Apayauq Reitan
Apayauq Reitan | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| Born | 1998 Narjordet, Norway | ||
| Nationality | Norwegian | ||
| Citizenship | |||
| Occupation | Dog musher | ||
Apayauq Reitan is an Iñupiaq dog musher from Norway. She participated in the 2019 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race as a rookie, finishing in 28TH place in 12 days, 5 hours, 15 minutes, and 17 seconds.[1]She also ran the Yukon Quest that year, also as a rookie. In 2022, she became the first openly transgender woman to compete in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. She is a citizen of both Norway and the United States.[2]
Early life
Apayauq was born in c. 1998[3] in Narjordet, Norway. She often spent time travelling between the communities of Narjordet and Kaktovik, Alaska.[4] She started mushing at age four at her family's tourism kennel, Hula Hula Kennel.[5][1] She changed her name to match that of her grandmother after she had coming out to her family. After doing so, she received her Tavlugun, traditional Iñupiaq chin tattoos.[4] She came out publicly on March 5, 2021, International Women's Day.[4]
Organized Mushing
Apayauq started organized mushing at age 15, when she ran the Femund Jr. 220km, later running it at age 16.[1] Then, in 2017, she ran some more races, including the Kobuk 440. Her dad, Ketil Reitan, finished the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, after which Apayauq took the family's dogs back home.[1]
2019 Iditarod And Yukon Quest
In 2019, Apayauq, then about 21, became the third person to complete the Iditarod and Yukon Quest as a rookie in the same year.[5]
2022 Iditarod
Apayauq became the first openly trans woman to compete in the Iditarod in 2022.[2][4] She won the red lantern in 37th place in 13 days, 8 hours, 39 minutes, and 13 seconds.[1] During the Iditarod, Apayauq criticized the Alaskan school sports ban on transgender girls.[6] Julie Smyth, another Iñupiat, was also opposed to the ban, as Iñupiat culture was more accepting of Transgender identities, stating it is "common in many communities to be transgender".[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Eye on the Trail: Last Teams to Finish March 17th". Iditarod. January 13, 2013.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Walker, Richard Arlin. "Inupiat musher set to make history in Iditarod". Indian Country Today.
- ↑ Oliver, Shady Grove; Media, special to Alaska Public (March 10, 2022). "'Proud to be an Iñupiaq woman': Apayauq Reitan makes history as first out trans woman in the Iditarod".
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Oliver, Shady Grove (4 March 2022). "'Life on hard mode': the first out trans woman competing in the Iditarod". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Martin Apayauq Reitan | Yukon Quest". www.yukonquest.com.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Bethel, Olivia Ebertz, KYUK- (March 15, 2022). "Coaches, officials and athletes denounce proposed ban on transgender students playing girls' school sports". KTOO.
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External links
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