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Cub Scout Thanksgiving Packet

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CubScout

Thanksgiving

Packet

This packet was created specifically for Thanksgiving. It includes activities for Cub Scouts and their

siblings including Faith in God and Cub Scout/Webelos Advancement. The Theme is American Indians

from Illinois, but there is information on the Internet about Indians from other parts of the country. The

American Indian Sign Language was developed by the Plains Indians long before International Sign

Language was developed and adopted universally for the deaf.

Important:

• Use your Wolf and Bear Books as resources on how to do some of the projects lists.

• Make sure you update Packmaster or give us a list of the requirements you completed.

I included fun activities for Primary children of all ages. So you can complete the projects with your

family and friends over the Thanksgiving Weekend.

Assignment: With your family write a story using the American Indian Sign Language and prepare to

present it at the December Pack Meeting. You can wear the costumes you make over your uniform and

bring models of Indian homes, Indian games, musical instruments, and any other items you make over

the Thanksgiving holiday. Finally, if you take pictures make a page to include in your Cub Scout

Scrapbook.

Have Fun!!!


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ContentsFaith in God ......................................................................................................................................... 3

Wolf Advancement .............................................................................................................................. 3

Bear Advancement .............................................................................................................................. 3

Webelos .............................................................................................................................................. 3

Illini Tribe............................................................................................................................................. 4

Illini Indian Folklore ............................................................................................................................. 6

Rabbit and Possum ................................................................................................................................... 6

Native American Homes ...................................................................................................................... 7

Wigwam Homes ........................................................................................................................................ 7

Longhouses ............................................................................................................................................... 7

Tepees ....................................................................................................................................................... 8

Grass Houses ............................................................................................................................................. 8

Wattle and Daub Houses .......................................................................................................................... 9

Chickees .................................................................................................................................................... 9

Adobe Houses ........................................................................................................................................... 9

Earthen Houses ....................................................................................................................................... 10

Plank Houses ........................................................................................................................................... 10

Igloos ....................................................................................................................................................... 11

Brush Shelters ......................................................................................................................................... 11

How to Make a Longhouse ..................................................................................................................... 12

American Indian Sign Language .......................................................................................................... 13

Indian Games ..................................................................................................................................... 28

Squaw, Saddle‐Bags, or Sky Shinny ......................................................................................................... 28

Living Close to the Land: Pokean ............................................................................................................ 30

Indian Craft ........................................................................................................................................ 31

How to Make Corn Husk Dolls ................................................................................................................ 31


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FaithinGodLearning and Living the Gospel ‐ 6. Tell a story from the Book of Mormon that teaches about faith in

Jesus Christ. Share your testimony of the Savior.

Serving Others ‐ 6. Learn about and practice good manners and courtesy.

WolfAdvancement Wolf Elective 1d: It’s a Secret ‐ Use 12 American Indian signs to tell a story. [Page 114 – 117]

Wolf Elective 10: American Indian Lore [Page 154 – 161]

a. Read a book or tell a story about American Indians, past or present.

b. Make a musical instrument American Indians used.

c. Make traditional American Indian clothing.

d. Make a traditional item or instrument that American Indians used to make their lives easier.

e. Make a model of a traditional American Indian house.

f. Learn 12 American Indian word pictures and write a story with them.

BearAdvancementBear Elective 24: AMERICAN INDIAN LIFE [Page 272 – 275]

a. American Indian people live in every part of what is now the continental United States. Find the

name of the American Indian nation that lives or has lived where you live now. Learn about

these people.

b. Learn, make equipment for, and play two American Indian or other native American games with

members of your den. Be able to tell the rules, who won, and what the score was.

c. Learn what the American Indian people in your area (or another area) used for shelter before

contact with the Europeans. Learn what American Indian people in that area used for shelter

today. Make a model of one of these shelters, historic or modern. Compare the kind of shelter

you made with the others made in your den.

Webelos Webelos Artist 9 ‐ Make an art construction, using your choice of materials. [Page 119 – 121]

Webelos Communicator 3 ‐ Invent a sign language or a picture writing language and use it to tell

someone a story. [Page 174 – 175, 180 – 186]

Language and Culture Belt Loop 3 ‐ Play two games that originated in another country or culture.

Good Manners Belt Loop 1 ‐ Make a poster that lists five good manners that you want to practice. Share

your poster with your den or family.


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IlliniTribeHow do you pronounce "Illini?" What does it mean?

Illini is pronounced "ih‐LIE‐nee," and Illinois is pronounced "ih‐lih‐NOY" (like the state, which is named

after the tribe.) They are both European adaptations of the Illinois Indians' original word for themselves,

Illiniwek (pronounced "ih‐lih‐new‐eck,") which means "the best people."

Where do the Illinois Indians live?

The Illini were original inhabitants of modern‐day Illinois,

Indiana, Missouri, and Iowa. The Illini tribe was nearly wiped out

by war in the 1700's, and the survivors had to move to Kansas

and Oklahoma. The Peoria Tribe of Oklahoma is made up of

original Illinois Indians.

What language do the Illinois Indians speak?

In the past, the Illini spoke their native Miami‐Illinois language.

It has this long name because two tribes, the Miami and Illini

tribes, spoke the same language with different accents‐‐just like

Americans and Canadians both speak English. The Illinois Indian

language is not spoken anymore. However, the Miami and

Peoria tribes are working to teach their children the language

again.

If you'd like to know a few easy Illinois words, aya (pronounced ah‐yah) means "hello" and niihka

(pronounced nee‐ka) means "friend."

How do Illini Indian children live, and what did they do in the past?

Illini children did have toys and games, like child‐sized bows and arrows and corn

husk dolls. Illini teenagers also liked to play lacrosse and other sports. As for

babies, Illini mothers, like many Native Americans, traditionally carried their

infants in cradleboards on their backs.

What were Illini homes like in the past?

The Illinis didn't live in tepees. They lived in villages of large rectangular houses with walls made of

woven reeds. Today, Native Americans only build a reed house for fun or to connect with their heritage,

not for shelter.


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What was Illini clothing like?

Illini women wore skirts with leggings, and men wore breechclouts. The

Illinis wore shirts in cool weather, but even in wintertime, Illini men didn't

wear long pants. Illinois Indians also wore moccasins on their feet.

The Illini didn't wear long headdresses like the Sioux.

Sometimes they wore a beaded headband with a few

colored feathers in it. Illini women usually wore their

hair in long braids. Illini men often shaved their

heads in the Mohawk style and wore a porcupine

roach. (These roaches are made of porcupine hair,

not their sharp quills!) The Illini painted their faces

for different occasions, and also tattooed themselves

with more permanent designs.

Did they paddle canoes?

Yes, the Illini made dugout canoes by hollowing out large trees. Over land, the Illini used dogs as pack

animals. (There were no horses in North America until colonists brought them over from Europe.) The

dogs carried backpacks or pulled wooden drag sleds called travois.

What was Illini food like in the days before supermarkets?

The Illini were farming people. The women did most of the farming, harvesting corn, beans, and squash.

Illini men hunted deer, wild turkeys, and small game. Sometimes they would also have large communal

buffalo hunts. Several Illini villages would get together and use a ring of fire to herd buffalo towards a

group of hunters. Illini Indian food included soup, cornbread, and stews.

