Hand Games

One of the most common games of chance of the Native peoples across the west is a game often referred to a “hand games.” According to Stuart Culin’s book, “Games of the North American Indian,” hand games were found among 81 tribes belonging to 28 different linguistic groups.

It was so wide-spread because it could be played entirely by gesture, carried on between individuals from different Nations using only sign language.

Versions of this same game are still played by members of Native nations today. This short video from PBS features young people from the Lower Sioux Indian Community (Cansayapi Oyate).
Watch it here: https://www.pbs.org/video/hand-games-ltcn0s/.