Traditional Games

2007        

People of all cultures developed traditions of competition proving skill, cunning or intuition. Games from all over the world were shared along trade routes. However, in the past century, the traditional games of many cultures have faded out of the experience of new generations. Generic, Olympic-type competitions have replaced cultural games for tribal youth. In that games were a prominent way of passing on customs, traditions, and heritage, those pathways to the traditional values have been lost.

The old time Native American games of strength, skill, stamina and intuition were played by all ages of tribal members. Within the community of the tribe there was an obligation to share the economic gain of superior abilities with others. Competitions taught social responsibility for others and gave personal strength to spiritual values of their way of life.

The theme of the International Traditional Games has been, “What Holds Us Together” and “Honoring the Differences.” These themes celebrate President Jefferson's directive to Captain Lewis that, “in all your discourses extend the hand of peace.”

TRADITIONAL TRIBAL GAMES 

Canoe Races/Double:
Ten canoes with two people in each canoe will race a quarter mile water course. There will be three heats to a category and six categories. The first two canoes in each heat will advance. Categories include: Youth: 8 – 11 year olds; Youth: 12 – 14 year olds; Youth: 15 – 17 year olds; Men: 18 – 39 years old; Women: 18 – 39 years old: Coed: 40 years and older.

Canoe Races/Teams:
One canoe with 12 paddlers race a ½ mile water course. One canoe goes at a time and each race is timed allowing eight teams to compete per category. Categories include: Coed: 14 – 17 years old; Men: 18 years and older; Women 18 years and older; Coed: 40 years and older.

Shinney:
Shinney is played with willow sticks and is played using field hockey rules. A rectangular goal with a 5 foot span and 5 foot height will be at end of the playing field. Teams consist of eight players. The playing ball will be deer hair stuffed with tanned deer hide. Categories: Coed Youth: 8 - 11 year olds; Coed Youth: 12 - 15 year olds.

Traditional Lacrosse:
Lacrosse is played on a round field with a 21-foot tall pole placed in the center of the field. Atop the pole is a goal piece (carving of deer skull) or two ribbons defining a goal area on the pole. The object of the game is to propel a ball from the net pocket of the lacrosse stick into the goal area on the pole. Categories: : Coed Youth: 8 - 11 year olds; Coed Youth: 12 to 15 year olds.

Doubleball:
Doubleball is played with willow sticks with a goal 10 feet wide and 10 feet high. There are eight athletes on each team. Categories: Coed Youth: 8 - 11 year olds; Coed Youth: 12 to 15 year olds.

Arrow Throw Competition (Crow Version):
This game is competed with teams of two. One team competes against another team in a single elimination round. The playing field is 35 yards long for 18 year olds and younger. The playing field is 40 yards long for the older competitors. Both team players cast long arrows (about 5 feet in length) at a target on the ground. Then the second team tosses. Points are awarded for closest to the center of the target. Categories: Boys Youth: 10 - 17 year olds; Men 18+.

Hoop and dart:
Competing teams of ten athletes line up along the length of both sides of a 30-foot alleyway and attempt to throw their darts through a netted hoop that is thrown to roll down the alley. The game will use the Salish Hoop. Contestants whose darts stay in the hoop when it stops are awarded points -- 5 points for the center; 1 point anywhere else in the net. The hoop throw will alternate between the two ends of the alleyway. Teh darts are approximately 18 inches long. Each team member has one dart, so only one throw/contestant (10 throws per team) is allowed for each throw of the hoop. Teams play four games in a day the first two days. The aggregate core determines the team's seeding for the single eliminationtorunament on the last two days.Categories: Coed Youth: 8 - 11 year olds; Coed Youth: 12 to 14 year olds; Coed Youth: 15 – 17 year olds; Men's: 18 years and older; Women's: 18 years and older; Coed Team: 40 years and older.

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Individual Games

Hoop and Long Arrow:
This is played on a 30-foot alleyway on the ground. Ten athletes line up along the alleyway and attempt to throw their long arrow through a beaded hoop that is thrown to roll down the alley. The contestant to stop the hoop's roll with the long arrow is awarded points. The hoop is alternated with a throw from one end and then the next throw is from the opposite end of the alley. Contestants must bump two positions down after each throw to equalize the play. The long arrows are 3-5 feet long. The alleyway is setup on packed dirt or on grass. Each contestant has six arrows, so only one throw/contestant is allowed for each throw of the hoop. Contestants can replay the game repeatedly each day to better their score for that day. Categories: Coed Youth: 8 - 11 year olds; Coed Youth: 12 to 14 year olds; Coed Youth: 15 – 17 year olds; Men's: 18 years and older; Women's: 18 years and older; Coed Team: 40 years and older.

