Shawna McLeod makes Arctic Winter Games history in Alaska

“For many years, a lot of people have been advocating to include the open women. We finally got our chance.”

Team NT won four gold ulus on the first full day of competition at the 2024 Arctic Winter Games in Alaska’s Mat-Su Valley. One of those ulus stands out.

Shawna McLeod won stick pull gold in the open women’s category – a class that allows adult women to compete in Dene Games for the first time at the Arctic Winter Games.

Cabin Radio at the Arctic Winter Games: Hear from Shawna McLeod, Carys Lyall, Lochlan Dunn, Seiya McEachern and a range of other athletes on Tuesday’s edition of Afternoons at the Cabin, from 12-3pm on Cabin Radio. Listen here

McLeod defeated her Nunavik rival in a tiebreaker.

“Nobody wanted it more than me, and I pulled with all my might and won,” she said.

McLeod, a 32-year-old from Fort Providence who now lives in Fort Simpson, first competed at the Arctic Winter Games as young teenager in 2006. Nearly two decades later, she’s back.

“I feel very overwhelmed right now to come back, 18 years later, and win the first-ever open female gold medal. It feels really good,” she said.

Robin Catholique and Canan Olvera were stick pull silver ulu winners.

With results still being finalized, NWT athletes had secured at least five other silver ulus and four bronze ulus from Monday’s events. The remaining three gold ulus came in short-track speed skating and snowshoe biathlon.

Speed skater Lochlan Dunn, pursuing Arctic Winter Games records set by Team NT alumni Michael Gilday and Sage Acorn, began his week with a comfortable victory over 1,000m in the male under-19 age bracket. Seiya McEachern took victory in the under-15 class.

“I felt ready to go. I felt really pumped for this competition and knew I was going to do really well,” said Dunn.

“My goal is to beat the records set by Sage Acorn last year – the 500m and 777m times. That’s what I’m trying to get. If I can find a way to beat Michael’s records, that’s an amazing plus, too, but Sage’s records are really what I’m aiming for here.”

McEachern said his gold ulu felt like “all the hard work is paying off.”

“I just want to keep it consistent. I don’t need to get every gold. I want to keep skating well, stay happy and work at good sportsmanship,” he said. “This is one of my favourite competitions. Everyone is so nice and close together.”

Byran Clinton and Kali Skauge picked up silver short-track ulus. 

Carys Lyall won gold in snowshoe biathlon, an event in which the Arctic Winter Games represents the competitive pinnacle.

After winning the three-kilometre under-15 race ahead of second-placed teammate Sophia Touesnard, Lyall said: “Two years ago, I had no idea snowshoe biathlon was a thing. When I learned there was snowshoe, I was super excited but had no idea I would end up in Alaska.

“My dad likes to go hunting and I wanted to learn how to shoot really well – and running is good exercise for me.”

Maisey Murray also won snowshoe biathlon silver in the U18 category. Jaxin Coombs won ski biathlon bronze at U15 level, while Elliott Fast took snowshoeing bronze.

In Arctic Sports, James Williams took silver in the triple jump event. At the snowboard hill, Carolynn Fergusson and Grayson Marchiori won bronze ulus.