NORTH BATTLEFORD —The Western Development Museum in North Battleford hosted Tipi Teachings on July 17 and 18, where Kirkland Weenie from Sweetgrass First Nation taught participants how to play hand games.
Participants were divided into two teams. One team included Kirby Bull, Haylen Hernandez (captain) and Cyrus Bull. The other team included Bielyn Sokwaypnace, Dara Bull (captain) and Lorin Bull, who is a prevention worker from Little Pine.
The game is spiritual and has been passed down through generations. It was often used in the past as a way for communities to support people going through grief or anger.
“Long ago when a person was grieving, hurt, angry or mad in a camp, everyone in the camp will go and play this game and play all night if they need to until that person feels better,” Weenie said.
When used as a form of gambling, traditionally personal items were used instead of money as is used today. Items like clothing, beadwork, horses and tools were often wagered.
The modern version of the bones and sticks game uses plastic dowels instead of animal bones. One of the dowels is marked and the other is unmarked. A captain leads each team and signals how to hide the bones.
Each team has five colourful sticks. While one team hides the bones, the others guess which hand the unmarked bone is hidden in. Drumming or rattles made from cowhide are used while the bones are being hidden. Once the hiding is complete, the music is stopped with the word “huh.” The guessing team then points to where they believe the unmarked bone is. If correct, they win a stick. The first team to collect all sticks, including the orange stick, wins.