What were Illini Indian weapons, tools and artifacts like?

Illini hunters and warriors used bows and arrows, spears, and clubs. Illini men would also use shields of

buffalo hide to deflect enemy arrows.

What are Illini art and crafts like?

The Illini tribe was known for their quillwork, beadwork,

and embroidery. Peoria Indians in Oklahoma still make

beautiful beadwork today.


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What other Native Americans did the Illini tribe interact with?

The Illinis traded with all the other tribes of the Great Lakes region, and sometimes with tribes who lived

further away. Unlike their relatives the Miami Indians, the Illinis didn't have good relations with most of

their neighbors. They fought with many tribes, including the Iroquois, Sioux, and Winnebago. In 1769, an

Illinois Indian man who was working for the British assassinated the Ottawa leader Chief Pontiac. The

angry Ottawas and all their allies attacked the Illinis and completely defeated them. After that, many

Illinois Indian people banded together with the Miami tribes. The Peoria tribe today is still closely allied

with the Miamis.

Storytelling is very important to the Illinois Indian culture. Here is a traditional story told by the Illini

tribe.

IlliniIndianFolkloreRabbitandPossumThe Possum and the Rabbit gambled together to see if it should be dark all the time or light all the time.

Possum kept singing a song that it should be dark, and he sang this over and over. Rabbit kept singing his

song that it should be daylight. Along toward morning, Rabbit began to get a little bit tired. Possum said,

"You might as well give it up, Rabbit. It's going to be night all the time." Well, they argued about this.

Then Possum said to Rabbit, "Suppose you did win and daylight came to stay. Why, children would

abuse you. They would chase you into a hollow log and take a stick and twist the fur off of you." Rabbit

said, "I don't care. They'll have lots of fun playing with me anyway." Now, while they were arguing,

Rabbit kept singing, "Daylight, daylight, daylight!" And when Possum looked around, there he saw the

daylight was coming. He grabbed Rabbit's mouth to make him shut up, and split his upper lip. That's why

Rabbit has a split lip. (As told by Nancy Stand to Truman Michelson, 1916; after Knoepfle 1993)

Wisakatchekwa (also spelled Wisakachakwa and several other ways.) Wisakatchekwa is the benevolent

culture hero of the Miami and Illinois tribes (sometimes referred to as a "transformer" by folklorists.) It

is pronounced similar to wih‐sah‐kah‐chuck‐wah. Wisakatchekwa is the same character as the Cree

Wisakejak and shares some similarities with other Algonquian heroes such as the Wabanaki Kluskap,

and Anishinabe Nanabush, and many of the same stories are told in different Algonquian tribes with

only the identity of the protagonist differing.

Kichi Manetoa (also spelled Kiche Manit8a, Kechee Manetowa, and several other ways.) This means

"Great Spirit" in the Miami‐Illinois language, and is the Illini name for the Creator (God.) Kiche Manetoa

is a divine spirit with no human form or attributes (including gender) and is never personified in Illini

legends. The name is pronounced similar to kih‐chih mah‐neh‐taw‐ah.


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NativeAmericanHomesWigwamHomesWigwams (or wetus) are Native American houses used by Algonquian Indians in the woodland regions.

Wigwam is the word for "house" in the Abenaki tribe, and wetu is the word for "house" in the

Wampanoag tribe. Sometimes they are also known as birchbark houses. Wigwams are small houses,

usually 8‐10 feet tall. Wigwams are made of wooden frames which are covered with woven mats and

sheets of birchbark. The frame can be shaped like a dome, like a cone, or like a rectangle with an arched

roof. Once the birchbark is in place, ropes or strips of wood are wrapped around the wigwam to hold the

bark in place. Here are some pictures of a woman building a wigwam.

cone‐shaped dome‐shaped rectangular shape wigwam frame

Wigwams are good houses for people who stay in the same place for months at a time. Most Algonquian

Indians lived together in settled villages during the farming season, but during the winter, each family

group would move to their own hunting camp. Wigwams are not portable, but they are small and easy

to build. Woodland Indian families could build new wigwams every year when they set up their winter

camps.

LonghousesLonghouses are Native American homes used by the Iroquois tribes and some of their Algonquian

neighbors. They are built similarly to wigwams, with pole frames and elm bark covering. The main

difference is that longhouses are much, much larger than wigwams. Longhouses could be 200 feet long,

20 feet wide, and 20 feet high. Inside the longhouse, raised platforms created a second story, which was

used for sleeping space. Mats and wood screens divided the longhouse into separate rooms. Each

longhouse housed an entire clan‐‐ as many as 60 people!

sketch of a longhouse longhouse cutaway a longhouse today

Longhouses are good homes for people who intend to stay in the same place for a long time. A

longhouse is large and takes a lot of time to build and decorate. The Iroquois were farming people who

lived in permanent villages. Iroquois men sometimes built wigwams for themselves when they were

going on hunting trips, but women might live in the same longhouse their whole life.


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TepeesTepees (also spelled Teepees or Tipis) are tent‐like American Indian houses used by Plains tribes. A

tepee is made of a cone‐shaped wooden frame with a covering of buffalo hide. Like modern tents,

tepees are carefully designed to set up and break down quickly. As a tribe moved from place to place,

each family would bring their tipi poles and hide tent along with them. Originally, tepees were about 12

feet high, but once the Plains Indian tribes acquired horses, they began building them twice as high.

Indian tepee photograph picture of tepees being set up

Tepees are good houses for people who are always on the move. Plains Indians migrated frequently to

follow the movements of the buffalo herds. An entire Plains Indian village could have their tepees

packed up and ready to move within an hour. There were fewer trees on the Great Plains than in the

Woodlands, so it was important for Plains tribes to carry their long poles with them whenever they

traveled instead of trying to find new ones each time they moved.

GrassHousesGrass houses are American Indian homes used in the Southern Plains by tribes such as the Caddos. They

resemble large wigwams but are made with different materials. Grass houses are made with a wooden

frame bent into a beehive shape and thatched with long prairie grass. These were large buildings,

sometimes more than 40 feet tall.

Wichita grass house Caddo grass house construction

Grass houses are good homes for people in a warm climate. In the northern plains, winters are too cold

to make homes out of prairie grass. But in the southern plains of Texas, houses like these were

comfortable for the people who used them.


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WattleandDaubHousesWattle and daub houses (also known as asi, the Cherokee word for them) are Native American houses

used by southeastern tribes. Wattle and daub houses are made by weaving rivercane, wood, and vines

into a frame, then coating the frame with plaster. The roof was either thatched with grass or shingled

with bark.

rivercane frame plastered and thatched

Wattle and daub houses are permanent structures that take a lot of effort to build. Like longhouses,

they are good homes for agricultural people who intended to stay in one place, like the Cherokees and

Creeks. Making wattle and daub houses requires a fairly warm climate to dry the plaster.

ChickeesChickees (also known as chickee huts, stilt houses or platform dwellings) are Native American homes

used primarily in Florida by tribes like the Seminole Indians. Chickee houses consisted of thick posts

supporting a thatched roof and a flat wooden platform raised several feet off the ground. They did not

have any walls. During rainstorms, Florida Indians would lash tarps made of hide or cloth to the chickee

frame to keep themselves dry, but most of the time, the sides of the structure were left open.

drawing of a chickee Seminole chickee

Chickees are good homes for people living in a hot, swampy climate. The long posts keep the house

from sinking into marshy earth, and raising the floor of the hut off the ground keeps swamp animals like

snakes out of the house. Walls or permanent house coverings are not necessary in a tropical climate

where it never gets cold.

