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Every July, Fairbanks hosts the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics (WEIO), a four-day series of competitions and cultural practices. WEIO draws Native athletes and dancers from around the state, the United States, Canada, Greenland and Siberia, as well as visitors, fans and media from around the globe. WEIO is your opportunity to take part in celebrating and sharing Indigenous cultures and athleticism!
Watch the games and experience incredible displays of athleticism honed from survival skills through the testing of strength and endurance. Events also showcase stunning dance performances along with beautiful arts, crafts, and pageants.
Every year WEIO coincides with Golden Days, Fairbanks’ annual summer celebration of its gold rush heritage, providing locals and visitors an opportunity to participate in an impressive variety of activities. Stop by the Golden Days parade and then make your way to the Carlson Center for the perfect weekend of sporting events and festivities!
Attend the games and experience history in the making
The World Eskimo-Indian Olympics are a chance for everyone to experience meaningful cultural events and to appreciate incredible athleticism. You might even get invited to participate in the iconic blanket toss. The person getting tossed in the middle can reach heights of up to thirty feet!
WEIO’s history is brief in comparison to the broad history of Alaska Native communities including the Tlingit, Inuit, Yupik, Inupiat and Athabascan, who have inhabited Alaska for millennium. For thousands of years, these gatherings and competitions have taken place between villages with the purpose of celebrating successful seal hunting or commemorating an important event.
The first ever World Eskimo-Indian Olympics in Fairbanks, Alaska
Created in 1961 in response to the impact of non-Native cultures in rural Alaska, the first games were co-chaired by bush pilots, A.E. “Bud” Hagberg and Frank Whaley, along with emcees Bill English and Tom Richards, who are credited as the original organizers of the annual event.
“They had a true appreciation for what they were witnessing and knew that these activities were something that people in the rest of the state should see for themselves to get a better understanding of the value of traditions happening outside Alaska's big cities,” says Gina Kalloch, former chairwoman of the WEIO board who is Koyukon Athabascan (Smithsonian Magazine).
Experience WEIO Today
WEIO has grown over the years and now includes 19 fun and challenging games. There is also music, dancing, and crafts for sale. It’s a great time for athletes, families and friends to come together, see old friends, and make new ones. Everyone gets to cheer and enjoy the fun festivities.
WEIO is a special event where you can see amazing strength and learn about Native culture. These games help keep traditions alive for future generations. People in villages still play these games during special occasions. WEIO is a great way to share these traditions with visitors like you!
Events
Competitions at WEIO connect participants to centuries of tradition and cultural practices, strengthening community ties, and passing knowledge from one generation to another. The games provide opportunities for participants to demonstrate the impressive skills that they need to survive on the land, which is often harsh, cold, and unforgiving.
The Alaskan high kick, knuckle hop and four-man carry are just some of the astonishing events that will leave you speechless. Come to Fairbanks to cheer, learn and be inspired by the amazing WEIO athletes. This is an event you won’t want to miss!
If you go:
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What: 64th Annual World Eskimo-Indian Olympics
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When: Wednesday, July 16-Saturday, July 19, 2025
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Where: Carlson Center, 2010 2nd Ave, Fairbanks, AK 99701
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Hours: Daytime session: 10am; Evening session: 6pm
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Admission: Daytime session: Free; Evening session: Adults $15, youth and seniors $10, children and elders, free.
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More information and event schedule: www.weio.org
Land Acknowledgement
The WEIO games are held in Fairbanks on traditional Athabascan land. We respect this truth with the following Land Acknowledgement crafted by Denakkanaaga elders:
“We respectfully acknowledge the Dena people on whose traditional lands we reside. We honor the Dena who have been the stewards of Interior lands and waters for centuries, the elders who lived here before, the Dena people of today, and future generations to come. We also recognize that Alaska Native people would traditionally gather here and harvest Native foods.”
