Sports Popular with Plains Native People
In one ball game, there is a field 100 yards long with a goal at each end. Each player has a stick with a bend at the end. The object of the game is to get a ball, usually deerskin stuffed with hair, through a goal. The ball is tossed or carried by stick. Blocking and tripping are allowed. Sometimes the game is played on horseback. It is the favorite sport of young men. The Chippewa call this game wapaskawsn. It is, however, a lively game played by many other native people.
The moccasin game is the favorite sport of people of the Plains. Four pads are cut to resemble moccasins. The moccasin forms are then placed over four objects such as ticks or bones or beadwork. Three of the objects must be identical. The player must guess under which moccasin the fourth or the different object rests. A player gets one point for a correct guess; the opponent gets one point when the guess is wrong. After eleven chances, the game ends, and the player with the most points wins.
By Dr. D. Jerome Tweton
Source
Originally published as The North Star Dakotan student newspaper, written by Dr. D. Jerome Tweton and supported by the North Dakota Humanities Council.
Subject Matter
Social Studies