Native Youth Olympics

As the P.E. teacher at our village school, I've had the opportunity to "teach" a unit on the Native Youth Olympics. This was actually quite intimidating for me, as I knew nothing about the Native Youth Olympics, other than it is a form of competition for local native youth to participate in statewide. I had to do some research and of course, take some lessons from friends at the school as to how to conduct system of games. But, over the last few weeks, all my classes have had various levels of competition with several of the games.

Each class created their own poster to track their class's progress during each event. Then each day, we went through 2-3 events in each class. For the younger kids, we had to adapt the games a bit to meet their height and ability. It's been a lot of fun. Below are a few pictures from last weeks competitions.

A bit of history about the Native Youth Olympics:

In 1971, the first Native Olympics were organized at a boarding school in Anchorage. During that time period, many native village youth from the bush were sent to larger cities for schooling because there were not adequate school services in the villages. One of the boarding schools organized an event where the native youth could share some of their favorite native games. The goal of this event was to preserve the culture of each native tribe and their traditional contests of their forefathers. Since then, the interest in the games and the competitions have grown statewide.

Currently, the competition is open to all Alaskan students in grades 7-12 regardless of their ethnic origin. The teams consist of 9 boys and 9 girls and one team per school is allowed to enter the NYO.

There are 10 official events to compete in this year. Although, there are many, many additional games. If you are interested in learning more about the specifics of each game and their history, check out this website: Alaska Native Youth Games Below are some of the games my students have competed in this year. Next to some of the games are the reasons the games originated according to their cultural history.

Toe Kick

Seal Hop - This game originated from the hunter imitating the movement of a seal during the hunt. This game is to see just how far one can go on determination and endurance.

Two Foot High Kick - This game came from the excitement the hunters exhibited after the hunt. It developed into a game to see how high the hunters could jump. Sometimes, if the hunt was successful, they would do a two foot high kick instead of a one foot high kick to signal the village.

One Foot High Kick - This game originated from hunting parties in the North. If the hunt was successful, the hunter would signal by doing the one foot high kick once he was in sight of the village.

Alaskan High Kick

Wrist Carry - This game's origin is traced back to successful hunters carrying game back to their villages. The hunters had to develop strength and endurance to carry the game over long distances.

Kneel Jump - This game was used by the hunter to develop quick movements and success in jumping from ice flow to ice flow, as well as developing leg muscles needed to lift heavy game off the ground and carry it back to the village.

One Hand Reach - This game tests the control of one's body and basic balance and endurance used in hunting.

Indian Stick Pull

Eskimo Stick Pull - This game originated from the hunting activity of pulling a seal out of the water. Leg, back, and hand strength are necessary for success.

These are a few of my kindergartners and first graders attempting the two foot high kick. Of course, we had to significantly lower the ball for them. They had a lot of fun lining up to play this game!

Landing after managing the two foot high kick!

Again, all of my kindergartners and first graders attempting the Kneel Jump, which I must admit is VERY DIFFICULT! I couldn't even do it. They have to start on their knees, with their feet flat on the ground and jump up and out and land on their feet, but they also have to jump as far forward as possible and measure the distance from where they started. It is tough!

This is the same class (kindergartners and first graders) doing the Eskimo Stick Pull. This is one of the easiest competitions of all. They loved it because everyone could do it.

More of the Eskimo Stick Pull with the same class.

This is the Wrist Carry. This is a really tough contest as well. This was my middle school class (6th and 7th graders). We adapted the game a bit for their level, but in this picture, one student attempts the real way of doing the carry. We measure the distance from where they begin to where they drop or end to determine who wins.

My middle school class engaging in the Eskimo Stick Pull.

Eskimo Stick Pull again.

Our Volcanoes

You've heard me talk before about Mt. Redoubt, the volcano across the inlet (when we lived in Kenai) that erupted last year several times. Well, since we've moved to Iliamna, we are blessed to experience 3 of Alaska's 130 Volcanoes on a a regular basis. When we fly back and forth between Kenai and Iliamna, we often fly in between or near Mt. Redoubt, Mt. Iliamna and Mt. St. Augustine. These are 3 gorgeous volcanoes lined up in a row along the Cook Inlet.

During the last several flights we've made to Kenai, I've taken a series of pictures of all of these volcanoes from several different angles. Enjoy!

Mt. Redoubt, up close and above the clouds. This view is as we were flying just Southwest of the volcano. Notice, the sharp drop off and then the flat crater just behind it.

Mt. Redoubt again, but this time, the view is more from the East, flying just over the Cook Inlet.

Mt. Iliamna above the clouds - the view from the North. We were flying in between Mt. Redoubt (to the North) and Mt. Iliamna (to the South).

Mt. Redoubt

Mt. Iliamna with a puff of cloud over the top.

Mt. Redoubt steaming just a bit. It has been doing this again quite often. In fact, it's also had several small earthquakes rumbling just below it over the last month.

Mt. Redoubt, steaming again.

