Crows Use Hand Games as Teaching Tool

By Adam Sings In The Timber
Originally published on Reznet

CROW AGENCY, Mont.—Teams from nine districts on the Crow Reservation took part in a junior hand-game tournament that stressed the importance of each player's clan.

In addition to the Pipe, Sacred Tobacco and the Sweat Lodge, the clan system is central to the Crow way of life.

"We want them (the players) to know what clan they come from ... so that they can respect their clans," said Stanley Pretty Paint, a tournament organizer, who described the hand games as "a real good tool to teach" young Crows about tradition and culture.