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.
Who doesn’t enjoy watching the luge, bobsled or downhill skiing at the Winter Olympics? Rocketing downhill at such outrageous speeds is almost beyond belief.
The children of the various Sioux tribes, like children all across the world, enjoyed rushing down hills covered in snow and ice.
Tchung-kee (chun-kee), a game of skill using a ring and pole, was played on a special field constructed outside of the villages where the ground was smoothed and packed hard for a distance of about 50 yards.
Played by Mandan and Hidatsa men and boys – the game was likely observed and possibly played by the Corps in the early Spring of 1805.
