Bone games

July 2nd, 3rd and 4th
Location: Sea breeze field
Registrater by 3:00pm July 2nd
Time: 3:00pm starts

Entry fee amount: $200.00

Minumum of 20 teams confirmed to proceed

1st place: $4000 plus T-shirts
2nd place: $3000 plus T-shirts
3rd place: $1000 plus T-shirts

Entry form: click here pdf

Submitt all entries to:
Quinault Nation Heritage Committee
PO Box 07
Taholah, WA. 98587

contact information:

Jim Campbell
Phone: 360-276-8211 ext: 512
e-mail: jcampbel@quinault.org


Leilani Chubby ljones@quinault.org
Phone: 360-276-8211 ext:245
Fax: 360-276-4191

History of
GAMBLING GAMES ‘SLAHAL’

Bone games were held during sports events at celebrations. Two pairs of bones were used, each bone about two and one half inches long or a size that could be easily hidden in the hand. One of the bones of each pair was marked with a black band in the middle. From four to twelve players played on each side. The two teams faced each other in a row. Sometimes a mat was placed between two teams, but it was not required. Two or three players on each side served as drummers. Occasionally a large board was placed in front of the team members and with a small stick the players would beat out the rhythm of the game on his board whenever they had possession of the bone. Twenty to forty counter sticks for each team were stuck in the ground by the respective teams.

To determine which team would first be granted control of the bones, one player from each team took a pair of bones and shuffled them in his hands. Then each team was allowed to guess simultaneously which hand the opposing team member was holding the white bone in. A spokesman or guesser represented each team, but prompting by the other team members was encouraged until the spokesman made the final decision. If both teams guessed correctly, the bones are exchanged and the procedure was repeated. Once one team missed a guess, the other team would take control of both pairs of bones and the game would begin.

The object was for a team to win all counter sticks. In order to win a counter two spokesman from the opposing team had to successfully guess which hand two other players had shuffled the white bone to. Using his right hand the spokesman would make a gesture indicting his guess. A gesture to his own right meant that he thought the opponent held the white bone in his left hand; a gesture to his left indicted his opponent right hand. If both guessers were wrong they lost one or two counters, if both were correct they won one or two counters from the opponents and gained control of the bones what were then tossed to two of their teammates. If only one of the guessers was right, neither counters nor bones changed hands.

The men and women would sing songs or beat their board or drum whenever they had possession of the bones. Many of the players had their own bone game song. Whenever the team sang a particular song they would know whose song they sang. Several tribes such as the Quileute, Hoh, and Makah still play the bone game and they now call out whose song they are singing to acknowledge the originator of the song.

The game could go on for hours, and often lasted well into the night. Most of the onlookers pulled for one side or the other, placing bets anywhere from two to twenty dollars. The bets were not collected until all sticks from one side were lost to the other side.

Several tribes had their own team that would travel to different events or celebrations and compete with whomever wanted to play against them. The Indians truly enjoy this game, which they call, ‘slahal.’ They like to gamble, sing songs and enjoy their free time.