World Eskimo-Indian Olympics: How ripped ears are preserving a rare culture in Alaska
Matthew Chagluak takes part in the two-foot high kick, where competitors aim for the suspended target while attempting to hold their balance
A group of men, women and children dressed in fur coats in Port Clarence, Alaska in 1894. American Indian and Alaska Natives make up 16% of the state's population as of 2018 "These gentlemen, who were not Native, could see where some of these traditions could be endangered," WEIO board chairperson Gina Kalloch tells the BBC.
The objective of the ear pull - essentially tug-of-war with your ears - is to pull the sinew off your opponent's ear or force them to submit. It is a game of stamina, with the winner illustrating they can withstand pain, a trait needed to survive the harsh realities of rural Alaska. Some of his earliest memories are with his father playing Native sports in the family home, but as he got older he focused more on basketball and wrestling. In recent years he has increasingly been drawn back to traditional games like the seal hop, partly down to the unique sense of camaraderie inherent to Native Alaskan games.
Miley Kakaruk, a 15-year-old Inupiaq girl, will be taking part in several WEIO categories including the Inuit stick pull, Alaskan high kick and kneel jump.
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