Often when someone hears the term “games” in reference to the Native American people, they think of recent arrival of tribal Casino’s. When actually games have been apart of the Native American culture for centuries.

According to the University of Wisconsin La Crosse, archaeologists in Wisconsin have recovered a game piece known as a “chunkey stone” dated as early as 1300-1600 AD and although this was the only artifact so far identified as a “game” piece, it is thought that there must have been more that were simply unrecognized or too damaged to identify.

In fact, games have held many meanings for the Native American culture: as a way of communicating with their gods, a means of settling disputes, and a way to strengthen and build social bonds both within a tribe and with neighboring villages.

Chérie Haury Artz, from the Office of the State Archaeologist University of Iowa writes that all members of the tribe often played games. With both the men, and women, (though typically not playing together, they sometimes played even the same game though at different times and usually with some minor rule changes), teaching the younger generation important skills in patience, endurance and strength. 

Traditionally games were divided into two general groups: Games of Skill, and Games of Chance.

Some popular games of skill are:

Bull Roarer, a flat 5-6 inch bone or wooden stick with a hole near one end. It is then attached via a cord to another stick that is used as a handle. By grasping the handle, the child would whirl the bull roarer over his head creating a moaning or wail sound, not unlike the sound of the wind. This game while once widespread is now primarily seen amongst the Southwest tribes.

Chunkey, a game in which players would roll a stone and then cast spears in an attempt to predict where the stone would fall. The person whose spear landed the closest to the fallen stone without touching it would win.

Lacrosse, a game connected to both the spirit world as well as a means of achievement it was originally played in the cities of Mesoamerica. Making its way across the trade routes leaving a profound impact on the many nations it came into contact with. Due to its connections with the spirit world and its association with creation, it became known amongst many tribes as the “game of creation.” A game of a long wooden stick with a net attached to one end, a ball is then passed between players who would then throw the ball through a small wooden ring to “make a goal.” A popular game still played today, it is popular in many colleges and high schools around the world. Lacrosse has made a name for Native American games, with the Iroquois National Lacrosse Team being the only Native American Sports team to compete internationally.

In an article by the Musuem of Anthropology at Wake Forest University, it mentions several popular games of chance played amongst many nations.

For example, Stick Dice, in which 2 or more players take 3 flat sticks, 3 inches long, which are white on one side, red on the other. Players would then take turns tossing the dice. Sticks are tossed up to land on flat surface. All three white sides equal 10 points or counters, 2 white and 1 red equals 2 counters, 2 reds and one white equals 3 counters, and 3 red equals 5 counters. The highest scoring would win.

Another game of chance typically played amongst women was the Plum Stone Game. A dice game played by many tribes, the game was usually played in pairs. Materials consisted of five plums stones with markings that identified their point value, a bowl or a basket, and 100 sticks or twigs for counting. The object being to win the most points out of the 100. The stones were tossed upward using the bowl or basket, with a light enough toss to move all the stones but not strong enough to move them outside of the bowl. Any stones that fell outside of the bowl did not count. The player then continued on until no points were earned, the next player then taking her turn.

While this is just a few of the many games played amongst the Native American people, it is clear to see that these games helped to keep their minds sharp and their bodies healthy. Teaching the next generation the skills they needed to know in order to develop trade and companionship with neighboring tribes, they also learned to draw their own tribal members closer together.