An Inuit wrestling tournament in Ulukhaktok brought the community together last week as residents competed for prizes and – in some cases – gave wrestling a try for the first time.
One of the organizers, Monique Smith, estimates about 80 people came out to the tournament on July 24.
Youth, adults and Elders all participated, from the youngest wrestler who was around five years old to the oldest who was 81, Smith said.
The event included games, a BBQ, drumming, dancing, wrestling matches and instruction from Smith, Jacob Klengenberg and Lauren Evans.
Smith, who was previously a temporary school counsellor in Ulukhaktok, began a wrestling program while she was in the community.
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Now, Smith works for Athletes in Action, which hosted last week’s tournament, and volunteers with NWT Amateur Wrestling, which sponsored the event.
Since Smith has left Ulukhaktok, Jacob Klengenberg, who was previously involved with the wrestling program, has stepped up as its head coach. The program includes physical training as well as practice using wrestling moves.
Klengenberg teaches at Helen Kalvak School and helps run morning and after-school programming, which includes time allotted for wrestling.
In 2023, he received the Aboriginal Sports Circle NWT Coach of the Year Award.
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“He is an incredible mentor,” Smith said. “I can’t speak enough about Jacob … he is an incredible young man.”
Smith estimates that between 15-20 kids have taken part in the wrestling program since it started.
Last week’s tournament, however, was open to all ages, giving the community a chance to see what wrestling is all about and a chance to try it or get more involved in the future.
Klengenberg said tournaments like this are special to the community because “they bring us together.”
“It was sort of like a gathering where the whole community could come out, partake in a sport and laugh, enjoy each other’s time,” he said.
It was great to see people participating and having fun, Klengenberg added and see all the people who came out to support them.
“Even if they’re not participating, we had a lot of people in the crowd who just cheered on, and a lot of people who were there to support their grandchildren or their children,” he said. “It was a really good night.”
Klengenberg participated in the wrestling competition himself, and won first prize in his match, although he said he gave the prize back and let someone else take it.
“I even participated in the dancing, which I wouldn’t normally do,” Klengenberg said.
“Coming together as a community, it allows us to be ourselves … and the Inuit wrestling tournament allowed us to feel each other’s presence again.”