Mt. St. Augustine - view from the North. This volcano (the lone island) is located in the Cook Inlet, just West of Homer and South of Mt. Iliamna. It last erupted in 1986. It's a popular landmark for us when we're flying - very identifiable!

Mt. St. Augustine again.

For more information on all the volcanoes in Alaska, check out the Alaska Volcano Observatory website at: http://www.avo.alaska.edu/ There is a wealth of information on the site, such as web cams of the most active volcanoes, basic information about the volcanoes, and current earthquake and volcanic activity.

This summer, we plan to fly South of us to the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes where there were several huge eruptions in 1912 that wiped out all vegetation in the area. I'll be sure to post info and pics on that trip too!

HAPPY EASTER...."Spring"... The Alaskan Way

HAPPY EASTER!!!

We hope your beautiful sunrise church service was a little more "sunshiny" and welcoming than this.....

There's nothing wrong with this picture. It's even in focus!

This was our weather this morning on the way to church. Lovely eh?

I'd love to be celebrating Christ rising from the grave ALONG with the END OF WINTER, but obviously, that is not the case in our village. It was a complete white-out, snow and all!

Oh how I was dreaming of Easter lilies and tulips and green grass this morning.

Later in the afternoon, it brightened up a bit but just kept on snowing and snowing and snowing. We're going on almost 48 hours of solid snow now! This is the view from our living room.

Also, another view from the living room, usually you can see the lake and all the houses on the other side of the bay.....not quite that visible this afternoon.

I wanted to take some pictures of the inside of our little church for everyone to see. I did this yesterday after we cleaned it up for service today and set up for our breakfast. It's a quaint little cozy church.

Jeannette (the Pastor's wife) and I and her two daughters set up the downstairs of the church for our big Easter breakfast. I just wanted everyone to see where we usually have all our fellowship time after church!

We're so thankful for the friendships we've made through the church within the community. They have certainly made our transition to the bush a little easier.

The Giant Tootsie Roll.....

I went on a walk to the store the other day and decided that my snow pants were a little too tight around the waist due to my growing pregnant belly. So, I was determined to stay warm and donned, for the first time since being here, my Carhart overalls! I have to admit, they were awfully comfortable and kept me nice and cozy on my walk. But after waddling down the street in them for a while, I had to chuckle because I thought I looked like a GIANT TOOTSIE ROLL! I had a brown jacket on and brown overalls....what's YOUR verdict on my latest Alaskan fashion wear?

Flying To Homer For Dinner

Last Friday, after flying in to Kenai for the weekend, we decided to take a quick flight down to Homer for dinner at Fat Olives. It was a wonderful evening! Fat Olives is an Italian restaurant in Homer and one of my favorite places to eat. So, our friends, John and Lyn hopped in our plane with us and Bob flew us all down there for a nice evening. It sure was a nice treat and get-away from the bush and complete lack of restuarants there! ha ha!



The Homer Spit and islands and mountains across from Kachemak Bay.
Homer is a great place to go halibut fishing in the summer. We hope to do some of that there this summer too.

Posing in front of our plane before our flight back to Kenai.
(from left to right) John, Lyn, me and Bob

Lyn and me just hanging out in the backseat of the plane.



John and Bob piloting us back up to Kenai.
Thanks for keeping us ladies safe, boys!

My Baby Tummy

I hear it's tradition for mommies to be to take pictures of their tummy growth and development. I've had several people request these pictures, so here you go! I meant to take this exactly on March 23rd, which exactly marked the end of the first trimester and 6 months till the due date, but unfortunately, it was taken a few days later. I will try to take a monthly picture on the 23rd of each month to mark the progress.



I am 14 weeks pregnant here and beginning to look forward to those stretchy/non-constricting preggo pants. I still try to squeeze into a few of my jeans but Bob keeps telling me to "stop stangling our baby with those tight pants!" ha ha!

First Glimpse at Baby Minnick!

WOW!!!!

Isn't that AMAZING?

Ok, so by now, this little picture is about 2 1/2 weeks old. Sorry, I'm slow with posting it. This was taken March 4th when I was just at the beginning of 11 weeks. According to my books and the internet, I believe our little tyke is now about the size of a peach, or as my mother in law recently discovered, a good size shrimp! ha ha! Should we start calling him or her our "little shrimp" now?

I was totally bummed that Bob wasn't able to be with me to see this in person, but hopefully, he will be able to make it to the next one. It was so cool, because at one point, our baby moved it's arm like it was waving at me! It was the neatest thing! I can't believe how amazing God is to create our bodies so intricately that we can carry another human life inside us. I read each week what is developing and growing in the baby. This week his/her little intestines are almost finished being formed and placed and will soon start being able to secrete his/her waste into the amniotic sac. Also, the ears and inner hearing tubes are almost fully formed and are able to now hear sounds from us. I guess it's time to start talking and reading more to baby. I just wish I could put earplugs on my tummy during my PE classes, so he/she doesn't get sick of me yelling all the time.