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Slahal!

Slahal! Sometimes spelled Lahal. I first learned of the game while working at one of the elementary schools in Prince George where there are quite a few Indigenous students. Nearly lost to colonialism, Indigenous educators and youth workers across BC are making strides to revive the game.


Dallas Gus of the Squamish Nation explains the game in its historical context in this interview, which is definitely worth a read!  Most notable to me was how one of the primary ways the game was used was as a replacement for war between nations, and to settle disputes peacefully.


Kelsey Wavey, of the Cree Nation, has also led efforts to reconnect with Slahal. They started teaching the game virtually during the pandemic, emphasizing that such a time of crisis and isolation made it more important than ever to keep communities connected, and Slahal was the perfect opportunity. In 2020, they hosted a virtual Slahal tournament during the pandemic with Savage Society, an Indigenous-led theater and art group, for Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21st. For more on Kelsey’s work, check out this article.


While the game today is played in good fun and is enjoyed by people from myriad age groups and cultural backgrounds, to me it exemplifies both why Indigenous cultural history is so important for everyone to learn about. It makes me think how different colonialist history might have been if - instead of erasing Indigenous culture and practices like Slahal - these had been embraced? How different might conflict - and conflict resolution - be today if settlers learned to resolve differences in this way?


I hope that going forward, further strides to bring back rich, meaningful traditions like Slahal will continue to be made. Many Indigenous individuals are already leading the way, like Dallas Gus, Kelsey Wavey, and the educator I met in Prince George - and their efforts should be recognized, supported and celebrated!


If you’d like to learn more about the tradition of Slahal and how the game is played, check out this resource from Comox Valley Schools!

 

Author: Lexa, ITMP blog coordinator

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