Abenaki ‘Snow Snake’
Tradition Is Revived

The deep snow and cold temperatures didn't stop the Koasek Traditional Band of Abenaki from reviving the ancient Snow Snake games in Randolph, February 16.

Nancy Millette, past chief of the Koasek Band and president of the White Pine Association of the Koasek Traditional Band of Abenaki, hosted the event at her Randolph residence. She said she welcomed the idea of hosting the games for the first time in hundreds of years, when Chief Brian Chenevert of the Koasek Band and Roger Longtoe Sheehan of the El Nu Tribe approached her to help preserve this ancient sport.

The Snow Snake, according to Millette, is carved from a flattened piece of wood. The front end curves up, and the back of the stick is notched for an easy throw.

In ancient time, hunters from several villages would get together for competitions, following the winter hunts.. After spending many hours making a snow snake, competitors hoped theirs would be the one that would travel the furthest; losers had to give over their snow snakes to the winner.

"Normally" said Chief Brian Chenevert, " a long shallow tunnel would be made in the snow for the snow snake competitions. This year there was just too much snow.

"However, after a year of preparing for this competition," he continued, "we weren't about to wait another year, so we made a make-shift competition area in a long drive way."

The snow snake competition didn't have any winners or losers this time around. Everyone just had fun and all went home with their own snow snake.

The children had worked hard for months on their snow snakes and had a competition of their own.

After each throw, each youngster proudly stood his or her snow snake to the side of the competition runway, to mark where the snake stopped, hoping the next snake thrown would not slide past that point.

After the games, everyone gathered for a potluck feast, drumming and singing, and a great deal of fun.

The White Pine Association of the Koasek Traditional Band of the Abenaki Nation is dedicated to preservation of the Abenaki culture and traditions.

More Events

On May 31 and June 1, the band will host Nawihla Native American Festival in North Haverhill, N.H., and will visit schools in the Newbury area, prior to the festival.

The festival will give the public a chance to hear ancient drumming and singing, to see arts and crafts, and basket-making demonstrations, and more.

The White Pine Association Nawhila organizers have also invited Iroquois traditional singers, who use water drums and invite the public to take part in the social dancing.

Other projects of the White Pine Association include language preservation, as well as historic preservation of the first people of Vermont.

For more information contact Nancy Millette at 802-392- 8006.