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Photo gallery Ojibwe Winter Games

February 9, 2016 By Bryce Richter
A collection of snow snakes sits waiting to be used at Ojibwe Winter Games, held on Lake Mendota at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on Feb. 5, 2016. Events included snow snake, hoop and spear, and atlatl, where participants propel an arrow with a hooked handle.

A collection of snow snakes sits waiting to be used at the Ojibwe Winter Games, held on Lake Mendota at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on Feb. 5, 2016. The event celebrates and sustains traditional winter sports, and inspires children to get out and exercise during winter. This year, a group of folklore students in the UW Scandinavian Studies Program partnered with educators in Lac du Flambeau to bring the games to UW-Madison. Photo by: Bryce Richter

The games included snow snake, hoop and spear, and atlatl (shown), where participants use a hooked handle to propel an arrow faster and farther than could be thrown with bare hands. The object was to hit one of four hunting targets.

The games included snow snake, hoop and spear, and atlatl (shown), where participants use a hooked handle to propel an arrow faster and farther than could be thrown with bare hands. The object was to hit one of four hunting targets. Photo by: Bryce Richter

Participants take part in an Ojibwa Winter Games event on a frozen Lake Mendota at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on Feb. 5, 2016. The games included snow snake (shown), hoop and spear, and atlatl, where participants propel an arrow with a hooked handle. The Ojibwa Winter Games celebrate and sustain traditional winter sports, and inspire children to get out and exercise during winter. This year, a group of folklore students in the UW Scandinavian Studies Program partnered with educators in Lac du Flambeau to bring the games to UW-Madison. (Photo by Bryce Richter / UW-Madison)

Snow snake's object was to toss a carved and painted wooden stick down a lane of ice that has had the snow cleared from it, trying to have the stick go as far and straight as possible. Photo by: Bryce Richter

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