Fans and athletes packed the Canada Games Arena in Grande Prairie for the opening ceremony of the Arctic Winter Games on Sunday night.

The entire event was framed around the narrative of a "Hero's Journey"-- based on the teachings of elders from many arctic communities.

Through a series of songs and dances, four characters embarked on journeys into the unknown, abandoning complacency in search of truth and meaning.

It was a wonderfully choreographed, action-packed show.

The "NaDaGell" or the Morning Star Dance Party, was a particularly mesmerizing performance. 

They're kind of like dancing ninjas with glow sticks--which is awesome, but also potentially lethal.

The story was an apt metaphor for the young athletes who are representing their communities in Grand Prairie this week.

The "hero's journey" was evident in the athlete's parade, as they waved their flags proudly to the crowd's wild cheers (Team Alberta North is pictured below).

It was obvious as the Grande Prairie Boys' Choir sang a beautiful compilation of anthems from Russia, Sápmi, Greenland, United States, and Canada.

The theme vibrated through the arena as the Games' sports ambassador Ryan Blais, an aerialist on Canada's national team, and singer Celeigh Cardinal, the Games' cultural ambassador, lit the AWG cauldron.

The opening ceremony was filled with incredible displays of the culture and traditions of the circumpolar world. At one point a booming chorus of drums shook the arena.

The beat is still puslating through my brain.

(Between the ninja dance and drumming, I stand little chance of falling asleep tonight.) 

Months of work from hundreds of people were evident in the quality and energy of the show.

It was a fitting opening to the 2010 Arctic Winter Games.

More than 2,000 athletes have taken courageous, committed steps to get here. Over the next week some will find victory, others heartbreak -- regardless, they've already triumphed through the journey.

Follow Dan Robson on Twitter. He can also be reached at dan.robson@cbc.ca