From: beaver.cs.washington.edu!gnosys!anchor.esd.sgi.com!lyn (Lyn Dearborn)
Subject: Native American gifts for the Holidays
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 08:55:39 GMT

Original-Sender: anchor.esd.sgi.com!lyn (Lyn Dearborn)

I'm not crazy about commercial plugs on the Net, but when I arrived home from
Yosemite last night there were two requests on my recorder for Native
American games that can be given as gifts for the Holidays (or any other
time).  One of the requests was just asking for the "Rules" for the Walnut
Dice Game/Staves Game played by the Pomos (Ka-dai).  So I am sending her the
rules, and told her how to make a set, and I'm including directions herein
for any of you who may feel ambitious, and have access to a sappy conifer
tree of some sort

Its not that difficult, just VERY time consuming.  All you need is 10 counting
sticks approx 10 to 12 inches long, and about the thickness of a pencil. Scrape
the bark off, or leave it on as desired, but round the ends off if you're
going to leave the bark on, so they don't look so "tacky".  O.K., that takes
care of counting sticks.

For the game itself, you'll need 6 cleaned-out black walnut shells, a bunch of
abalone chips, some ashes, and a wad of conifer pitch you can melt -- you'll
need about 1/4 Cup of pitch which you will melt and carefully stir in enough
ash to darken the pitch to whatever color you prefer ... most of us prefer
DARK ... since the dice were sometimes stuffed with natural asphaltium and the
abalone stuffed into the soft goo until it hardened.  O.K., melt your pitch,
and carefully transfer it to the waiting shells (one at a time) and then place
several abalone chips into the pitch before it hardens (good luck!).  If the
only source of black walnuts you have is ones that haven't been hulled yet, I'd
recommend either (a) buying some shells from someone else, as cleaning them is
a hideous mess, or (b) make the staves game instead.  The staves can be made
from AGED elderberry sticks, AT LEAST the thickness of a roll of 35 mm film, and
a minimum of 6 inches long... most are 8 or 9 inches long.  The elderberry is
split in half length ways.  The bark can be left on (rounding all corners), or
it can be removed and a design can be burned into the back of the sticks, or
painted on with shoe dye, or possibly even acrylics.

NOTE:  Since Elderberry sap is POISONOUS, it is imperative that you only use
wood that is well aged, and wear gloves if you have sensative skin.  Sand the
split wood well, and remove the core for a more "finished look".

Here are the "Rules" for playing the game:


Ka-dai
Pomo Women's Stave Game
(& Walnut Dice Game)

This game is played using six maple wood staves and twelve
willow counting sticks.  Hold the staves in your hands, toss
them up and let them fall freely to the ground.  Score your
points in the following way:  Three (3) sides up and three plain
sides down score one point.  Six plain sides up score two points;
six plain sides down score three points.  \fI(Note:  Some tribal
groups use staves made from Elderberry.  Also, the walnut dice
game is typically scored the same way.)\fR

The winner is the one who wins all twelve sticks.  A player may take
sticks from other players as necessary.


If all of this seems to be "more than you can handle", I do sell finished
game sets, with or without carrying pouch.  We also sell great dream catchers,
California Indian key chains, Calif. Jewelry, and I'm working on swet shirts
that will have a Calif. Indian Basketry pattern on them ... but that's taking
a little longer.

So for those of you who want to give a bit of heritage, I hope the above
directions will prove useful.  This is one of the things I have the kids do
in our class on Calif. Indian Material Culture at the Jr. Museum ... only
this spring it will be geared toward our brothers and sisters on the Plains.
If any of you are in the Bay Area, south Peninsula, and have kids between
the ages of 9 and 14, they might enjoy the class -- once a week from 4 to 5
(with no "phoney crafts junk" being used).

Feel free to write if you have questions or are interested in obtaining
games, etc., ready made.

Lyn Dearborn

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"We did not weave the web of life.  We   | Lyn Dearborn
are merely a strand in it.  Whatever     | Naturalist/Person
we do to the web, we do to ourselves"    | dearborn@anchor.esd.sgi.com
		Chief Seattle 1854
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