Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

Snow Snake Returns to Cayuga Nation Territory

First time the ancient game has been played in ancestral Cayuga lands in centuries.

March 20, 2015 – Seneca Falls, NY—Last weekend, the Cayuga Nation hosted a Snow Snake tournament, marking the first time the ancient game has been played in ancestral Cayuga Nation lands in centuries. At its most basic explanation, men take turns propelling carved wooden sticks down tracks made of snow and ice, to see who can throw their “snake” the furthest. However, it is a game of subtle craftsmanship and skill, and it is well suited to the heavy snows of the Great Lakes region. Culture and Language Coordinator for the Cayuga Nation, Al George and his son, Jake George (Language teacher) along with other Cayuga Nation community members worked on the track for this last month, taking advantage of the consistent snow and cold weather.

“The idea is to bring the game back to the Cayuga Territory after almost 300 years,” commented Chief Sam George.

Over the past five centuries Native American people have kept the game alive and continue to play it today, but its secrets remain closely guarded. Snow snakes (sticks) are thrown down a special track made in the snow, usually one foot wide and 100-200 yards long, and some even up to a mile. The trough follows the rise and dip of the land, and may have curves.

The players take turns tossing their sticks into the track, each player throwing one stick per turn. The stick that goes farthest scores a point for the thrower’s team, consisting of four people. Usually, four points wins the game. The games usually take about four hours. If time is running out and no one looks like they will reach four points, “sudden death” is called. Then points no longer matter and the game comes down to who throws their snake the furthest in the next round. Even someone with no points could then win the game.

During play the snow snakes are tossed from the tip of the player’s index finger and can remain in motion for astonishing lengths — more often they miss their mark, hop off the track and end up in a nearby snow bank. The game requires skill and years of practice.

“Mudcat” snow snakes are 36” long. “Long sticks” are six feet or longer. Some have a pewter or lead weight cast onto the head. These are fine wood projects, often made from maple, hickory, juneberry, crabapple, and occasionally exotic hardwoods. When thrown, the stick looks like a snake sliding through the snow.

At other territories, Snow Snake competitions take place every weekend once the tracks are created, until all the snow is gone in the spring. Nearby, contests are held at the Onondaga Nation, Six Nations, Cattaraugus near Gowanda, and Allegany. Local tournaments attract players from the Six Nations of Ontario, the Onondaga of Syracuse, the Mohawk of Akwesasne, as well as the Seneca of Cattaraugus, Allegany and Tuscarora.

Results of the weekend’s tournament are as follows: On Saturday, March 14 Team Bronco won the Mudcats game on Saturday, Team Onondaga won the 3rd Class game. On Sunday, March 15 Team Henry’s / Team Bronco won the 1st Class game, and Team Onoville won the 2nd Class game.