'Busy, living healthy and having fun': Young Ulukhaktok wrestlers learn life skills on the mats

The second annual Inuit wrestling tournament in Ulukhaktok, N.W.T., was scheduled for Wednesday night, but cold weather and rainy conditions kept grapplers from competing in the event.

Instead, some youth-friendly games were played on the mats before the group moved the gathering indoors where coach Jacob Klengenberg gave lessons on Inuit wrestling and told participants about its history in the region.

Klengenberg said it shows the resiliency of the Ulukhaktok Inuvialuit, how they were willing to play outside even in the wet and cold conditions.

"We have all grown up with weather patterns and changes. Throughout the whole winter, it's pretty cold, so we are used to it," said Klengenberg.

"The resilience of our people is built into us and instilled in us from a young age."

Monique Smith is one of the coaches who helped start the Ulukhaktok wrestling program. She is helping the group prepare for the Canada Summer Games next month in Newfoundland.

"Right now, we have two girls in Yellowknife, one in Gamètı̀," said Smith.

"We have our kids here training with Jacob and we will have a camp before [our] departure."

Smith said the focus is not to win or be competitive on a national level, but to grow the club and teach the youth who participate that it's important to have fun and be a good teammate.

Klengenberg said he enjoys working with youth because he wanted that kind of leadership and mentorship when he was a young man growing up in the community.

"It warms my heart to know these kids are being offered this experience," he said.

The wrestling club has been meeting once a week, every Wednesday after school since September. Klengenberg said there were also two wrestling camps in Calgary that some of the participants were able to attend.

Former Olympian Leah Ferguson also came to Ulukhaktok in May and worked with the club to train for their upcoming event in August.

"We have been busy, living healthy and having fun while doing it," said Klengenberg.