AdobeHousesAdobe houses (also known as pueblos) are Native American house complexes used by the Pueblo

Indians of the Southwest. Adobe pueblos are modular, multi‐story houses made of adobe (clay and

straw baked into hard bricks) or of large stones cemented together with adobe. Each adobe unit is home

to one family, like a modern apartment. The whole structure, which can contain dozens of units, is often

home to an entire extended clan.

Pueblo Indian houses Adobe cliff dwellings Hopi Mesa pueblos


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Adobe houses are good homes to build in a warm, dry climate where adobe can be easily mixed and

dried. These are homes for farming people who have no need to move their village to a new location. In

fact, some Pueblo people have been living in the same adobe house complex, such as Sky City, for

dozens of generations.

EarthenHousesEarthen house is a general term referring to several types of Native American homes including Navajo

hogans, Sioux earth lodges, subarctic sod houses, and Native American pit houses of the West Coast and

Plateau. Earthen houses made by different tribes had different designs, but all were semi‐subterranean

dwellings ‐‐ basement‐like living spaces dug from the earth, with a domed mound built over the top

(usually a wooden frame covered with earth or reeds.)

Pawnee earth lodge Navajo hogan Alaskan sod house

Earthern houses are good for people who want permanent homes and live in an area that is not

forested. (It's difficult work to excavate underground homes in areas with many tree roots!) Living

partially underground has several benefits, especially in harsh climates‐‐ the earth offers natural

protection from wind and strong weather.

PlankHousesPlankhouses are Native American homes used by tribes of the Northwest Coast (from northern

California all the way up to Alaska.) Plank houses are made of long, flat planks of cedar wood lashed to a

wooden frame. Native American plank houses look rather similar to old European houses, but the

Indians didn't learn to build them from Europeans‐‐ this style of house was used on the Northwest Coast

long before Europeans arrived.

Chinook plankhouse Yurok plank house

Plank houses are good houses for people in cold climates with lots of tall trees. However, only people

who don't need to migrate spend the time and effort to build these large permanent homes. Most

Native Americans who live in the far northern forests must migrate regularly to follow caribou herds and

other game, so plank houses aren't a good choice for them. Only coastal tribes, who make their living by

fishing, made houses like these.


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IgloosIgloos (or Iglu) are snow houses used by the Inuit (Eskimos) of northern Canada. Not all Inuit people

used igloos ‐‐ some built sod houses instead, using whale bones instead of wooden poles for a frame.

Like a sod house, the igloo is dome‐shaped and slightly excavated, but it is built from the snow, with

large blocks of ice set in a spiral pattern and packed with snow to form the dome.

Inuit (Eskimo) igloo Building an igloo Inside an igloo

Igloos are good houses for the polar region, where the earth is frozen, the snow cover is deep, and there

are few trees. Snow is a good insulator, and dense blocks of ice offer good protection against the arctic

winds.

BrushSheltersBrush shelters (including wickiups, lean‐tos, gowa, etc.) are temporary Native American dwellings used

by many tribes. Brush shelters are typically very small, like a camping tent. People cannot usually stand

up straight inside brush lodges ‐‐ they are only used for sleeping in. A brush shelter is made of a simple

wooden frame covered with brush (branches, leaves, and grass.) The frame can be cone‐shaped, with

one side left open as a door, or tent‐shaped, with both ends left open.

conical frame conical wickiup tent‐shaped frame tent‐shaped brush lodge

Most Native Americans only made a brush shelter when they were out camping in the wilderness. But

some migratory tribes who lived in warm dry climates, such as the Apache tribes, built brush shelters as

homes on a regular basis. They can be assembled quickly from materials that are easy to find in the

environment, so people who build villages of brush shelters can move around freely without having to

drag teepee poles.

Do Native Americans still live in houses like these today?

Most Native Americans do not live in old‐fashioned Indian houses like the ones on this page, any more

than other Americans live in log cabins. The only Native American housing style on this page that is still

in regular use as a home is Indian adobe houses. Some Pueblo families are still living in the same adobe

house complexes their ancestors used to live in. There are also a few elders on the Navajo reservation

who still prefer to live in hogans. But otherwise, traditional Native American houses like these are

usually only built for ritual or ceremonial purposes, such as a sweat lodge or tribal meeting hall. Most

American Indians today live in modern houses and apartments, just like North Americans from other

ethnic groups.


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HowtoMakeaLonghouseIn the northeastern United States, longhouses were the dominant type of home among Native

Americans. These houses were built from tree trunks lashed together and then covered with slabs of

tree bark. The houses measured as much as 20 feet high, 20 feet wide and 50 to 150 feet long. While up

to 60 people lived in these early apartment houses, each family had its own living area. Mats and

screens dividing the longhouse into smaller rooms, and many areas even included second floor

platforms that provided additional sleeping areas.

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tape

• Cylindrical oatmeal container with its lid

• Scissors

• Shoebox about the same size as the oatmeal container

• Paintbrush

• Glue

• Brown crepe paper torn into random strips and squares

1. Tape the lid to the cylindrical oatmeal container, and then cut the container in half lengthwise. Keep

one half to serve as the roof of your longhouse and set the second half aside for another project.

2. Cut three one‐inch holes in the top of the oatmeal container roof to serve as smoke holes.

3. Glue the oatmeal container roof to the shoe box. Now you have the basic structure of the

longhouse.

4. Cut a hole in one end of the shoebox to serve as a door.

5. Use the paintbrush to spread glue all over the longhouse. Glue on the strips and squares of brown

crepe paper, overlapping and scrunching the pieces to resemble tree bark. Your longhouse model is

done.


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Hello!

AmericanIndianSignLanguageThe Indian Sign Language is the world's most easily learned language because it is elemental, basic, logical, and the signs in general are what should properly be made to illustrate the idea‐‐the language being largely idiomatic‐‐conveying ideas.

When you beckon with your finger you are saying the word COME.

When you wave your hand outwards you say GO.

When you point upwards with your index finger you say UP.

When you point downwards you say DOWN.

When you elevate the flat right hand, you say HIGH.

When you hold it down near the ground, you say LOW.

All nations of earth have nodded the head for YES.

Shaken head means NO.

GOOD means "level with the heart," and, therefore, if you will swing the right flat hand out in a semi‐circle from the heart towards the right you say the word GOOD.

BAD means "thrown away"; therefore, the motion of expelling something downwards with the right hand makes the word BAD.

When you point your right thumb at your breast, you say ME.

When you point your right index finger at the person you are with, you say YOU.

When you point the same finger at someone else in the party, you say HIM or HER.

When you point the separated first and second fingers of the right hand out in front of the eyes, you say SEE or LOOK.

When you pass the partly closed right hand downwards past the mouth, you say EAT or FOOD.

When you elevate the cupped hand near the mouth, you say DRINK;


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When, waist high, you make as though dipping a handful of something with cupped hand, you say WATER.

The flat hands passed alternately one beyond the other means WALK.

