The journey of a team of Nenana student athletes to the 2025 Senior Native Youth Olympics (NYO) in Anchorage earlier this month began with one simple question. A 10th grade student walked up to his gym teacher, holding a wiffle ball on a string, and said, ”Hey, can I practice NYO?”
“He started to practice and I kind of joined him,” said Nenana teacher/coach Jarrett Tucker, who was totally new to native games. Tucker discovered actually performing those skills wasn’t as easy as they looked, especially for someone like him — older and quite a bit heavier than the students.
Nevertheless, he dove into his first year of coaching, doing his best to help students learn and practice these native games. The entire class joined in.
“We went through all the NYO games, the rules, and it met with some excitement from the kids from smaller villages,” he said. “They said, ‘I’ve done these all my life.’”
Many older students come to Nenana from villages throughout Alaska, live at the Nenana Student Living Center, and attend Nenana City School during their high school years.
Not every kid was enthused about learning these new skills, but the ones that were, embraced it fully, Tucker said.
The NYO Games showcase Alaska Native tradition and youth athleticism, with events based on skills traditionally needed to survive in Alaska. The senior games are open to all in-state students, up to age 19. One boy and one girl athlete per event, per team, is allowed.
Games include Alaskan High Kick, Scissor Broad Jump, Eskimo Stick Pull, One-hand Reach, Two-foot High Kick, Indian Stick Pull, One-foot High Kick, and Seal Hop.
“From there, we started to build a little bit of recruitment,” Tucker said. It wasn’t long before Tucker realized he might even have enough interested student athletes to build a team. Six serious student athletes eventually committed to the competition. They began training in January. Some of them had competed in earlier years. But it was a first for the coach.
“NYO was an amazing experience,” Tucker said.
It was held at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, April 24-26, hosted by the Cook Inlet Tribal Council.
“We got such a warm reception from veteran coaches and veteran players, who even took time to coach my kids,” the coach said. ”It was a wonderful experience. I’ve never seen another sport in Alaska like it. There was so much encouragement.”
Although no Nenana students reached the podium this year, they all celebrated personal accomplishments.
Rhea Kanuk (11th grade) was first in her heat in seal hop and came very close to finishing on the podium.
Tonya Kanuk (11th grade) competed in the Indian Stick Pull.
Jenner Peacock (11th grade) set new personal records in Scissor Broad Jump and Alaska High Kick.
Nia Peacock (seventh grade) set new personal records for Alaskan High Kick and One Foot High Kick.
Melinda Lord (ninth grade) first round victory in Eskimo Stick Pull.
Xavier Chimegalrea competed in five events, the most for any Nenana student.
Reach columnist/community editor Kris Capps at kcapps@newsminer.com.
