EAGLES NEST – With temperatures a frigid -22c with wind-chill factors making it feel more like -36c, the annual snowsnake tournament at the Woodland Cultural Museum went off without a hitch as throwers and shiners participated in the ancient Haudenosaunee sport on the front lawn of the former Mohawk Institute residential school.
The original date was set for two weeks earlier, just before southwestern Ontario was hit with major snowfalls, and was postponed due to lack of snow. The new dates were set for this past weekend with well enough snow on the ground to build a good track.
The track was very fast due to the dry cold weather and stayed well groomed throughout the two-day tournament. The Woodland Tournament usually attracts teams from throughout Ontario and the USA, but this year, due to the postponement, only Six Nations teams competed. The snowsnake tournament schedule is very tight as teams travel from one event to the next, similar to the Powwow circuit in the summer. The postponement meant some teams could not reschedule their itineraries to accommodate.
“There was a major tournament in the US and a lot of teams went there,” said thrower Danny Vyse.
Even though there were fewer teams competing, those who braved the sub-zero temperatures had a great time again this year.