The same sign made more rapidly means RUN.

To incline the head to right, towards the palms of both hands, means SLEEP.

To pass the flat hand slightly outwards from the chin means SPEAK or TALK.

To cup the right hand behind the right ear means to LISTEN.

The right index finger pointed upwards beside the face means MAN, or "the upright one".

To pass the slightly hooked fingers of the right hand downwards over the hair means WOMAN, the basic conception being "she combs her hair."

DAY means the opening up.

NIGHT means the closing over, and the signs are simple and logical.

The thumb and index finger of right hand held in an incomplete circle and pointed at the sky means SUN.

The same sign held flat near the waist means MONEY‐‐a coin.

The same sign with hand laid on the breast means a MEDAL.

If hand tipped to the month like a cup it means WANT, or "I am thirsty for."

The fingers curved and pointing up, held near the ground, naturally means GRASS.

The same sign, waist high, means BRUSH.

While one hand held out in front at height of shoulder, fingers all pointing up, means a TREE.

Both hands held similarly means a FOREST.

The same two hands held close to the breast means PEOPLE.

One fist held up out in front of breast means a MOUNTAIN.

While both fists means a chain of MOUNTAINS.

Counting is indicated by the fingers, starting with the little finger of right hand.

To Do to Make: Place your hands together with the fingertips of your right hand touching the palm of your left. Lift both hands and shake your wrists.

And: Hold your left hand palm out and fingers down. Touch your palm with your right index finger.

No: Begin with your right hand held in front of you with the palm facing down. Swing it to the right and turn it so that your palm faces upward.

Yes: Start with your right hand in a fist held against your chest, index finger extended. Drop your hand down while closing your index finger over your thumb.


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You: Hold your hand in a fist and point your index finger toward the person you are referring to.

Big: Hold your hands in front of you, palms facing each other but not touching. Spread your hands apart.

Small: Bend your left arm so that your left hand is at shoulder level. With your left hand, hold down the tip of your index finger with your thumb.

Thank You: With hands open and palms down, extend your hands forward. Then lower your hands as far as possible.

Please: With your palm up, hold your right hand against your chest. Slowly move your hand toward the ground.

I, Me, Myself: Close your fingers with your thumb pointed toward your chest and point to yourself with your thumb.

Colors: Rub the fingertips of your right hand in a circle on the back of your left hand. Then point to an object that is the same color as the one you want to indicate.

In order to ask a question, first make this sign, which can mean what, where, why, when, or who, depending upon what follows. Hold your right hand at the level of your shoulder, palms facing out. Rotate your wrist slightly two or three times.

Possession: Hold your right fist next to your neck, then bring it forward and down. To say my or our, make the possession sign above. To say your, make the sign for you and then the possession sign. To say his, her, or their, hold your right hand in a fist and point with your index finger to the persons you want to indicate.

Woman: Use the fingers of your right hand like a comb and stroke downward.

Man: Hold your right index finger up at the level of your chin.

Sister: Make the sign for woman. Then touch your lips with your right index and middle fingers and move your hand away from your face.

Brother: Touch your lips with the tips of your right index and middle fingers. Then make the sign for man.

Father: Cup your right hand and tap the right side of your chest gently two or three times.

Mother: Cup your right hand and tap the left side of your chest gently two or three times.


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Baby: Clench your right fist. Place it against the left side of your chest. With your left hand, grab your right forearm as if you have a baby in your arms.

NUMBERS

TO COUNT: Usually count to ten by starting with the right hand closed, palm turned to the person being addressed, at shoulder level. For number one, the little finger is raised; for two, the next finger; for three, the middle finger is raised; for four, the index finger; and for five, the thumb, thus ending with all five fingers raised. For the numbers six through ten, keep the right hand as it is, with palm out and all five fingers extended. For six, touch your left thumb to the tip of your right thumb. For seven, raise the left index finger; for eight, add the middle finger; for nine, add the left ring finger; and for ten, the left little finger, so that all ten fingers are now raised.

EQUAL: Place both hands in front of the chest closed except for the index fingers, which are extended parallel to one another. Then move the hands towards the person being addressed, maintaining the same distance between the extended fingers.

HOW MUCH?: Make the sign for "much."

MUCH: Raise the left hand, with palm towards the chest and fingers extended upward. Tap the left little finger with the right index finger, then tap the other fingers of the left hand. When the fingers are touched, they close up.

THE BODY AND THE SENSES

BLOOD: Bring the right hand up to the level of the mouth, with the index and middle fingers touching the nostrils. Lower the hand with a jerky and agitated motion.

BRAIN: Touch the forehead with two fingers of the right hand.

TO CALL, TO BE CALLED: This is one of the most important and most widely used signs. Tightly close your right hand and hold it in front of your face, with the thumb touching the other fingers and the knuckles pointing towards the person addressed. Then point the index finger, at the same time moving the hand slightly forward. This sign can also mean "What are you asking?" or "What is your name?"

TO CRY: Place both hands clenched against the cheeks, with the index fingers pointing towards the eyes. The index fingers then suggest tears, which leave streaks on the cheeks.

FACE: Open out your right hand and pass it over your face from top to bottom.

TO HEAR: Hold the right hand cupped close to the right ear. By wrist movements, turn the hand slightly backwards and then forward.

HEART: Place the right hand, fingers held together, on the chest at the level of the heart.

TO LAUGH: Hold both hands cupped, palms up, fingers raised and separated from one another, at chest level. First raise the hands, then lower them.

TO SEE: Place the right hand near the right side of the nose, with the index and middle fingers extended, and the other fingers clenched.

SICK: Spread your hands and place them against your chest. Then rub yourself in several places to indicate pain.

TO SMELL: Bend the right hand, palm horizontal, fingers spread, and bring it up to the nostrils. Raise the hand a bit more so that the nose comes between the tips of the fingers.


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TO TASTE AND TONGUE: Stick the tip of your tongue out slightly, and touch it with the tip of your index finger.

LIFE IN THE TRIBE

ALL, EVERYONE: With the right hand held horizontally, palm down, describe a circle, going from right to left. Bend your body while you are doing this.

BAD LUCK: Make the signs for "medicine" and "bad."

BLESS YOU: Raise both hands, palms facing outwards. Then lower them slightly and direct them gently towards the person addressed.

TO DANCE: Place both hands at chest level, fingers pointing up, palms facing chest. Raise and lower both hands two or three times.

GOD (or the mystery of the Universe): Make the signs for medicine and big, then point the index finger towards the sky.

HANDSHAKE: Squeeze the hands together in front of the chest. Indians did not shake hands except on great occasions such as the signing of a treaty or agreement, or the end of a war or a battle. After the coming of the Palefaces, the gesture became customary.

MEDICINE (in the sense of the mysterious or the unknown): Hold the right hand at forehead level, palm turned inwards, middle and index fingers spread out and pointing up, the other fingers closed. Raise the hand higher and make a clockwise circular movement.

NAME: Make the signs for question, you and call. ("How are you called?" or "What is your name?")

TO SING: Hold the right hand in front of the mouth with the index and middle fingers extended and spread out, the other fingers closed. Then describe a faint circle horizontally. To finish, make the sign for "all."

WORK: Place the hands together in front of the chest, the fingertips of the left hand touching the palm of the right hand. The right hand should be held slightly higher than the left hand. Then raise both hands, shaking the wrists.

