Sports and Games

The Secwepemc people enjoyed many types of sports and games that involved strength, skill and intelligence. Annual gatherings were held each year at appointed areas where family and friends met to partake in sports and competitions. Some of the games played were dice games, cat's cradle, stone toss, ring and darts, target shooting, and races of various types.

The Dice Game

The dice game is played with four beaver teeth that are engraved with triangular shapes, straight lines and dots. Different configurations were expected before shaking and casting the dice. No expected configuration resulted in loss of turn. Points were scored by the degree of difficulty.

Lehal

Lehal (sllekmews) is a guessing or a gambling game that involved two teams seated across from one another. The game is accompanied by traditional songs and begins with a set of playing sticks and palm-sized bones with one marked with a ring. Each team takes turns guessing which hand holds the marked bone. If the team guesses correctly they take one of the other team's sticks and once all the sticks from the opposing team are taken that team wins. Some games were played for high stakes and could last for several days. In these serious games a judge would sometimes be appointed to keep the contest fair.

Lacrosse

Lacrosse (steqwmeke7uwi) is a game played similar to hockey and soccer where a ball is directed into a net by either your feet or a stick. In the winter it was played with netted sticks and in the summer it was played with sticks similar to the hockey sticks of today. The ball was made with hide (scwetmin) and filled with grass.

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