At 6-foot-4 and 400 pounds, Aiken was a giant in Native sports as both a competitor and a caretaker of the games’ traditions. He dominated strength events at the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics during a 26-year career, winning multiple titles in the Eskimo stick pull, Indian stick pull and the four-man carry. Aiken, of Barrow, cherished the history of Native sports, and after retiring from competition he dispensed knowledge as WEIO’s longtime master of ceremonies. A mentor and coach to hundreds, he died in 2015 at age 62.
Bob Aiken