YES: Place the back of your right hand against the right side of your chest near the shoulder. The index finger should be extended and pointing; the other fingers should be closed, with the thumb resting on the middle finger. Move the hand slightly to the left and at the same time crook the index finger in the direction of the thumb.

TIME

ALWAYS: Place the right hand, open, at ear level. Move it slowly forward, then back. Repeat this. Then pass the hand in front of the head, and then behind it.

DAY: Hold both hands horizontally at chest level about 4 inches apart, palms down. Then move them to each side, turn palms up and stop.

FUTURE: Make the sign for "time." Then bring the right hand forward, with index finger still extended, and pass it over the left hand.

NIGHT: Extend both hands, held open, about a foot apart. The palms should be down and the right hand should be slightly higher than the left. Then cross the wrists, placing the right wrist over the left.

NOW: Hold the right index finger, extended upwards, about 8 inches in front of the face. Move it a few inches forward, stop, and almost immediately move it forward again.


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TIME: Indians have different ways of indicating time. A common way is this: Hold both hands at chest level, index fingers pointing forward, the other fingers closed. Then pull the right hand back and to the right about 8 inches.

WHERE?

ABOVE: The two hands are held flat, the right (with palm down) on top of the left (with palm up). Then raise the right hand slowly, keeping the let hand motionless.

ACROSS: Hold the left hand horizontally, about a foot from the chest, with palm down and extended fingers pointing towards the right. Then place the right hand over the left hand and slide it, fingers forward, over the top and towards the ground.

BELOW: Place the left hand upon the right hand, with palms down, at chest level. Then lower the right hand vertically, the distance varying with the depth you wish to indicate.

FAR: The right hand is held on the side at should level. Then move it forward slowly. If the distance involved is great, move it forward as far as possible.

TO QUESTION: Hold the right hand open, fingers spread, palm turned towards the person addressed, at shoulder level. by wrist action turn the right hand slightly, two or three times. If the person addressed is standing at a distance, raise the hand much higher and wave it from right to left. This means "what?" and occasionally "where?" "why?" and "when?"

UP: Point to the sky with the index finger.

WHERE: Make the sign for "question." Then point the right index finger in several directions.

FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS

AFFECTION: Make two fists and cross the arms against the chest.

AFRAID, COWARDLY: First point to the person in question. Then make the sign for "fright."

AFRAID OF NO ONE: Point the right index finger in several directions. Then make the signs for "to fear" and "not."

ANGER: Place the right hand, closed, against the forehead, with the thumb touching the forehead. Slowly bring the hand forward, rotating the fist slightly clockwise and counterclockwise in a twisting motion.

CALM DOWN: Hold the hands open at shoulder level, palms turned towards the person addressed. Then lower the hands slowly with a downward movement of the forearms.

TO DESIRE, WANT: Hold the right hand closed very near the chin. Then form an incomplete circle with the thumb and index finger at mouth level. With a slight wrist movement, bring the hand to the lips, thus making the motion of drinking. the little finger should be at the same level as the index finger.

ENEMY: The signs for friend and not are most often used. Some tribes make the signs for "handshake" and "not."

TO FORGET: Make the sign for "night," followed by a vigorous forward movement of the right hand. Then sweep the right hand towards the left side, passing over the left hand.

TO FORGIVE: Raise both hands, closed except for extended thumbs and index fingers, to shoulder level, with palms facing the person addressed. Then move the hands forward, each describing a semi‐circle. Then make the sign for "to go."


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FRIEND, FRIENDSHIP (or "brother" and "people who live together"): Raise the right hand to neck level, palm out, index and middle fingers touching and extended. Then lift the hand until the fingertips reach the level of the face.

GLOOM, MELANCHOLY, SADNESS: Make the signs for "heart" and "sick."

HAPPY, CONTENTED: Make the signs for "heart" and "day."

JEALOUSY: Close both hands and place them against each side of the chest. Then move the right elbow both to the right and towards the rear. Then do the same with the left elbow. Repeat at least once.

TO LOVE: Make the sign for "friend."

QUIET: Thrust both hands forward at chest level with palms down and fingers together. Then lower the hands very slowly to the level of the waist.

SAD: Close the right hand and place it against the forehead. Then with the same hand, execute a small circular movement, keeping it in the same place, however. The head should be turned to one side and the face should have a serious expression. If the head is kept straight, the sign means "mad."

SHAME: With the fingers held together and extended upwards, the rear edges of the hands are placed against the cheeks. Then the hands are crossed diagonally across the face.

SHY: Make the sign for "shame."

TO WORRY: Make the signs for "heart." Then wave your hand in the direction of the heart.

QUALITIES AND FAULTS

BAD: Hold the right hand clenched at the level of the left side of the chest. Then lower it towards the left side, opening the fingers one by one.

BIG: Make the signs for "sizeable" and "high."

BITTER: Touch the tongue with the tip of the right index finger and then make the sign for "bad."

FAST, RAPID: Raise the left hand to chest level and move it towards the left side of the body. Do the same with the right hand, keeping the hands about 6 inches apart. Then quickly pass the right hand in front of the left, describing a slight upwards curve first, then a downwards one.

FATIGUE: Hold both hands at waist level with the index fingers pointing forward. Lower the hands in a weary manner with the index fingers pointing at the ground, and the other fingers still clenched.

GENEROUS: Make the signs for "big" and "heart."

GOOD: Place the hand horizontally at the level of the heart, with the fingers extended towards the left side of the body. Then shift the hand, still in a horizontal position, towards the right side of the body.

HIGH: With fingers together and palms turned towards the ground, hold the right hand a short distance from the right shoulder, then raise it to the desired height.

HONEST: Make the sign for "true."

HORRIBLE: With the fingers of the right hand spread, press the right thumb on the right cheek.

INTELLIGENCE, WIT: Touch the forehead with the right index and middle fingers.

LIAR, TO LIE: (to have two tongues) Hold the right hand at the right side of the mouth, with fingers aimed to the let. Move the hand forward in such a way that the fingers pass in front of the mouth.


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LITTLE (in the sense of not much): Raise the half‐closed hands to shoulder level, with the tips of the fingers crooked and facing the fingers of the other hand. The palm of the right hand should be at the level of the left index finger, about 10 inches away. Then raise the right hand above the left, then the left above the right. Then raise the right above the left again.

LIVE, LIVING: Place the right hand about a foot away from the chest, index finger extended; then by wrist action make three zigzags.

EW: Make the signs for "old," "not" and "good."

OLD: See "old man."

POOR (in quality): Half close your hands and bring them together as if you were rearranging something in front of you. Then separate them slightly, placing the right index finger on the base of the left thumb.

POOR (opposite of rich): Hold the right hand closed at chest level, thumb near the body. Lower the arm quickly, moving it forward at the same time, keeping the hand closed, and by a wrist movement make the thumb face forward.

SIZEABLE (big): Hold the hands with the palms facing each other, fingers spread, at chest level. Keep the hands fairly close together at first, then spread them out, the right hand stretching to the right and the let hand stretching to the left.

SMALL: Hold the left arm at shoulder level, palm up, the other fingers clenched in such a way that the tip of the index finger is below the thumbnail.

