North American Indigenous Games Demonstration Sports War Canoe Races Structured Salish war canoe races have been a part of Victoria's history since the 1800's and are an annual event at various sites in British Columbia and Washington State. Dozens of canoes gather in friendly competition. The Salish war canoes are world-renowned for their speed and often win international canoe races. The ancient ceremonial hoop dance is one of the most visually exciting and intricate of all Native American dances. There are many diverse variations of the intertribal hoop dance.
Dancers weave in aspects of their distinct traditions and cultures.
As few as five to as many as fifty hoops are used and dancers fashion them into shapes that include animals, butterflies and globes. This demonstration will be conducted under the rules as developed and approved by the Arctic Winter Games International Committee. The two main categories are lnuit Games and Dene Games. It demonstrates such skills as stop and go, ball control, dribbling, shooting power and strategy. This game originated in South America, where Brazil alone has 5 million players.