EXPLORING INDIGENOUS GAMES (Traditional)
In PE class, the students have been exploring different Indigenous games. These are Indigenous games that were played many years ago; perhaps centuries or even thousands of years ago. These games have been made up to imitate ancient customs/lifestyles to allow students to experience/envision the challenges/hardships/realities without retail stores, Interac cards, and multimedia games.
Before we participated in the games we had a discussion on why the Indigenous People may have played games. We also discussed what materials they would have used to make the equipment/supplies needed for the games. After the classes played the games, the students were asked how things are different now as opposed to the times of when the Indigenous People created and participated in these games. As with all physical activities, students are developing the core competencies in communication, collaboration, social responsibility, creative and critical thinking as well as personal and social awareness.
A game from The Inuit People. A small target is suspended at various heights from a support. Participants try to kick ball with one foot. Participants are given three attempts to kick the target. Participants take turns attempting to kick the target while walking, running or standing still. The target is gradually raised, until only one can still touch it. This game was played by all to develop skills to deal with the different types of land conditions the Inuit people had to face during their hunting seasons. Hunters had to be quiet, fast and agile to have successful hunts to provide for their families.
Played by many Indigenous groups including Cree, Blackfoot, Inuit, Assiniboine and Skowkale. One participant holds the bundle of sticks in their hand. Others begin drawing one stick each from the bundle. After all sticks are drawn see who has drawn the "marked" stick(s). Historically, hand games, like Sticks in the Fist, were played by women within the group, and later on between communities to exchange horses and cattle.
Another game from the Inuit People. Two students sit back to back. With knees bent, players reach around behind themselves and interlock their arms. Players begin to push the other past a pre-determined line. Inuit games were born from two different needs. The first being a necessity to be strong, fit and agile which improved hunting abd survivability in northern regions. The other was for entertainment during long hours out on the land, especially during long periods of darkness.
From the Blackfoot Community. Participants form a circle with one participant blindfolded in the middle. A "rattling" ball is tossed/rolled around the circle. The blindfolded participant tries to catch the ball. Once the ball is caught a new person takes the spot in the middle. The ball was considered the "snake" and the blindfolded person was the "hunter". this game allowed children to improve their survival skills and their ability to hunt small game.
A game that was once popular on the prairies. Originally played with spears. Participants stand in a circle, each with a stick, held vertically with one end resting on the ground at their feet. At the sound of a drumbeat (or 2 sticks banged together) each participant releases their grip on their stick and attempts to grab onto the stick beside them (signal if rotation is left or right). If a stick falls, that person who was to have caught it is removed. The action is repeated until there is one person left standing.
This is another game taken from the Blackfoot community. Each participant takes a turn to throw the "bones" on the floor in front of them. Blank sides count as "0". The points are counted and then the "bones" are given to the next participant. The first person to 20 (or any pre-determined total) points, wins the game. Participants are encouraged to make their. own version of the game following the marked patterns. Traditionally, this game was played with carved buffalo rib bones and was important in helping th Blackfoot children learn to add and count.
A game for the Dakoda People. Two participants are chosen to be the Tatankas. The remaining participants are divided into groups named for animals that held some significance to the people (eagles, moose, bears, crows, etc). The Tatankas call out an animal group, who then attempt to run to the other side of the gym without being tagged by the Tatankas. If a participant is tagged they become part of the Tatanka herd and help the original Tatankas by tagging others who run by them. When there a no more animals left the game is over and two new Tatankas are chosen. Tatanka is the leader of the buffalo. It is a game that is usually played by women and small children; they would mimic their fathers and grandfathers who used to go on the buffalo hunt. The game helped the women and children learn how to lead the buffalo into the compound during the hunt.