Na’h e’tse’ah: Dene Hand Game

Have you ever seen the Dene Tha’ hand game?
While developing our new galleries, we had the opportunity to work closely with Indigenous communities to develop displays that share their important stories.
Roy Salopree and his nephew Delbert Salopree from Meander River, Dene Tha’ Nation, are members of our Indigenous Advisory Panel, and they worked with museum staff on the Dene displays. They helped write and edit the exhibit panel text, Roy made the drums and hand game set on display, and Roy, Delbert and Sidney Chambaud played an integral part in directing the accompanying film with Hidden Story Productions
Former Curator Susan Berry and her assistant Emma Knight had the opportunity to visit Bushe River and Meander River during the Dene Tha’ Assembly to watch the hand game. They were both hooked but remain utterly confused by the complexity of the hand signals!
Visit our “What Makes Us Strong” gallery to see this film, and 14 others that explore stories important to Indigenous peoples across the province.
As Roy says, “it’s ever awesome!” We couldn’t agree more!

[@tehtodene287]

Mahsì cho 👍
what I love about the Handgames is how it brings the community together. 👍🙂

[@meriamelmansour2913]

thanks for keeping traditions alive

[@lexxmelancon1737]

Us Diné (your cousons) in the SW have a similar game. It's the Moccasin Game. A ball is hidden in one of several moccasins, however, we don't sing or dance. Diné bahané says the game came about bc of the animals. Day animals vs night animals. The prize was eternal day or night. However, the game was a draw and no team won. Thus we have day and night. This was also the last time the animals spoke. 😁

[@steektete]

We sing, don’t we? lol

[@lauriemontour3192]

One of my favourite things to watch!

[@DjPrimeDUBz]

The real Dene Hand Games 🔥

[@ryanatcitty5557]

Awesome. The real game. Keshjee is what we play down here, (Diné) New Mexico, USA

[@maryspencer5506]

Thanks so much for explaining this..i loved watching these videos..but never really understood it. Meegwetch!

[@martinjenkins8270]

Seems to be full of happiness,energy and fun.Can’t fault that .Orsum

[@Screech-AbbieYT]

1:40 I miss my uncle I miss you uncle

[@themagiclawnmower2212]

❤

[@bahe2010utube]

Yateeh from Dinè reservation window rock Arizona

[@janetumphrey8352]

I was born there your related to me welfare took so sad

[@deeboling5245]

Do women play handgames?

[@tyrauchiha1762]

no i dont think so, from what i remember women aren’t allowed. but in school girls were allowed to play the drums and play handgames, but no they aren’t allowed. i forgot why but we just arent.

[@williamhagman2586]

Women play on Flathead Rez. Impressive and confident, not much messing around, just powerful song, drum and rhythm back in the 90s.