We played a Dene hand game with two teams. Hand games were traditionally played only by men. They were a form of gambling. Typical wagers included sleds, dogs, and supplies. There are many variations of Dene hand games encompassing a vast region. As a result, there are numerous elaborate hand signs.
How to play:
- Get a team together.
- Kneel down.
- Choose who goes first.
- One team hides a coin in one of their hands and the other guesses where they’ve hidden it.
- The guessing team appoints a captain.
- The captain use hand signs to make their guess.
- If the captain guesses correctly, the person hiding the coin is out.
- The round continues until one team is entirely out.
- The remaining team gets a stick, play continues until one team acquires 12 sticks.
These games could last all day; you play with the spirit of the drum while taunting the other team. I had a fun experience as it was the first time I had played these games. I met an indigenous girl named Raven, and we became friends. She helped me feel included in the games and introduced me to her friends.
By: MEAGAN HONG
One Thunderous Voice 