Like Father, like son

Published on July 29th, 2010

By VAN WILLIAMS

FAIRBANKS - Like most teenage boys, Inupiaq 16-year-old Ethan Oomituk dreams of the day he defeats his dad in a test of strength.

He got his shot at the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics.

And even though he pushed his father Art Oomituk of Point Hope to the edge in the Eskimo stick pull, the old man proved he's still got it.

"It was like, 'How tough are you?'" Art said with a laugh after his victory. "Then I realized that he is a lot stronger than he looks."

Young Ethan was all smiles in defeat.

"I'll get him next year," said the 6-foot young buck.

Father-son battles like this is what makes WEIO so special. It allows different generations—sometimes even from the same family—the opportunity to compete in various games that preserve and pass on traditional skills and culture.

"It's a big history lesson," said Ethan, who lives in Kalama, Wash.

He came to Alaska to visit his father, a WEIO veteran who didn't make his son compete this year. He left it up to him.

"It's his choice," he said. "He wants to do it."

In addition to the Eskimo stick poll, the Oomituks competed in the Alaskan high kick.

Ethan was raised on Native games, having competed at WEIO twice before, once as a little kid. Art wants to make sure the games are part of his son's life like they were for him as a kid.

"It's pretty awesome. I grew up playing these games," Art said. "During my younger days I would bring my kids and they would be the little kids in the crowd watching, so it's really important for him to compete because he saw me do it when he was growing up."

Now 47, Art isn't as athletic as he once was. But he still makes it a point of making it to WEIO each year.

"Basically what I'm doing is I'm here to represent the older status and hand the games back down to the younger generation," he said. "I just want to them that it doesn't matter how old you are. You can still compete.

"Take care of your body. Be good to it. I don't drink and I don't smoke; and it shows because a lot of my peers, they partied ... and most have retired by now. I never went that route."

He's been a good role model for his son, who is hooked on WEIO.

"It's pretty cool. I actually like competing against him," he said of his dad. "But I'm not sure if he's going to be going for much longer."

Art has already committed to the 2011 games.

"I'm going to get into better shape," he said, rubbing his belly.

He's got plenty of motivation from Ethan.

"He says, 'Next year I'm going to beat you dad,' " Art said.