Hand Games is part of the Dene Games competition here at Arctic Winter Games.  As you can see in the photos below, this is an intense and energetic competition.  IInitially the event appears a dance off between the two teams four seated competitors.  In fact the competition can be understood as a sort of shell game.  Each competitor have some sort of small object in their hands that they move around (underneath their parkas for example).  While others drum, the competitors dance and throw hand signals at the other team to try to distract them from following the location of the hidden talisman.  There are twelve points indicated by multi-colored sticks that go to the winner of each guess.

Also called "Stick Gambling," these Hand Games are a huge deal in Canada where people bet on the outcome.  There is a lot of pride and family tradition in these competitions.  Team Alaska coach Brian Walker likened the importance of Hand Games to hockey, "for Alaska to beat the Canadians at Hand Games, would be the equivalent of beating them at hockey."

 Alaska's Junior Mens' Dene Hand Games Team

 Team Alaska's Dene Games female competitors cheer on the guys

Team Alaska competes against Team Nunavit (northern Quebec)