Students Learn Hand Games As Part Of Heritage Month
The Wolf Point JOM organization recognized Native American Heritage Month by conducting a hand games’ fun night at the Wolf Point High School on Tuesday, Nov. 19.
The night attracted students of a variety of ages. A taco in the bag meal was served by volunteers.
JJ Azure played a key role as he explained the game’s rule to the younger students.
Azure explains that you play the game with 12 sticks including two pair of bones. The goal is finding the right bones with the stripes that are in an opponent’s hand.
When members of a team picked a hand without a bone piece, then that team lost a stick or a pencil.
“It’s kind of always been around,” Azure said of the game.
Organizers said that Assiniboine used the hand games as a ceremony. Others used it at social gatherings.
On Aug. 3, 1990, President George H. W. Bush declared the month of November as National American Indian Heritage Month.
JOM officers say the plan is to offer hand games at various Wolf Point schools during upcoming months.
The Johnson-O’Malley Program is authorized by the Johnson-O’Malley Act of 1934. Johnson O’Malley programs offered to American Indian and Alaska Native students vary and may include such programs as culture, language, academics and dropout prevention.
