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TRADITIONAL NATIVE GAMES
HORSE CULTURE
Horse Medicine-Good for
All
Overview and Significance:
The dog-day life of the Plains Indians changed dramatically
around the early 1700's. When the big, four-footed animals came to the tribes,
the way of life changed quickly and dramatically as Elk Dog "ponokamita" was
adopted into tribal cultures.
Integrating the horse into native way of
life included deep understanding of the animal, the habitat and behavior. The
horse rapidly became important to securing food, transportation and
territory. Games that were played during dog-days transitioned
onto horse back. For example: Foot and Horse Race, Hoop and Staff,
Horse and Hide and many other games became popular with all plains
tribes. The respect for the horse grew and there became Horse
dances, Medicine Bundles, and Ceremonies were adopted to honor this new
relative.
As western encroachment forced tribes onto reservations and
depleted the buffalo herds, the use of Elk Dog changed to farming, ranching and
helper becoming important to survival. But still the enjoyment of
horse events continued into modern times. Today horse relays and
rodeos are an integral part of Plains and all tribes’ way of life.
Sample schedule (from 1st Horse Culture Clinic in Calgary, AB)
Quotes from first Horse Clinic (January, 2011:
- Lana Crying Head, Blood Tribe: “The most important segment
of the clinic was the aspects of what we lost
(relationship with horse) and how we as individuals can gain it back for
our homes and communities.”
- Karyn Gagnon, Metis: “The clinic provided me with a
comfortable pace for learning and for allowing the horses as well as the
trainers to teach us. It was a good
balance between knowledge and practical.”
- Charlane Star Light, Nakoda Stoney Nation: “To me, the
camaraderie that developed among the participants was important.”
- Jim Mason, Calgary:
“Understanding the healing power of the horse and the way the horse brought
people together then and now. The horse
was friend and relative.”
- Lawrence Gaudry, Metis:
“Learning the horse culture history (early, middle, and modern North
American Plains Indians).”
- Carol Mason, Executive Director - Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary: (excerpts from follow up message) All is going well with the horse training. We have about 30 students attending
every Tues nite! Good turn out. I will be talking with you fine folk on the
level II horse culture training. . . . . . Right now we are just getting the kids use to riding and boy do they love
it!
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