Slahal (also called bone game or handgame) is a

gambling Gambling (also known as betting or gaming) is the wagering of something of Value (economics), value ("the stakes") on a Event (probability theory), random event with the intent of winning something else of value, where instances of strategy (ga ...

game played by the

Coast Salish The Coast Salish peoples are a group of ethnically and linguistically related Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast, living in the Canadian province of British Columbia and the U.S. states of Washington and Oregon. They speak on ...

peoples in the western United States and Canada, specifically in the lower

Fraser Valley The Fraser Valley is a geographical region in southwestern British Columbia, Canada and northwestern Washington State. It starts just west of Hope in a narrow valley encompassing the Fraser River and ends at the Pacific Ocean stretching from th ...

area of

British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...

, parts of

Vancouver Island Vancouver Island is an island in the northeastern Pacific Ocean and part of the Canadian province of British Columbia. The island is in length, in width at its widest point, and in total area, while are of land. The island is the largest ...

, and north-western parts of Washington State. The game was shared in common by a number of the nations and tribal groups of this area.

Name

Slahal is also known as the bone game, bloodless war game, or handgame. This game has different names in each individual Coast Salish language. For example, it is called ''slehà:l'' in

Halkomelem Halkomelem (; in the Upriver dialect, in the Island dialect, and in the Downriver dialect) is a language of various First Nations peoples of the British Columbia Coast. It is spoken in what is now British Columbia, ranging from southeastern ...

Cultural meanings

Slahal is not only a gambling game but also a means of social and supernatural expression. It has similar rules across different Coast Salish groups, historically providing a shared medium for interaction and peaceful rivalry. Slahal remains of continued importance in maintaining inter-group ties, establishing and recognizing individual status, gaining personal fulfillment through successful team action, and reaffirming in-group identity.

Gameplay and materials

Historial

The game is played with two pairs of objects as a set, totaling four pieces per set. Historically, these objects were made from small sticks, stones, or bones. Bone counters were typically crafted from the lower forelegs of deer or horse shanks, while wooden counters were made from ashwood or green alder. The counters were held lengthwise within the player's fists and were either blank or marked with red or black bands around their circumference. Historically, Slahal was mostly played by adult males, but some research found that young males and females also participate. The game is usually played by two players, but larger groups can also be involved. Before the game starts, participants place wagers, which may include money, canoes, watches, ponies, coats, shirts, etc. Once the two teams were identified, they would sit in two lines, opposite each other, about fifteen feet apart, sometimes in an east-west direction. The players in front of each team are the mixers who mix and hide the marked bones. The players sit in the lines behind the mixers and act as supporters, and the spectators stand behind the teams. The objective of Slahal is to have the designated team leader guess the location of the hidden chosen counter in the opponent's hand. The leader uses his hand gestures to quickly point to where he thinks the opposing team has hidden the counter. Both sides take turns until one side wins all of the counters. The game is usually accompanied by drums and singing to boost team morale. The musical accompaniment is also sometimes used to taunt the other team.

Modern

Modern Slahal is now open to all genders and takes place at summer festivals that run from May to mid-July. Slahal games can begin around early afternoon and end late at night or the morning of the next day. Modern wagers are changed in legal tender and range from one to ten dollars, and an addition to modern Slahal is the role of a bookkeeper (typically one of the female players) who keeps track of the wagers. The two pairs of playing objects painted with red or black designs remain in modern versions of Slahal. While bone counters remain in use, wooden ones have become more common.

First phase

In contemporary versions of Slahal, the first phase of mixing the counters is conducted more openly. The team leader begins the mixing process, and after a minute they toss the pairs of counters to two players (of their choosing) on their team to continue mixing.

Second phase

Once the mixing is completed, the hands concealing the counters are held out for the opposing team’s leader to make a guess. In modern gameplay, team leaders try to guess the unmarked counters. This process continues between the two teams as they alternate being the mixing team, depending on if they won the round or not. The winner is determined when a team is able to obtain all the counter or tally pieces.

Notes

References

{{Coast Salish Gambling games Guessing games First Nations culture in Canada First Nations in British Columbia Native American sports and games Indigenous sports and games in Canada Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest