for challenge building and renewing old and new friendships. This is the background of the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics and the atmosphere, which we seek to replicate. – WEIO.org
The World Eskimo-Indian Olympics are a must-see competition! Fairbanks is proud to welcome every visitor and participant one week from today (July 16)!
Enjoy video clips of the many wonderful events including: the arm pull, stick pull, one hand reach, two foot high kick and blanket toss, then plan to attend today!
6/27: Golden Days, Final Grizzlies Game
June 27, 2008 | Tags: Audio, Events, Football
This week we highlight our participation in the Golden Days events coming up next month, mention Fairbanks to Frankfurt Germany flights, and the final home game for the Fairbanks Grizzlies. Play or download the update below.
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Alaska: Celebrating 50 Years of Statehood
May 16, 2008 | Tags: Events, Statehood Celebration
Alaska officially begins a two-year celebration of its history and culture in Fairbanks on May 28th by marking the 50th anniversary of its statehood, which was officially granted on January 3, 1959. A series of 50th Anniversary events are scheduled throughout the summer, here are the tentative plans for our area courtesy of Festival Fairbanks:
- Friday, May 23 – Trace Adkins in Concert at Carlson Center
- Saturday, May 24 – A Look Back at Our History – Alaska Museums Day
- Sunday, May 25 – Memorial Day
- Monday, May 26 – Memorial Day Observance
- Tuesday, May 27 – A Look Forward to the Future…AGIA Findings, Chamber’s Luncheon: Noon ~ 1pm @ Carlson Center
- Wednesday, May 28 – Bonfire, Bar-B-Q and Music at Pioneer Park (Peger Rd. back entrance) 5:30 – 8:30 PM Special Guests: Senator Ted Stevens, Senator Lisa Murkowski, Mayor Terry Strle, Mayor Jim Whitaker, Interior Delegation
- Thursday, May 29 – Elton John in Concert at the Carlson Center
- Friday, May 30 – Proud To Be Alaskan: Join us for the community festival at Pioneer Park
- Saturday, May 31 – Kite Day at Griffin Park in Downtown Fairbanks at 2pm. Free kites for the first 500 people!
The Alaska Statehood Celebration Commission has a few more details.
103rd Midnight Sun Baseball Game
May 13, 2008 | Tags: Baseball, Events, Goldpanners, Video
The Alaska Goldpanners will be hosting the California Running Birds during the 103rd Midnight Sun Game. Big news from this year’s game includes the official launch of the Goldpanners Alumni, and the addition of Bill “Spaceman” Lee as starting pitcher. This game has an amazing history, featuring some of baseball’s all-time great players, including Barry Bonds, Tom Seaver and Dave Winfield.
Find out more from the ESPN feature on the game (below) or this more recent story from Yahoo!, then be sure to put the June 21st game on your Fairbanks summer itinerary. It is one of the top ten Ultimate Baseball Experiences, and a Fairbanks Midnight Sun sports tradition.
Come see the fine young players, one of whom may emerge as the next great Major League star, during the Midnight Sun Game at Growden Memorial Park on June 21, 2008! Full details can be found at the Goldpanners homepage.
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