(Whitehorse, Yukon – March 19, 2025) – John Rodda, President of the Arctic Winter Games International Committee, provided compelling testimony last Friday at the House Joint Resolution No. 11 (HJR No. 11) hearing in Juneau, Alaska, highlighting the significance of sports and cultural exchange between Alaska and its Canadian neighbours. This testimony also supports Senate Joint Resolution No. 9 (SJR No. 9).
Rodda, who has long championed the importance of international sports and cultural exchanges, highlighted the decades-long relationship between Alaska, Canada, and the Arctic Winter Games (AWG) as a foundation for youth engagement, cross-border cooperation, and cultural celebration. Alaska and its Canadian counterparts have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to strengthening ties through sport and culture for over fifty years.
“The Arctic Winter Games, founded in 1967 and first held in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, in 1970, is a testament to the enduring partnership among Alaska, Yukon Territory, and Northwest Territories,” Rodda stated. “These Games signify more than just athletic competition—they celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the circumpolar north and provide an opportunity for our youth to connect in meaningful ways.”
Since its inception, the Arctic Winter Games have evolved from its founding members—Alaska, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories—into a vibrant event that now includes seven permanent members: Northern Alberta, Nunavik, Nunavut, Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland), and Sápmi (Norway, Finland, and Sweden) as a guest member. The Games are the premier circumpolar event for northern youth above the 55th parallel.
The Arctic Winter Games bring together around 2,000 athletes, coaches, mission staff, and cultural performers biennially. These participants showcase the best young talents from across the Arctic region, connected by a shared passion for sports and mutual appreciation for each other’s cultures. The Games offer a unique opportunity for youth to forge lasting friendships, improve their skills, and foster understanding across borders.
Rodda pointed out that Alaska has hosted the Arctic Winter Games several times, beginning with Anchorage in 1974 and continuing in Fairbanks, Eagle River, Kenai Peninsula, and most recently, the Mat-Su Borough in 2024. He also announced that the next Games, scheduled for March 2026, will be hosted by Whitehorse, Yukon—Alaska’s closest Canadian neighbour. Yukon’s Premier, Ranj Pillai, and Mayor of Whitehorse, Kirk Cameron, also provided testimony.
“I strongly encourage the sponsors of both HJR No. 11 and SJR No. 9 to emphasize the tremendous value of sports and our longstanding relationships with our Canadian partners,” Rodda said. “These relationships are about friendly competition, collaboration, shared experiences, and the power of cultural exchange. The Arctic Winter Games embody these values and more, and we look forward to continuing this important tradition.”
The Arctic Winter Games continue to symbolize cooperation and unity in the circumpolar north, fostering athletic achievement and cultural appreciation for the next generation of northern leaders.
For more information about the Arctic Winter Games and its mission, please visit www.arcticwintergames.org.
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For further information, please contact:
Moira Lassen, Executive Director
moira.lassen@arcticwintergames.org
+1.867.333.5522 (mobile)
Arctic Winter Games International Committee
About the Arctic Winter Games
The Arctic Winter Games International Committee is the rightsholder and is responsible for the
long-term stewardship and management of the Arctic Winter Games, a biennial premier
circumpolar sport and cultural event for youth from Northwest Territories, Yukon, Nunavut,
Alaska, Kalaallit Nunaat, Nunavik, Northern Alberta and the Indigenous people (Sami) of
Norway, Sweden, and Finland.