Jacob Klengenberg was greeted with applause and cheers in the Ulukhaktok airport after receiving a national award in Ottawa earlier this week.
The 24-year-old won the 2024 National Indigenous Coaching Award, presented by the Aboriginal Sport Circle on November 23.
“I’m still quite shocked that I was nominated for the award, let alone winning the award,” says Klengenberg. “I’m getting a lot of congratulations, hugs, and wishes for me to continue doing what I’m doing.”
Jacob Klengenberg was awarded the 2024 National Indigenous Coaching Award in Ottawa. (Photo courtesy of Jacob Klengenberg)
Klengenberg has been an Inuit wrestling coach at the Helen Kalvak School in Ulukhaktok since 2022. He was previously trained in archery and snowshoe biathlon, and has competed for Team NT at the Arctic Winter Games and the National Aboriginal and Indigenous Games.
Inuit wrestling is a style of wrestling practiced in the Arctic, says Klengenberg.
“It’s a very upper body strength type of wrestling,” he explains. The sport involves griping an overhook and underhook on the opponent, and whoever’s body touches the ground loses the match. Tripping is not allowed in this type of wrestling.
After earning a diploma in social service at the Nova Scotia Community College in Cape Breton, Klengenberg decided to return home to help children to live a more active life.
“I didn’t think that I would be coaching at all, but I’m really happy that I was approached by Monique to run some programming that led me to becoming a head coach,” he says.
Klengenberg credits Monique Smith, a school counsellor and wrestler, for establishing wrestling programs in Ulukhaktok, Gamètì, and Wekweètì. Smith has been dedicated to introducing wrestling to students in the northern communities and taking them to compete in largest sports events.
After Smith left the territory at the end of her contract, Klengenberg stepped up to take over as head coach.
Monique Smith (far left) and Jacob Klengenberg (far right) with Team NT at the 2024 Arctic Winter Games in Alaska. (Photo courtesy of Jacob Klengenberg)
“It’s been amazing to see the emotional, social and physical growth of our kids, not only as wrestlers but as people who would be our future,” he says.
Klengenberg is also happy to see the return of Inuit wrestling since the sport has been absent to the community for years.
“It must have been a while since Inuit wrestling has been around in my community,” he says. “So it was really good to see how much fun that every age group had during the summer tournament.”
Klengenberg helped organize an Inuk wrestling tournament in Ulukhaktok in July of this year. The event was a success, with dozens of community members coming out to participate in the games.
“We had people from kindergarten all the way to elderly folks participating in our event,” Klengenberg recalls. “The community has been very welcoming to our wrestling group and the whole idea of wrestling.”
“It’s something that we need to continue working on revitalizing and bringing back to our culture.”
Going forward, Klengenberg plans to develop his skills as a coach and continue learning the technique of Inuit wrestling. He is also hoping to run more programming for the community, such as wrestling events and tournaments.
“Inuit wrestling is meant to keep us lively and together,” he says.
