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<DIV><FONT size=2>The Poncas in Oklahoma play shinny on four Sundays in April,
an old tradition. It's kind of like field hockey, with curved sticks
and two teams with goals at opposite ends of the field. The ball
is special and kept by the Martin Blueback family, the head of which officiates
at the games. Most of the players (all men, but of all ages) make their
own sticks. There are rules, but it can be a very rough game. Uncle
Parrish (my consultant) told me that at one time (within his memory) the
Gives Water family held a shinny game every year that could be very rough, with
the brothers-in-law playing against the sisters-in-law, but that's the only
instance I've heard of women playing.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Kathy</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=rankin@ku.edu href="mailto:rankin@ku.edu">Rankin, Robert L</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=siouan@lists.colorado.edu
href="mailto:siouan@lists.colorado.edu">siouan@lists.colorado.edu</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, January 14, 2007 5:01
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: Biloxi ball game</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV id=idOWAReplyText21264 dir=ltr>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=3>Mrs. Rowe talked about the
Kaws playing "shinny". I think Justin mentioned that the Kaws and Osages
had recently competed. Maybe he can fill you in.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial>Bob</FONT></DIV></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><BR>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> <A
href="mailto:owner-siouan@lists.colorado.edu">owner-siouan@lists.colorado.edu</A>
on behalf of David Kaufman<BR><B>Sent:</B> Sun 1/14/2007 3:05 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
Siouan List<BR><B>Subject:</B> Biloxi ball game<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>Hi all, and Happy New Year.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Since there are terms in the Biloxi dictionary for a ball and ball club,
I'm wondering if they played the Choctaw/Cherokee game Stickball, apparently
the precursor of La Crosse. I'm basing this on cultural contact,
such as the Biloxi borrowing the idea of the blowgun from the Choctaw.
Or, was there some type of ball game played among other Siouan tribes?
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The Maya, of course, had their own type of ball game, which apparently
usually ended in the sacrificing (beheading) of one or the other team. I
haven't acquainted myself with all its rules although they apparently couldn't
use their arms or legs in touching the ball and they apparently had some type
of hoop they could put the ball through for extra points (a la
basketball). I don't think the Mayan ball game had a North American
counterpart though, or did it?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Any thoughts?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Dave</DIV>
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