Kickball:
Runners will race kicking a hackey-sack type ball with an attached 3-inch braided tail down a course 100 yards and back. The ball and runner must cross the finish line to be counted as a finish. At the turnaround, both runner and ball must cross the turnaround marker to be considered qualified. Heats will be run by age category in groups of 20-25 runners and they will have balls of different colored tails. The top three runners from each heat will be taken from each heat to go into a finals heat each day for a First, Second, and Third place winner. Considering a first, second, and third award for each category for each day is 54 awards (18 awards each day x 3 days). Categories Coed Youth: 8 - 11 year olds; Coed Youth: 12 to 14 year olds; Coed Youth: 15 – 17 year olds; Men's: 18 years and older; Women's: 18 years and older; Coed Team: 40 years and older.

Missouri River Race: (changed each year)
One 10K race starting about 1 mile northeast of Cochrane Dam following the River's Edge Trail to Giant Springs State Park (Heritage Unit). The racing field will be limited to 150 athletes only. Runners will be entered on a first-come/first served basis and must be pre-registered. Categories: Coed Youth: 8 - 12 years old; Boys: 13 to 17 years old; Girls: 13 to 17 years old; Men's: 18 to 39 years old; Women's 18 to 39 years old; Men's 40 years and older; and Women's: 40 years and older.

Atlatl Target:

Individuals throw ten darts each at an archery target placed at 15 meters distance. The setup will allow 40 participants in each age category. Scores will be recorded by scorekeepers, based on closest to the center of the target. Several rounds of throw-offs may be necessary to assign place winners. Winners of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places in Men's, Women's, and Youth divisions will receive certificates and prizes. Categories: Coed Youth: 8 – 17 year olds; Men's: 18 years and older; Women's: 18 years old and older.

Primitive Bow (Novice):
Individuals will shoot ten arrows each at an archery target placed at 15 meters distance. The setup will allow 40 participants in each age category. Scores will be recorded by scorekeepers, based on closest to the center of the target. Several competitions may be necessary to assign place winners.

Winners of 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in Men's, Women's, and Youth divisions will receive certificates and prizes. This event will require 10 targets, 10 support frames, 15 atlatls, 75 darts. Categories: Coed Youth: 8 – 17 year olds; Men's: 18 years and older; Women's: 18 years old and older.

Primitive Bow (Expert):
Individuals will shoot ten arrows each at an archery target placed at 15 meters distance. The setup will allow 40 participants in each age category. Scores will be recorded by scorekeepers, based on closest to the center of the target. Several competitions of throw-offs may be necessary to assign place winners. Winners of 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in Men's, Women's, and Youth divisions will receive certificates and prizes. Categories: Coed Youth: 8 – 17 year olds; Men's: 18 years and older; Women's: 18 years old and older.

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Horse Games (check schedule for each year for changes in fees)

Night Shirt Race: Speed race where the bareback rider races from the start line 200 yards to a point where they dismount to pick up and put on a ribbon shirt, then remount the horse and ride back to the starting line. Ages 16 and older may participate. 8 horses will be in each heat. Entry Fees: $50.00/adult; $25.00/youth.

Slowest Horse Race: Each rider brings their slowest horse to the race and swaps mounts before the race begins. Riders draw for the horse they ride. Eight horses with riders then line up at the start line. When the race begins the slowest horse (not the rider) is the winner. Horses will be disqualified if they stop on the track – all horses must be moving at all times. Riders ride bareback but may use any type bridle the horse owner provides for the mount. Ages 14 and older may participate. Eight horses per heat. Entry Fees: $50.00.

Horse and Rider Rescue: Teams of two -- rider and rescue rider -- participate in this race. To begin the race, bareback riders line up in the starting gate. When the race begins, the rider rides 200 yards where a rescue rider has been stationed beyond the turnaround line. When the rider stops his horse, he reaches down and assists the rescue rider to double mount and races to the finish line with the rescued rider double riding. Ages 16 and older may participate. Eight horses will be in each heat. Entry Fees: $75.00/adult; $25.00/youth

Ladies Race: Women wearing a ribbon dress race their horses for ½ mile riding bareback. Bridles may be used. Ages 14 and older may participate. Eight horses per heat. Entry Fees: $50.00/entry.

