Zhoshméwen [Snow Snake]
During bbon, Bodéwadmi communities gather to play a centuries old sport called zhoshméwen or snowsnake. In the past, snowsnake was played not only for amusement, but for spiritual and therapeutic means. It is thought that the comradery amongst players remedied the sick. Games can last for several hours and are played individually or in teams. Each player is equipped with a spear-like implement called a zhoshman. Carved from local hardwoods and polished smooth, zhoshman range from two to seven feet in length and one inch in diameter. The object of the game is for each competitor to hurl their zhoshman, down an icy track, farther than their opponent. When thrown, the zhoshman is thought to resemble a snake slithering, hence the name snowsnake. The player or team with the longest cumulative distance wins. Zhoshmanen have been recorded at speeds in excess of 100 mph and travelling more than a mile.
Citations
Citizen Potawatomi Nation Cultural Heritage Center
