Crows Use Hand Games as Teaching Tool

By Adam Sings In The Timber
Originally published on Reznet

CROW AGENCY, Mont.—Teams from nine districts on the Crow Reservation
took part in a junior hand-game tournament that stressed the importance
of each player's clan.

In addition to the Pipe, Sacred Tobacco and the Sweat Lodge, the clan system is central to the Crow way of life.

"We want them (the players) to know what clan they come from ... so
that they can respect their clans," said Stanley Pretty Paint, a
tournament organizer, who described the hand games as "a real good tool
to teach" young Crows about tradition and culture.

The tournament, which ended Sunday, took place over five days last
week. All the players were under 30 years old. The teams, composed of
15 to 50 players each, were organized by district but had members of
each of the tribe’s eight clans.

Before the start of each match, the announcer asked members of each
clan to stand up so the opposing team knew who their clan relatives
were so they could pay proper respect to them.

The teams competed for prizes that included jackets, saddles, hand
drums, and money. The team from the Wyola district won first place in
the tournament that has been ongoing since the 1960s.