Games - Stick gambling

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	Games - Stick gambling

Stick gambling is a traditional hand game played by the Dene people of the Canadian Arctic. It would typically be played whenever different groups would meet on the trail. Games could last for several days during which prized matches, shot, gunpowder, or tobacco would be staked. Traditionally only men would take part, but in modern games anyone is allowed to play.

Game Rules

Two equally sized teams kneel on the ground facing one another. On one side the players hide a token (idzi) in their fist. The token is passed back and forth between fists. Drummers behind provide music and sing gambling songs. Upon a handclap from the captain of the oposing team, the drumming ceases and the players show their fists.

The captain then uses a hand signal to guess which hand the token is in, against all opposing players at once. A correct guess eliminated that player, for each wrong guess the captain would give a counting stick to the other team. When all opposing players were eliminated the right to hide the idzi would pass to the other team. At the end of a round the team holding the most sticks won.

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