Dene Games

Dene (or Indian) stick pull is a traditional Dene sport. The discipline consists of two participants holding onto a stick, fully covered in grease, at the center and then attempting to pull the stick from the opponent. Like many other Arctic and Dene sports, it has its origins in ice fishing. The greasy stick tests the participant 's grip and is like holding a fish by its tail. While not ice fishing, Dene fisherman would practice stick pull to practice their grip and become better at holding on to caught fish. It would also let them practice catching fish bare handed. Bear grease was traditionally used for stick pull, but in today's high-level competitions normal Crisco is used.

Competing: Open Male, Open Female, U17 Male and U17 Female

Each competitor has three (3) attempts.

In the hand games two teams kneel on the floor, facing each other. The teams take turns being the active team, with the active team having to hide tokens in their hands, while their hands are hidden under a blanket. Traditionally drummers and singers play music while the hiding of the tokens are happening. After the tokens have been hidden, the opposing team must guess in which hands the tokens are hidden. Any number of people can play the Hand Game, but each team (the "hiding" team and the "guessing" team) must have one pointer on each side. The Hand Game is played with two pairs of 'bones', each pair consisting of one plain and one striped bone. Ten sticks are used as counters with some variations using additional count sticks such as extra stick or "kick Stick" won by the starting team. The "raw" or "uncooked" counting sticks will be divided evenly between both opposing teams.

This team sport, also known as Stick Gambling, is one of the most widespread games played among Dene nations. Unlike many other Dene games that tested physical ability, hand games were guessing games played for fun or for trade purposes. Hunting parties bet weapons, tools, and blankets on the outcome of the game.

Competing: Open Male, Open Female, U17 Male and U17 Female

Pole push is a tug of war game , in that the participants in teams hold on to a pole and attempt to push the opposing team across a set mark. Each team of four (4) players grasps opposite ends of the pole, with the center mark of the pole positioned over the center point of the marked circle.

The Pole Push has its origins in general Arctic indigenous camp life, serving as a strength training and general entertainment. The Pole Push is known from the Dene, where it would act as strength training to prepare them for carrying wooden canoes over great distances.

Competing: Open Male, Open Female, U18 Male and U18 Female

Each competitor has three (3) attempts.