Wildhorse stick games event deemed successful

Published 3:12 am Thursday, June 26, 2003

MISSION – High Tech Bones of Fort Dushesne, Utah, took most of the bones (dollars), winning $4,000 in a stick game tournament on the Umatilla Indian reservation sponsored by Wildhorse Resort and Casino last weekend.

An old and traditional form of Indian gambling, the stick game, known in the tribal language as palyawit, is common on many reservations but it had been a long time since the Umatilla Tribes hosted a tournament, said Fred Hill, one of the organizers. It is a game in which many long-remembered gambling songs are sung by competing teams throughout the day’s play.

Speelya of Omak, Wash., was second and won $3,000, and JP Pakoota’s Team of Nespelem, Wash., was third and won $2,000. In the consolation round, the winners were Road Warriors, Yakama Nation, Wash., $750; Cash Crew, Yakama Nation, $450, and Scrubs, Warm Springs, $300.

“It was good to hear the songs come here again,” Hill said. “There were stick game songs in all the various dialects and different drum styles. Lots of excitement … It sure made a lot of our local people feel good to hear the songs.”

Hill worked closely with Wildhorse Resort events planner Butch Thurman and several volunteers to bring the tournament here.

There were five players per team and 29 teams in the tournament. Players came from as far away as Canada, Nevada and California.

Stick game Web sites also list the tournaments. Planners are beginning work on next year’s tournament already.