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Brief Biographies of Traditional Games Teachers:
The following list is of certified Traditional Games Instructors throughout the United States. Contact games@traditionalnativegames.org if you would like to schedule one of our teachers for a presentation. Adults:
Arleen Adams, Salish, has worked for the Salish, Kootenai, and Pend d'Oreille Tribes of the Flathead Nation for many years. She is currently employed at the Salish language immersion school in Arlee, Montana. Arleen is daughter of Louis Adams, one of the most highly respected elders of the tribes. Her knowledge of the language, the old ways, and her love for the culture place her in high regard by all. She has been part of the research and resurrection of traditional games since 1994 and is an officer of the Int. Traditional Games Society.
Richard Horn, Blackfeet, is a cultural expert of old crafting techniques, deep cultural knowledge of the past, and stories that add depth to the rules of the games. He has taught people of all ages who always comment on the unusually ancient oral history he shares with the teaching of traditional games. Mr. Horn is well respected by people of all tribes.
Marvin Bald Eagle Young Man, Turtle Mountain Chippewa, has been an officer in Traditional Games Society. He now resides at St. John, North Dakota where he often travels to the United Tribes events and to schools throughout the state to teach games, plants, crafting game equipment and flutes.
Wales Bull Tail, Crow, from Lodge Grass, Montana is an experienced traditional games teacher. Wales has taught in summer camps, local schools, and Little Big Horn College. His knowledge of Crow culture is highly respected by young and old.
Videl Stump, Cree from Rocky Boy, is a respected elder of the tribe. His knowledge of the culture and knowledge of the traditional games makes him one of our best arrow throw teachers. He and his wife Ruby will be teaching about the culture of the Chippewa-Cree in a tipi learning lodge as well as coaching the arrow throw during the traditional games.
Ken (Tuffy) Helgeson, Assiniboine, has helped host traditional games at Hays-Lodge Pole High School and in summer camps. Tuffy has very old time knowledge of his language and traditional ways that help him explain the educational purposes for the traditional games to be included into all school curriculums.
Don Racine, White Clay, has been a traditional games teacher since October, 2005. He and his family know the values of the traditional games in bringing "community" back to the family and bringing the families together for laughter and play. Don will be available for presentations during the summer of 2007. He and his family can travel to other sites to share their knowledge.
Dutch Lunak, Blackfeet expert horsemen of modern and traditional horse events, will be coaching youth and adults in the old-time horse races and competitions. Twenty different events from Horse and Hide racing to the Slowest horse race and wrestling from horseback can be taught.
Orsino Walker, Kootenai, has hosted the old time horse culture events for the past five years at Standing Arrow Grounds on Flathead Lake. He is descendant of Kootani horse culture back to pre-reservation days.
Georgianne Fish, Assiniboine/Sioux, is an educator from Great Falls Public Schools. She and her daughter Rachael, and son, Seth, traveled with the "Tent of Many Voices" to share the traditional games at the Lewis & Clark trail in 2005 and 2006. She brings modern educational concepts for the use of traditional games in the gym and the class room. Benita Plainfeather - Assiniboine - board President, has been a member of ITGS board since 2006, when the traditional games summer gamp was moved to the Fort Belknap Reservation. There, she has been involved in traditional games activities connected with the Diabetes Program, Social Services and other tribal agency events. She is an essential of the history of this organization and a very valuable asset to its future. Craig Falcon, Blackfeet - board Vice President, was raised in
two worlds: one with his grandparents on the Blackfeet Reservation learning
language, culture, and history, and the other with his family following the
military career of his father. He holds a B.S. degree in Environmental Science and often teaches about “historic
trauma” to schools and Indian agencies. Mr. Falcon works easily in Native
and non-native settings.
Jeremy Red Eagle, Sioux - ITGS Culture Chair, has been deeply involved with many different tribe’s ceremonies and
celebrations. He is often asked to travel great distances to assist
with cultural events. Mr. Red Eagle works for the Helena Indian Alliance
in many roles with youth programs, as well as
assisting Helena School District with traditional Native events and
activities. He offers thoughtful advice in planning sessions.
DeeAnna Leader - Executive Director, has
been involved with the research and recovery of the traditional games since
1991. When working as an assistant
principal at Browning Middle School, she and others brought back 20 games from
written and oral history, and were played by Blackfeet youth. DeeAnna’s experience as a school
administrator in Indian Education has been beneficial to Indian Education for
All programs throughout Montana.
Certified Youth Teachers:
Jacob Stalnaker, Blackfeet, age 18, recently returned to Montana after attending school near Santa Fe, NM.is attending Blackfeet Community College with two other youth leaders. Jeffrey and Keith Horn. He has been teaching traditional games in summer camps since 2006. The past summers, Jacob taught the games to Japanese exchange students on Carroll College campus, traveled with the "Tent of Many Voices, and taught youth from Montana to Portland, Oregon. He and his friends make traditional game equipment to sell at the Plains Indian Museum. Jacob, Jeffrey and Keith have
been with the Traditional Games events since they were six years old. Their
insight and advice to the Board of Directors and their skills in teaching other students has
been rewarding for everyone. They will continue to present in schools along
with youth from other reservations. This year, they will help set goals for
the Level III youth teachers.
Newly certified youth listed below have taught the games in their schools and for national youth conferences.
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