UGLY: Hold the right hand against the face, the fingers touching the forehead. Then describe a faint circle on the front of the face. Finish with the sign for "bad."

UNCERTAIN, UNDECIDED: Make the sign for "maybe."

THE FAMILY

BABY: Place the right hand clenched against the left side of the chest, palm inwards. Clasp the right forearm with the left hand as if holding a baby.

BROTHER: Touch the tips of the index and middle fingers to the lips. Then make the sign for "man."

CHILD: Make the sign for "man" or "girl," as the case may be. Hold the right hand closed against the right side. Then indicate the size of the child.

DIVORCE: Make the signs for "woman" and "to abandon."

FATHER: Cup your right hand slightly, and tap the right side of your chest gently two of three times. Then make the sign for "man."

HUSBAND: Make the signs for "man" and "to marry."

MAN: Stretch out the right index finger, keeping the fingers closed, palm facing the other person. The same sign means "male."

MARRY: Make the sign for "exchange," then hold both index fingers together pointing forward.

MOTHER: With the right hand half closed, give two or three gentle taps on the left side of the chest.

OLD MAN: Clench the right hand and pretend to be leaning on a cane or stick, while bending forward. Then make the sign for "man."


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SISTER: Make the sign for "woman," then hold your index and middle fingers horizontally with their tips on your lips, with the thumb and other fingers closed up.

WOMAN, WIFE: Make the signs for "girl" and "husband."

DAILY LIFE

BIRTH: The let hand is held a short distance from the chest, palm up. With the right hand, make the motion of pulling something energetically towards you.

TO COOK: Make in succession the signs for "hard," "fire" and "good."

TO DRINK: Turn your side to the other person. Cup your right hand and draw it slowly up to your lips as if you were drinking. This same sign is also used for "water."

TO EAT: Cup your right hand to resemble an upside‐down bowl or basin. Keeping the hand on a horizontal plane, move it towards the mouth. Then pull it away and move it back towards the mouth, repeating this several times. This sign can also mean "to get provisions."

HOUSE, HOME: With the hands open and placed against the chest horizontally, interlock both sets of fingers at right angles to one another.

SIT DOWN, STAY: Hold the right hand clenched into a firm fist at shoulder level. Then lower it briskly 4 inches.

TO SLEEP: Hold both hands open with palms facing each other, and place them on the right side of your head. Then tilt your head to the right and pretend to sleep.

TO WASH: Make the sign for "water," then pretend to wash something.

ACTION SIGNS

TO BURN: Make the sign for "fire," then show what burned or was destroyed by fire. If the object has been completely consumed by fire, make the sign for "exterminated."

TO CHOOSE: This is a very simple and much used sign. Simply point the right index finger in the direction of the person or thing referred to.

TO DO, TO MAKE: Make the sign for "work."

TO GIVE: Raise the opened right hand towards the side. Then point it forward and then upwards to should height. Then move it outwards and down.

TO HOLD: Turn the palms of both hands, with the fingers joined together, towards the chest. Then interlace the tips of the right fingers with those of the left hand, so that nothing can get through. Then separate the hands, keeping them in the position they were in, and move the right hand to the right and the left to the left, moving the shoulders and elbows at the same time.

TO HUNT: Make the sign for "wolf." Then bring both hands near the eyes and spread them out towards each side.

TO SEARCH: Make the sign for "wolf."

TO TAKE: Thrust the right hand rapidly forward, with the fingers closed except for the index finger which is pointing. Then close the hand in the direction of the body, making the gesture of bringing something to you.

TO WALK: If persons are involved, hold the hands open, side by side, against the front of the chest, fingers together, palms down. Move the right hand forward describing an oval. Now do the same with


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the left hand. When the let hand nears the bottom of the oval, bring the right hand up behind it and start over again. If animals are involved make the sign with both hands together.

NATURE

COLD: Bend your body slightly forward, close your hands and hold them at chest level. Make your hands and forearms tremble, as if you have a chill.

CORN (MAIZE): Hold the left hand horizontally, thumb and index finger extended, to symbolize an ear of maize. Then rub these two fingers with the right thumb and index finger.

EARTH (also used to mean territory): Extend the hands horizontally and raise them to chest level about 7 inches apart. Then slowly lower them together to mid‐thigh height.

FIRE: Place the right hand in front of the body, fingers nearly closed. Then raise the hand gradually, spreading the fingers. Do this over two or three times.

FLOWER: Make the sign for "grass" at waist level. Make a wide circle out of the thumbs and index fingers of both hands. Hold the hands so that the little fingers are touching.

FOREST: Hold both hands 8 inches the shoulders, with the backs out, thumbs and fingers extended. Slowly raise them a bit to indicate growth. Extend the right hand towards the right, then bring back to the front, to indicate a wide expanse.

GRASS: Hold both hands palms up, fingers raised, fairly close to the ground. Then raise the arms, shaking the hands slightly as you raise them.

HOT (as in weather): Place the palms behind the head, a short distance away from it. Then bring both hands forward so that they are in front of the head.

LAKE: Make the sign for "water," then with the thumbs and index fingers of both hands, trace an incomplete circle about 8 inches in diameter. Finish by shaking the wrists, with the fingertips spread.

MOON: (referring to both the satellite and the months) Extend the thumb and index finger of the left hand, with the other fingers closed, palm facing the person addressed, who sees something resembling a crescent. Then make the sign for "night" and finish by pointing to the place where the moon is supposed to be.

RAIN: Hold both hands closed very high above the head, about 8 inches apart. Lower them slowly, opening them as you do so, until the fingers are all opened out when you reach the level of the waist. Repeat this slowly two or three times.

SUN: Make an incomplete circle with the index finger and thumb of the left hand. Then extend the hand towards the east and describe a curve moving west.

THUNDER: Make the signs for "bird" and "fire." Then raise the right hand slightly in front of the head and above it. (Indians believed that thunder was produced by the Thunderbirds.)

TORNADO: Make the signs for "wind" and "attack."

WATER: Cup the right hand just in front of the mouth, fingers aimed to the left and raised up. Then make the sign for lake or watercourse.

WATERCOURSE: Extend the right arm, hand out, index finger pointing, the other fingers closed. Then bring the hand back as far as the shoulder.

WIND: Hold both hands horizontally in front of the chest, palms down, fingers together and pointing forward. Move both hands forward, shaking them to symbolize the blowing of the wind.


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ANIMALS

BISON: Hold both hands closed, with only the index finger pointing, and thumbs touching the joints of the middle fingers. Bring the hands to both sides of the head at the level of the temples and raise them slightly until the wrists are above the head. Then gently move them forward.

BIRD: Place the hands horizontally at shoulder level, palms down. Imitate the beating of the wings. If it concerns small birds, wave the hands briskly. For large birds wave them more gently.

DEER: Symbolize the animal's antlers by holding the hands on either side of the head with the fingers spread.

HORSE: Raise the right palm obliquely in front of the left side of the chest. To make the sign more forceful, some tribes put the left index and middle fingers astride the right hand.

WOLF: Hold the right hand at shoulder level, index and middle fingers pointed and spread, other fingers together. Then move the hand on a slant in front of you. This also the sign for "scout."

OBJECTS

ARROW: Bring the left hand close to the chest, with the index finger and thumb forming a ring (as though holding a bow). Grasp the ring with the right hand and make the motion of pulling back a bowstring.

BASKET: Make the sign for "kettle," then wiggle the fingers to suggest the action of basket‐ weaving.

BLANKET: Close both hands and draw them up to the shoulders, as though pulling a blanket up on you. Then move the right hand towards the left and the left towards the right so that the arms cross and the right hand is closer to the body. Stop when the two wrists come into contact.

BOAT: Bring your hands together in a cup to represent the hull of a ship. Then move them forward to indicate travel. If a canoe is meant, make the gesture for paddling. If a rowboat, pretend to row.

DRUM: First arrange both hands to simulate the shape of a drum. Keep the left hand in place and motionless and use the right hand as a drumstick. Pretend to strike the drum several times.

KETTLE: Form an incomplete circle with both hands, the index fingers touching but not the thumbs. Drop the right hand and make the motion of lifting by passing it underneath. With the left hand, pretend to grasp a handle.

MONEY: Hold the right hand halfway up the chest, with the thumb and index finger forming an incomplete circle. This is the same as the sign or "medal." Indians were very fond of medals and the whites bestowed medals abundantly on them in order to gain their confidence and favor.

TOBACCO: Hold the left hand open, palm up, fingers together. Place the edge of the right hand on the left palm. With the fleshy part of the right hand, rub the left palm in a circular manner, as though picking up bits of tobacco.

DRESS AND ADORNMENT

CLOTHING, COSTUME: Place your hands flat against the upper part of the chest and move them down to just below the waist.

COLOR: Rub the fingertips of the right hand in a circular pattern on the back of the left hand. Usually after making the sign, you point to an object having this color.


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MOCCASINS: Bend over so that you can touch your lower legs. Then place your hands flat against the shins, palms in, with the thumbs and index fingers pointing down and the other fingers squeezing the sides of the legs.

TATTOOED: Press several times with the right fingertips on the spot where the tattoo is. If it is on the right arm, use the left fingertips.

WAR PAINT: Rub the right cheek in a circular motion with the tips of the right fingers.

ON THE TRAIL

TO GO: Hold the right hand near the chest, palm up, fingers together and extended. Then move the hand briskly towards the person addressed.

TO RIDE A HORSE: Make the sign for "horse." Then move the hands forward, making a succession of small curves.

TRACK: Make the sign for "to walk" and then point to the ground.

WALK: If people are involved, hold the hands in front of the chest, side by side, palms down and fingers extended and held together. Then describe an oval in the air with your right hand. Do the same with the left hand. When the left hand is down, move the right hand over it and begin again. If animals are involved, do the gestures with the hands joined.

ON THE WARPATH

TO CAPTURE: Clutch your shoulders with your hands. Then, with closed fists, cross your wrists in front of your body.

TO DIE, DEATH: Hold the right hand vertically, palm turned towards the chest. Hold the left hand under the right, with the left index finger pointing towards the right hand. Move the left hand forward, passing it under the right hand, describing a slight curve.

ESCAPE: Close both hands and place one wrist on the other. Then separate them with an abrupt gesture, thrusting the left hand to the left side and the right hand to the right side. Then make the sign "to go."

TO EXTERMINATE: Place the inner edge of the left hand on the chest, with the palm up. Then tap the left hand with the right hand.

TO FIGHT: Hold your hands tightly clenched and slightly in front of you, at shoulder level. Then move them briskly towards the person addressed. Repeat this several times.

FRIEND: Raise the right hand to shoulder level, with the index and middle fingers extended upwards and held together, and with the other fingers closed.

PEACE: Place the hands in front of the chest, with the left palm turned up.

WAR: Clench both fists at your sides at waist level. Then move them up and forward.

WOUND, WOUNDED: With the index finger of the right hand, touch the chest just above the heart.

TRADE

TO CONDUCT BUSINESS; TO NEGOTIATE: Hold both forearms raised, hands closed, index fingers pointing up. Then lower the hands together, passing them in front of the chest.

DECISION: Hold the left hand open, palm up. Place the right hand vertically above the left moving it up from the side of the waist rapidly.


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END, TO FINISH: Hold the left hand vertically on the left side of chest, fingers held together and pointing up. Then rapidly lower the right hand, held open, letting it graze the tips of the left fingers in passing.

TO EXCHANGE, TRADE: Place both hands at shoulder level, index fingers pointing up. Lower the hands and pass one hand in front of the other, describing a quarter circle.

TO EXPLAIN: Hold the right hand open, at mouth level, with palm up and fingers spread. Then, keeping the wrist stationary, pivot the hand to the right.

GIVE ME: Extend the right hand forward in a gesture of asking for something. Then bring it towards the shoulder.

HOW MUCH?: With fingers outstretched and palm down, hold the left hand at neck level at a 45 degree angle towards the right hand, which is held slightly forward of the left. Then, with the index finger of the right hand, tap the left little finger, then the other left fingers. As each finger is touched, it curls under.

JUST TALKING

GOOD‐BYE: Make the sign for "future."

TO KNOW: Hold the right hand on the right side of the chest at the level of the heart, with thumb and index finger extended. Then move the hand slightly upwards and outwards. With a wrist movement pivot the hand until the palm is turned up, the thumb and index finger still extended and the other fingers closed. At this point the thumb should be pointing up and the index finger pointing to the left.

MISTAKE: Hold both hands open, parallel to one another, palms facing. Then slide the right hand under the left as though hiding something there.

NOT, CAN NOT: Raise the right hand obliquely (slanted with fingers together) a short distance in front of the chest. Point the right index finger towards the middle of your left side. Then move the right index finger forward until it comes into contact with the palm of the left hand. In anticipation of this contact the left hand has been vertically turned towards the chest. Finally, pull the right index finger briskly back.

PLEASE: Hold the right hand against the chest. Move it down slowly towards the ground, palm up. Done in reverse, this sign means "give me."

THANK YOU: Extend both open hands, palms down, in a forward direction. Then lower them as far as possible.

TO WISH: Turn to the side and close your left hand, leaving the index finger only partly curled. Bring the hand to the mouth and touch the lips, then firmly lower the hand towards the ground. This sign is also used to mean "energy" and "I wish."

YES: Place the back of the right hand on the right side of the chest near the shoulder. The index finger is extended; the other fingers are closed, the thumb resting on the middle finger. Move the hand slightly to the left, at the same time closing the index finger over the thumb.

PEOPLE

PALEFACE, WHITE PERSON: With the right hand held horizontally, palm down, in front of the forehead at the level of the eyebrows. Then move it to the right.

BLACK RACE, AFRICAN‐AMERICAN: Make the sign for "Paleface." Then point to something black. Native Americans usually pointed to their own eyebrows or hair.


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HE, SHE, YOU: Point with the right index finger in the direction of the person referred to.

PEOPLE: Hold both hands at chest level, index fingers extended upwards, the tips of the thumbs touching, the other fingers closed. Then move each hand to its own side. Some tribes place both hands on the chest with the backs of the hands facing outwards.

QUARREL: Raise the hands to neck level and hold then about 8 inches apart, index fingers pointing up, the other fingers closed. Then alternately move the right hand to the right and the left hand to the left. Repeat this several times.

TO SPEAK: If a short conversation is involved, one in which one person is speaking to another, press the nail.


