Traditional Snowsnake Game to Be Held in Salamanca

Public Demonstration of Centuries Old Game

A Snowsnake competition to see who can throw a snowsnake (a six-foot long specially prepared wooden stick) the furthest… at speeds that can reach over 100 miles an hour along a quarter-mile snow track, will be held on Saturday, February 12 and Sunday, February 13 in Salamanca, NY.

 Snowsnake is an ancient Hodinöhsö:ni׳ (Iroquois) game that is played in the winter months. Traditionally, it was a men’s game that was used to sharpen one’s hunting skills. Some say that it was once also used to send messages between communities. The game is highly competitive. Today, Native teams travel between territories to compete with each other.

 The event is free to the public and begins each day at 11:00 am at the Erie Rail Yard on North Main Street across from the Salamanca Rail Museum and runs until dusk. For more information about this competition, contact the Salamanca Area Chamber of Commerce at 716-945-2034 or visit www.salamancachamber.org.

For more information on this event please visit www.salamancachamber.org.