Traditional games uphold nations' cultures

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Traditional games uphold nations' cultures

Posted: July 11, 2005
by: Jack McNeel / Indian Country Today


GREAT FALLS, Mont. - Shinney, lacrosse, ring the stick, arrow throw, run and scream; they're all part of American Indian history, games played long before basketball was invented. All these and more were played during a recent gathering in Great Falls.

The International Traditional Games Society was established in 1997, involving cultural directors from each of Montana's seven reservations. The first International Traditional Games was held in 1999 and it's been held most years since. More than 25 games have been revived, some nearly lost over the past decades, to maintain that aspect of culture and for inclusion in schools and ceremonial events. The event this year was held in conjunction with an Indian encampment and pow wow during the same week in which Lewis and Clark anniversary activities took place as another way of introducing Indian culture and including the Indian perspective to the festivities.

Arleen Adams, Salish/Kootenai, serves on the International Tribal Games Society (ITGS). She's taught school for 15 years and found some of the games have worked well to build self-esteem and energy, and to teach youngsters to work together. Ken Bruno, Chippewa/Cree, another committee member, worked with young boys in the prisoner game in which they are loosely roped together and must work together to separate themselves. Arleen commented that the game was a good way to quiet youngsters wanting to roughhouse or fight, and she'd often used it in class.

Jim Higgins, Blackfeet, was working with other youngsters in a game resembling jacks but which is played with rocks. The idea is to toss a stone in the air and pick up one from the ground, and catch the stone in the air, proceeding to pick up two, then three, until you can't do any more.

More: http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096411205

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