5 years in the making, the 2023 Arctic Winter Games were well worth the wait

When the long five-year wait was over, and the participants of the Arctic Winter Games were finally able to gather, the magic of the event took hold of the Wood Buffalo, Alta., region.

Not since 2018 had the Arctic Winter Games taken place; the pandemic like so many other events pushing back these Games.

From the very beginning it became apparent that this was going to be a powerful experience for all those involved.

On a frigid Sunday evening, upwards of 1,800 participants from eight contingents and thousands of volunteers and fans watched the torch be brought into the stadium on a dog sled.

It was a spell-binding scene as Elder and residential school survivor Lina Gallup lit the cauldron to officially begin the competition.

The party was just getting started.

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The slogan for these Games was "Time to Shine" and participants for a week did exactly that. In bone-chilling temperatures they took to venues all across the region competing in traditional sports.

With steam rising into the air with each breath, competitors took part in the Dene sport of snowsnake.

The concept of the game is to throw a spear-like object over a flat and contained surface of snow. The participant who throws it the farthest distance wins the event.

"Just before I went to throw, I grabbed a handkerchief, and I really looked at it," said Alberta North athlete Kailen Marten.

"I looked at the sky and was looking at my ancestors and past people I loved to show them respect and that I'm doing it for them."

Drums beat inside the main complex, keeping rhythm for the Dene hand game as fans watched on.

Athletes soared majestically into the air while competing in traditional Arctic