Traditional Indigenous Games

Submitted by Vicki Hazelwood - Building Brains Together

“Snow snakes dates back more than 500 years and was originally a form of communication between villages. Over the years and long winters, throwing ‘snow snakes’ developed into a competitive sport between different communities after the men returned from the annual hunt” (Saucier, 2020).

As a game, Snow Snakes was traditionally played in the winter. The surface of the snow would be prepared in the form of an alley or a high wall with a carved-out trough to throw the spears down (Onieda Indian Nation, 2021). Alternatively, an alley about 100 meters would be made in the snow with walls along the side. Players run and hop from the run-up line to the throwing line with the javelin in a proper grasp before throwing (Dene Games). Rules varied among Indigenous tribes, but the winner was the one with the longest throw.

Why not try a game of Snow Snakes this winter?  You can compete individually or as teams.

  • Find your snow snakes at home or in nature – a long stick that is on the ground (please don’t break anything off a living tree).

  • Designate an area for throwing the snow snakes and mark a run-up line and a throwing line in the snow. 

  • Depending on your space, number of players, and snow snakes, you can take turns, or all throw together. 

  • Each player holds a snow snake in the palm of their hand while they run and hop from the run-up line to the throwing line.  Once each player reaches the throwing line, they throw the snow snakes down the designate area.

  • The player with the longest throw wins the heat.

This type of play can help build important skills.  The action of an overarm throw with hopping and balancing a javelin to throw has been considered part of fundamental movement skills that are prerequisites to playing other sports and activities. These fundamental skills enhance overall development when begun in childhood in addition to enhancing their academic achievement (de Waal, 2019).

Learning and practicing fundamental movement skills into adolescence have been found to increase fitness levels and endurance with a positive impact on development of intense physical activity necessary for adult training (Jaakkola, Yli-Piipari, Houtari, Watt & Liukkonen, 2016). 

To learn about other Indigenous games visit https://lethbridgesportcouncil.ca/programs/pathway and buildingbrains.ca/indigenous .

 

References

Mary Ellen Little Mustache, Celeste Halliwell, https://www.buildingbrains.ca/indigenous-games

de Waal, E. (2019). Fundamental movement skills and academic performance of 5– to 6– year old pre schoolers. Early Childhood Education Journal, 47 (4): 455-464.

Rosey, F., Keller, J., & Golomer, E. (2010). Impulsive-reflective attitude, behavioral inhibition and motor skills: Are they linked? International Journal of Behavioral Development, 34 (6): 511– 520.

Jaakkola, T., Yli-Piipari, S., Houtari, P., Watt, A., & Liukkonen, J. (2016). Fundamental movement skills and physical fitness as predictors of physical activity: A 6-year follow-up study. Scaninavian Journal of Medicine Science & Sports, 26: 74-81.

Tanya Whipple