[1] The game was shared in common by the Chehalis[disambiguation needed], Chemakum, Chemainus, Chilliwack, Comox, Cowichan, Klahuse, Klallam, Lummi, Nanaimo, Nisqually, Pentlatch, Puyallup, Quileute, Quinault, Sanich, Sechelt, Skokomish, Snohomish, Snoqualmie, Songhees, Squamish, and Twana peoples.
[1] It has similar rules between Coast Salish groups, historically providing a shared medium for interaction and peaceful rivalry.
[1] Wagers were placed on the game prior to its beginning and they consisted of items like money, canoes, watches, ponies, coats, shirts, etc.
[1] Once the two teams were decided, they lined up in two parallel rows facing one another that measured fifteen feet apart and sometimes aligned so they were in an east-west position.
[1] The objective of Slahal is for the appointed team leader to guess which of the opponent’s hands the chosen counter is concealed in.
[1] The bone counters were designed to be held lengthwise inside players' fists, and were either blank or marked with red or black bands around their circumference.
[1] Modern Slahal also uses two pairs of playing objects that are painted with black or red designs, though wood is more commonly used than bone.