Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services
Friday, March 16, 2007

FORT SIMPSON - You have to watch closely to follow the action of a hand games tournament.

If you become distracted by the beat of the drums or a movement in the crowd you might miss the signal, the cue for a player to open their left or right hand, and the resulting trading of sticks. It can all happen very quickly.

From March 10 to 11 spectators in Fort Simpson had the chance to watch some skilled handgames players during the tournament that took place as part of the Beavertail Jamboree festivities.

Seven teams competed for the chance to win prizes that included $4,000 for first place, $3,000 for second and $2,000 for third. Teams in the running included one from Trout Lake, one from Jean Marie River, an adult and a youth team from Liidlii Kue First Nation in Fort Simpson and three teams from Wrigley. There were also an adult and youth team from Pehdzeh Ki First Nation and a team headed by Tim Lennie.

While watching hand games can be lots of fun, it's also one of the best ways to learn how to play according to players.

Having played hand games for over 10 years, Michael Cazon said he got started by watching games in progress and just joining in. Cazon organized the tournament, the first one to be held during the jamboree in approximately four years.

The most complicated part of playing hand games is the signs. They can often throw you off, said Cazon. A team's caller uses signals to indicate to the opposite team's players, which hand to open. The object is to guess which hand is hiding a small token.

Different signs are used in different areas adding to the complexity of the game when teams from different locations meet to play. During one game in the tournament a player from Trout Lake used a signal that no one had ever seen, said Angus Sanguez who came from Jean Marie River to drum during the games.

Becoming a good hand game player is a matter of knowing the signs.

"You just have to know your signs and that's it," said Sanguez.

Deciding what sign to make during a game takes practice. After you've been playing for awhile you learn how to pick up subtle signals from the other players that help you decide what call to make, he said. Some good calls were made during the first day of the tournament including one that caught seven people in one call.

While the basics don't take long to master, Cazon and Sanguez agree that good players also turn a game into a kind of art form. A good hand game involves drumming and singing as well as performances by the players in the way they move while competing.

But being a good player isn't a matter of age. Young teams can often beat teams made of older players as the Pehdzeh Ki First Nation youth team proved.

On Saturday the youth lost to the adult team from Wrigley but beat the team from Jean Marie River.

"They're a pretty amazing bunch of players," said Cazon about the Wrigley youth.

Brandon Moses, one of the team members, said he was happy about how his team was doing. Playing handgames isn't hard said Moses who at age 12 has been playing for about two years. He learned the ropes from Tim Lennie.

"It's cultural and it's fun," said Moses about why he likes to play.

Trent Cli, 10, said playing hand games is cool. He learned by watching people play.

The determination of the young Wrigley players paid off. Their team won second place in the tournament coming in behind the Wrigley adult team. Tim Lennie's team took third.