Winter Snake Game

One of the most interesting games played by the Ojibwe was a winter game called Gamaagiwebiinigewin, or Snow Snake

The game is played using a long wooden rod on frozen snow and ice. It has been played by the Ojibwe for hundreds of years, and is still played in winter tournaments on some reservations.  Snow snakes are also beautiful objects that can be decorated in various ways.

The object of the game is to see how far you can slide a snake across the snow, usually within a "trough" that has been built up and then grooved by dragging a log to create a shallow trench/track. Players take several steps towards the beginning of the track, then throw or toss the snow snake into the track with an underhand motion.  The trick is to use enough power to get the snake to slide a long way down the track without using so much force that it jumps the track and goes foul.

​Some ceremonial aspects of the game have been documented as well, with each team singing songs that would increase luck for their team and cause bad luck for the other team.  

Do you do snow snake where you live? If not, could it be revived as a sport?
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(See Games of the North American Indians by Stewart Culin, 1907.)