HAND GAMES Hand game, also known as stickman, is a Native American guessing game. It predates recorded history. A bag with sixty-five gambling sticks were found in the 19th century. Hand games are played today among the Native American tribes. They are classified as class 1 gaming, and regulation is left to each individual tribe. According to oral traditions, the games were taught to the people by the animals. Oral traditions also indicate that these games were played for land, horses, cattle and even companionship. These games are played at pow-wows, gatherings, and tournaments/Native organizations.
HOW TO PLAY The game must have one leader, or captain per team. Ten players take part in the game. They divide the ten into two opposing sides, the hiding team and the guessing team. Two players on each side are appointed to hide the sticks. These players face one another, one pair hiding the sticks, while the other pair guesses in which hand the sticks are concealed. The guesses are indicated by certain gestures. The drum song that is played during the game is wordless. The play continues until one side has won all ten sticks or counters.
Newer Version with the Use of Bones Same as the previous-two teams-one “Hiding” and one “Guessing”. Two members of the “Hiding” team take a pair of bones and hide them. One in each hand, while the team sings, using traditional instruments (drums, sticks, rattles), and attempt to distract the “Guessing” team. In the traditional format of the tribe or region, there is the plain bone and the striped bone. The Dakota Natives generally call for the striped bone. Most other tribes prefer to guess for the plain bone. The leader or captain of the “Guessing” team, or a team member selected by the captain, then must guess the pattern of the hidden bones. Since each hider holds one plain bone and one striped bone in each hand, there are initially four possibilities: Both to the left, both to the right, both inside, or both outside. A gesture with a stick or hand generally accompanies each call. For each hider mis-guessed, the calling team must turn over one stick to the hiders. If a hider is guessed, he must surrender the guessed bones to the calling side. The side continues hiding and singing until both pairs of bones have been guessed and surrendered. The teams then reverse roles, and the game continues in this manner until one team holds all the sticks.
About the author Amberose currently resides on the northside of Rapid City, SD. Ms. Montileaux became interested in hand games after watching a match at an AIHEC gathering. It was this interest that inspired this blog.
Sources: Writing & Editing for Digital Media, Third Edition Brian Carroll www.legendsofamerica.com Indian Country Today August 17, 2011 Tulalip Tribes to Host Battle of Nations Stick Game Tournament