Have you ever heard of the North American Indigenous Games?

The Indigenous Games is an Indigenous event that includes 13 provinces, the Territories, and 13 regions in Turtle Island (Canada). They are held all over North America and do not have a strict schedule as to when they are hosted… sometimes it is every 2 years sometimes it happens within 6 years. The games are split up like the Olympic; how there are summer games and a winter games. Furthermore each seasonal games has their own contrasting sports.

Bringing in some of the games that are played throughout the North American Indigenous Games are a great way to incorporate Indigenous teachings into the class. It is also a great way to pass down some Indigenous teachings as many of the games have a cultural meaning behind them.

Down Below are some of the examples of the games that are played and can be introduced into a Physical Education class setting.

One Foot High Kick

This game involves jumping, walking, running, balancing, and kicking, and can be played with kids of all ages.

A target, usually a ball, is hung by a string or rope from a support. Players take turns trying to kick the target with one foot and landing on the foot with which they kicked. The target is raised until only one person can kick it. Participants can stand still to kick, or can walk or run and jump at the target.

For younger kids, it may be easier to remove the requirement to land on the foot that they kicked with.

Equipment required: A target and a rope or string

Cultural Meaning: The game originated from hunting parties in the North. If the hunt was successful the hunter would signal by doing the one foot high kick, once he was insight of the village.

Lacrosse

Lacrosse is the national summer sport of Canada and was invented by Indigenous people. The game is played with two teams of participants each using a crosse, a stick with a net pocket to catch, scoop, carry, and throw a ball. The aim of the game is to get the ball into the opposing team’s net. The game can be incredibly fast-paced when played with older participants.

Younger kids can start learning the sport by using lacrosse sticks to play fun games such as lacrosse golf (try to throw a ball from a lacrosse stick into a bucket or bin without letting it bounce), sky ball (have an adult throw a ball high into the sky and have kids try to catch it in their stick), or monkey in the middle (with at least three kids, each participant uses their stick to pass the ball back and forth without the “monkey” standing between them intercepting the ball).

Equipment required: Lacrosse stick, ball

http://www.ankn.uaf.edu/curriculum/NativeGames/games.html

https://Indigenous-games-to-play-with-your-children/