Chief's Race: Men wearing their own traditional headpiece, race bareback for ½ mile. Bridles may be used. Ages 14 and older may participate. Eight horses per heat. Entry Fees: $50.00/entry.

Little Chief/Maiden Race: Children (8-13 years of age) race bareback for ½ mile. Boys must wear their own traditional headpiece. Girls must wear a ribbon dress. Bridles may be used. Eight horses per heat. Entry Fees: $25.00/entry.

Ladies Relay Race: Race involves women wearing a ribbon dress riding bareback around the ½ mile track three times changing horses after each lap. There will be seven riders per heat. The riders will change horses three times. The women may be boosted onto the fresh horse, but must totally dismount to the ground (both feet touching the ground) before switching horses. Ages: 14 and older. Entry Fees: $100/entry

Men's Relay Race: Race involves teams consisting of 3 horses and 4 men – a rider, a mugger (who stops the horse at each horse switch); exchange holder (who holds the fresh horse); backholder (who takes away the spent horse). The length of the race is 3 times around the ½ mile track. The bareback riders, wearing a ribbon shirt, mount the horses from a standing position, race to the next horse, completely dismount (both feet touching the ground momentarily) then switching horses. Any rider boosted to the new mount will be disqualified. Ages 16 and older may participate. There will be seven teams per heat. Entry Fees: $125/team/entry

Youth co-ed Relay Race: Race involves teams consisting of 3 horses and 4 participants – a rider, a mugger (who stops the horse at each horse switch); exchange holder (who holds the fresh horse); backholder (who takes away the spent horse). The length of the race is 3 times around the ½ mile track. The bareback riders, wearing a ribbon shirt, mount the horses from a standing position, race to the next horse, completely dismount (both feet touching the ground momentarily) then switching horses. Any rider boosted to the new mount will be disqualified. Ages 16 and older may participate. There will be seven teams per heat. Entry Fees: $50/team/entry.

Youth Horse & Hide Race: Race involves teams consisting of 1 horse and 2 participants - horse rider and hide rider. Hide riders sprint from the starting line approximately 50 yards and mount the hide attached to the horse by a lariat. The horse rider then drags the hide rider to the finish line. Horses must be saddled. Hide riders must wear gloves, helmets and eye/mouth protection. Entry Fees: $25.00/entry/team.

Endurance Horse-Foot-Canoe Race: Race involves a team of one horse and a two-person team (a competitor and backholder). The race begins with the competitor racing bareback from the designated starting point to the backholder. Then the competitor runs a specified distance to staged canoes on the shoreline. The competitor paddles the canoe to a designate buoy, circles it and returns to shore and drags the canoe to the finish line. The horses must be ridden bareback, but a bridle may be used. The canoes must be dragged over the finish line. The horses may not run loose. The competitor must wear properly attached life preserver while in the canoe. Ages 16 and older may participate. Eight teams per heat. Entry Fee: $75.00/entry.

Co-ed Youth Foot & Horse Race Race involves a two person team -- 1 runner/rider and a horse holder. Participant runs 1/4 mile then rides 1/2 mile around the track. Horses must be bareback, bridle allowed. Entry Fee: $25.00.

Adult Hoop and Staff Race: Race involves the rider riding down the side of posts spearing the hoops from the extensions. He/she rounds the last post and rides down the other side spearing rings on the opposite side and then returns to the finish. The rider must use the staff to spear the rings and carry them to the finish line. Points will be awarded for speed, number of speared hoops and colors of hoops. Ages 14 and older may participate. One competitor at a time will run the race. Entry Fee: $50/entry/person.

Child Hoop and Staff Race: Race involves the rider riding down the side of posts spearing the hoops from the extensions. He/she rounds the last post and rides down the other side spearing rings on the opposite side and then returns to the finish. The rider must use the staff to spear the rings and carry them to the finish line. Points will be awarded for speed, number of speared hoops and colors of hoops. Ages 8 - 13 may participate. One competitor at a time will run the race. Entry Fee: $25/entry/person.

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Learning Stations

Young Children's Games: The game stations will include:

Game                         Craft

Run and Scream	Paper Drum
Bull Roarer	Rolling Hoop
Make the Stick Jump	Paper Star Quilt
Shinney	Ring Stick
Kickball Racing	Double Ball
Double Ball	Kickball
Rolling Hoop and Arrow	Beading
Throwing Hoop and Arrow	Dolls
Ring the Stick	Shinney
Guessing Sticks	Game sticks for Run and Scream Game

Double Ball Player