By Lee Longhorn

I’m going to be straight up with you and tell you that I’m not the most athletic person. Ok, for almost 10 years, I was in marching band. Granted, while I do tend to think that I have strong legs, the rest of my body just isn’t with it. I’m working on it though, but we’ll talk about that later.

I can run long distances (I’m currently training for a half-marathon in November), but other than that, nothing. This weekend, people began playing a game that has been enjoyed for generations. In present day America, many know the game as lacrosse. In the southeastern tribes, it’s known as stickball. In the Creek Nation, the game is played at the ceremonial grounds far from public eyes. Only a few of the remaining active ceremonial grounds still play the game.

I went to a game last weekend. I was told that traditionally, the game was played to settle any wars or discrepancies between tribal towns. These were settled on the field.

So I was watching the game last Monday morning (the ground we were at usually plays on the Monday of Labor Day weekend) and I got to thinking, “If I had actually played this game more, I’d be a lot more athletic.” I mean stickball takes a lot of energy and muscle (I’ve got one over the other for sure).

Different Roster

A lot of Indian tribes probably still have their traditional games. The Shawnee have a game that’s played like stickball only theirs is called Indian Football. Yeah, creative title, right? It’s like rugby but men and women play against one another. I played it at the Seneca Green Corn ceremony too and the rules are pretty much the same. I didn’t play it much growing up. Again, I’m not that athletic and something just stopped me from participating.

“Who’s on first base?”

Interesting with these two games that I was raised around is that there are so many rules that go with each one, I’m surprised I can remember them all. Well, for the most part they’re simple enough. I mean the object of each game is to score points to a certain number to win.

On the road to Team Jacob

With these two games in my life, you’d think I wouldn’t be scared of getting diabetes or having bad health problems. If only life were as simple as that. Well none the less, I think that at least being active in traditional tribal games or mainstream American sports can help stop one from being out of shape and being in danger of bad health. Are they still casting for any wolves in Breaking Dawn: part II? Maybe come Spring I’ll be ready.

Lee Longhorn is a reporter at the Muscogee Nation News.