Choctaw
Afvcketv (Creek Stickball)
By: SANDRA BUSATTA – Afvcketv or pokkecheta also known as stickball, is important to the social fabric of Creek communities. This popular game fosters interaction among individuals from different towns. Known as the “Little Brother of War,” it was historically significant. Teams of 50 to 100 players from two different towns competed to propel a…
Ishtaboli (Choctaw stickball)
Choctaw, Ishtaboli, iti fabvssa (goal post), kapucha (stickball stick), Mississippi, Oklahoma, stickball, towa (ball)By: SANDRA BUSATTA – Stickball is more than a mere game for the Choctaw; is a tradition imbued with religious significance. As Choctaw filmaker Mark Williams (July 23, 2021) said on Facebook, “This is more than just a game to the Choctaw people. It’s an identity.” The crafting of the sticks symbolizes respect for their…
Chunkey: A deadly sport for heroes and the spread of corn culture across North America
Birdman, Braden-style statuettes, Cahokia, Choctaw, chunkey, HoChunk/Winnebago, pole-and-ring-games, Red HornBy: SANDRA BUSATTA – The game of chunkey, believed to have originated at Cahokia, the preeminent ceremonial center in North America, may have been a variant of the “pole and ring” games. It was likely adopted by the Cahokian elite for funerary events, rituals tied to corn cultivation, and bore mythological significance in the Red…