Copyright © 2005 NLThomas
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News from the Cherokee Nation, OK
Copyright © 2005 CNO
TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA – The Cherokee Nation Wings program will be sponsoring Cherokee traditional games of Cherokee Marbles, Blow Gun and Horse Shoes on Saturday, Oct. 1, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Cherokee Cultural Grounds.The Cherokee Nation Traditional Games Day is free and open to the public. Everyone is invited to come out and enjoy the day.
Initially, the game of Cherokee Marbles was played with golf ball-size marbles usually made from limestone. Edges were chipped away and then the stone was placed between the split ends of a limb where it was then ground down with sandstone. Today marble players use billiard balls, which are much hardier than limestone. Players make five indentations in the ground by pressing one of the marbles into the ground. The indentations are in a row 30 yards apart. The fifth hole is made 30 yards to the left of the fourth hole. Players then attempt to roll their marble into the first hole, progressing to the fifth hole and then back to the first hole. The Oklahoma Cherokee is the only cultural group that plays this game and holds it as a social tradition.
Prior to European contact, the Cherokee and many other tribes used the blowgun for hunting small game, such as rabbits, squirrels and birds. Competitors shoot at a standard bull's eye target approximately 20 yards from the firing line with scoring determined by the various values of the circles around the bull's eye.
For more information on the event, contact Bunner Gray, phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2615).
| Related Cherokee Nation contact information: |
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Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org
Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager |
Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org
Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation |