RAE-EDZO - When Elizabeth Mackenzie school students were asked if they liked video games or Dene hand games more, they answered Dene hand games with a roar.

"It's too cool for school," said Grade 6 student Rocco Wedzin.

Wedzin and his friends make up the Elizabeth Mackenzie hand games team that has now beaten Chief Jimmy Bruneau school's team twice.

"It's more realistic," said Ketric Whane, about why he prefers hand games to video games.

To play Dene hand games, two teams compete, each backed by traditional drummers. One team puts their hands under some blankets and hide a bead in their left or right hand. Then the team crosses their arms over their chest and their opponents have to guess which hands hold the beads.

Players are eliminated when their opponents guess which hand has a bead.

"There's a strategy, such as a movement, (you're) trying to confuse the guesser," said Phillip Mackenzie, cultural co-ordinator for Elizabeth Mackenzie.

The boys on the team offered some strategies.

"Keep on moving and hide it," said Zachery Apples.

They also have the benefit of two team captains who are in charge of helping their teammates decide which hand to put the bead in.

"We pick which side with hand signals," said team captain Dien Rabesca. Deceiving the other team can be hard, the players admitted, since some of them will blush.

"It's a little embarrassing," Shawn Mackenzie said.

Mackenzie said he's happy to see such a positive reaction to the games, and that it's important for the youth to learn Dene traditions "so that the culture will remain strong."

Mackenzie said he has seen students playing the game between classes and during indoor recess, and he said it also helps them to get to know each other.

"It's to socalize and to the share the stories," he said. "Our elders told us that they used to gather together (and play hand games)."

Mackenzie said when students take pride in their traditions, it benefits all aspects of their lives.

"They show and have respect for themselves as well as self-esteem," he said.

"It's all about having fun," Whane said.

He added that he enjoys playing the game for more than just that however. "It's part of our tradition."

The boys on the hand games team said they not only play the game at school, but also at home with their families.