‘Happy to be home,’ says Nunavut wrestler who arrives to a celebration

The Cambridge Bay airport erupted in cheers, and tears, Monday as Eekeeluak Avalak entered, bearing the territory’s first ever medal — Gold — from the Canada Summer Games. 

Avalak said to CBC News, “Happy to Be Home” shortly after his plane landed in western Nunavut. 

The 18-year-old wrestler, known affectionately as Eekee in the community of about 2,000, defeated Alberta’s Fred Calingay on Thursday. Avalak was only the second Nunavut athlete who won a medal at Canada Games and the first Nunavut athlete to achieve Gold.

Eugene Dedrick was the winner of the first medal. He won a bronze medal in judo at Whitehorse’s Canada Winter Games in 2007. 

“It’s fantastic,” said Jim MacEachern (chief administrative officer for Cambridge Bay), was speaking earlier Monday about Avalak’s win. “He should feel proud and the entire community should be proud.”

Elders, family and friends, members of the RCMP, Canadian Rangers and some soldiers in town for Operation Nanook-Nunakput all planned to be at the airport when Avalak and his teammates and coach, Chris Crooks, arrived around noon, MacEachern said.

People cheered and honked outside as cars covered in Nunavut flags drove past the hamlet.

The Luke Novoligak community hall was the venue for a celebration that included autographs and photo opportunities. said MacEachern.

Wendy Kootoo-Wood has called her son a “true warrior.”

He gave his victory to Joanasie, his brother who had just turned 27. In 2015, he committed suicide.

Chris Crooks has been wrestling coach for more than 40 year and told the Canadian Press that Avalak was his first encounter when he was teaching Grade 6.

Crooks said, “Amazing athletic ability was the first thing I noticed.” said. “As time would go on, dedication, discipline and a drive to accomplish something.”

Crooks said The strength of the North’s youth is evident in the gold medal win.

“Even though we come from small fly-in communities, you can achieve and you can set goals and see them obtained despite circumstances that may not be as easy as here in the southern part of Canada.”

Volunteers decorated the hall with signs that said, “Congratulations Eekee, Nunavut proud!” A Nunavut Flag will be available to people to sign their greetings to Avalak.

A big community celebration will be held in the evening with square dancing, drumming, and fireworks.

The welcome-back celebrations are taking place under mainly sunny skies, with a temperature of about 16 C — much better than last week when the community was battered by high winds.