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IndianGamesMany of the games of the American Indians were devised to develop the skill and qualities necessary to

make a first rate stalker, hunter, and warrior. Wise chiefs of all tribes throughout the Americas realized

that a boy who was going to earn any or all of these tacit ranks must be well trained, while young, in the

qualities essential to the chase and warpath. Prime necessities were keen and quick eyes, keen and

quick ears, able to interpret the many and often mysterious woodland noises of the night and day. A

keen sense of smell, combined with the ability to distinguish between the many deceptive smells

peculiar to field and forest, was still another must for the warrior to be. Sure, silent feet in the forest and

on the war trail were necessary. The coordination of mind and muscle, which meant the perfect

partnership of quick thought and instant deed, was the final test of an alert and seasoned warrior.

Stamina, stability, and strength were also required qualities, but these, in healthy young bodies, were

easier to develop than the more technical warrior needs first detailed.

Squaw,Saddle‐Bags,orSkyShinnyA pair of bags are used for the game of Squaw, Saddle‐bags, or Sky Shinny, as it is variously called. These

are made of soft leather or buckskin, and are connected by a strap twenty‐four inches long, securely

sewed to the bags at each end. The bags are seven by four inches, and usually contain corn, beans, or

some similar material. The bags should not be heavy enough to make dangerous missiles, but should be

of sufficient weight to render it possible to throw them a considerable distance.

No one is allowed to touch the bags with his hands or feet. Each player is supplied with a light, strong

ash or hickory stick curved at one end like a shinny or golf‐club. (Try iceless hockey sticks.) It is with

these sticks that the bags are picked up from the ground, skillfully caught on the fly, and carried, while

the player makes a rush for goal; or the sticks may be used like slings or throwing‐sticks, with which to

send the twin bags sailing over the heads of the tribe.

TheRulesNo player is allowed to kick or to trip another player with foot or stick.

The ground on which Saddle‐bags is played is called The "prairie," and is the same size as the foot‐ball

field, with the same boundaries. There are two goals, one at each end of the field, consisting of two

uprights with cross poles about ten feet from the ground.

There may be any number of players, divided as in football, but with different names. The rushers are

called the tribes, the half‐backs braves, the full‐backs bucks, and the captains chiefs.

The game begins by the two chiefs tossing up for choice of goals or first cast. If the winner chooses first

cast, the loser has choice of goals; if the winner takes choice of goals the loser has first cast.


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After these preliminaries are settled the two chiefs place their men, sending the bucks back to guard the

goals, and the braves to a position between the bucks and the tribe. The duties of the braves are liable

to begin immediately upon the beginning.

TheGameThe braves must be ready and are expected to catch the bags, and whoever does so must run for dear

life, with the bags swinging from the end of his stick. When he sees that he can carry them no farther he

must cast them with might and main for the goal, or, if necessary, pass them from his stick to that of one

of his tribe, who receives them and does his "level best " to carry or cast them to the goal, or pass them

to still another of his own tribe.

It is the duty of the opposing braves to do their utmost to intercept, who carries the bags on his stick, or

to lift the bags from the enemy, and having obtained them to run as fast as possible in the opposite

direction, and go through all the tactics already described.

The bags are free to all when in play, but you are not allowed to capture them by forcibly striking the

enemy's stick or person with your stick, though it is considered perfectly fair to lift them by thrusting,

poking, slipping, or inserting the end of your stick under the bags and lifting them from their perch on

the enemy's rod.

It is the duty of the tribe to gain possession of the saddle‐bags when a brave is stopped, and to fling

them with all possible force toward the goal. The duty of the bucks is similar to that of the braves,

whenever the bags pass over the heads of the latter.

TheScore.No advantage that counts in the score is gained by either side until the bags are cast over the goal or

carried beyond the enemy's goal line. A run over the goal‐line counts one scalp; a cast under the goal‐

stick and over the goal‐line counts three scalps; a goal, that is, a cast over the goal‐stick, counts ten

scalps. If by accident the saddle‐bags catch and hang on the goal‐stick, it is called a straddle and counts

eight scalps. When the bags fall outside the boundaries they are placed on the "prairie" by the umpire at

the point, as near as he can judge, where they crossed the line for a scrimmage as in foot‐ball, only in

this case the bags must be sent overhead.

TheUmpireIt is the duty of umpire to watch that no player kicks, strikes, or butts another, and warn him for the first

offence and rule him off the field for the second. All doubtful points are decided by the umpire by the

rules of football. The side that first scores forty‐five points is the victor


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LivingClosetotheLand:PokeanMaterials

Dried corn husks‐three or four

Yarn

Glue

Store‐bought feathers (remember, it is illegal to collect most natural feathers)

Pony beads‐three or four per student

Very small rocks‐one per student

Background

Zuni people played a game like modern day hackey sack or badminton called Pokean or Jackrabbits Hit.

Other American Indian cultures made similar game pieces out of corn cobs or wood pieces. Hands or

wooden paddles were used to hit the pokean back and forth. One historical account says that the sound

of the corn husk pokean smacking into the players' hands sounded like jackrabbits jumping on snow.

Procedure (see diagrams)

1. Separate corn husks from the cob if necessary and soak in water at least 15 minutes.

2. Lay two corn husks of roughly equal width one across the other to form an "x".

3. Roll a small rock up into a third corn husk to create a soft ball. Add a fourth corn husk if

necessary to make the ball about the size of a pecan. Set the ball into the center of the "x".

4. Gather first one of the laid out corn husks, then the second up over the ball and pinch together

tightly as you wrap with yarn just above the ball. Leave enough yarn to begin with so you can tie

off tightly when you finish wrapping.

5. Put a small amount of glue on the quills of a few feathers and ease them deeply into the center

of the wrapped corn husks. Securely tie three or four beads onto the remaining end of the yarn.

6. When the glue is dry, make up games such as seeing how many times one or two people can

keep the pokean in the air before dropping it.


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IndianCraftHowtoMakeCornHuskDollsWherever corn was grown as a crop, children, in both Native American and Colonial American families,

used husks to fashion dolls. Follow these simple instructions and refer to the accompanying diagrams to

create your own unique doll.

Materials Needed:

string

scissors

a bucket of water

bags of cornhusks‐ most easily purchased (dried, cleaned and in uniform sizes), at a local craft

store

Directions:

****Before beginning, soak cornhusks in a bucket of water until they are soft and pliable.****

Take four cornhusks and arrange them in as shown.

Using a small piece of string, tie the straight ends together tightly.


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Trim and round the edges with scissors.

Turn upside down and pull long ends of husks down over the trimmed edges.

Tie with string to form the "head."

Take another husk, flatten it, and roll into a tight cylinder


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Tie each end with string. This forms the doll’s arms.

Fit the arms inside of the long husks, just below the "neck."

Tie with string, as shown, to form a "waist."

Drape a husk around the arms and upper body in a criss‐cross pattern to form "shoulders."


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Take four or five husks, straight edges together, and arrange around waist.

These form a "skirt" for the doll.

Tie with string. If desired, follow the diagram to form legs for the doll. Tie legs with small strips of husks as indicated. Finish off the doll by tying small strips of husk around the neck and waist to hide the string. Small scraps of cloth may be used to dress the doll.