Junior (Youth) Handgames at Crow Agency_2
Channel: RMWhitehair
Date: 2012-05-02

* Competition in a positive manner -- Check.
* A hundred youth off the streets -- Check.
* Native Youth learning, singing, practicing culture, language, songs, tradition, inclusiveness -- Priceless.

The two Crow teams are: Wyola (Mighty Few) vs. River Crow (Crow Agency) at the Annual Crow Jr. Hand Game Tournament held in Crow Agency, MT at the Multipurpose building.

The Crow Jr. Hand Game Tournament attendance is from 1,000 - 2,000 or more per night and it goes for a week. It starts every evening and goes until midnight or later depending on the length of each competition. There are two teams that play against each other, with their numbers ranging in team size from 5 to 50 members per team. There are singers, selected 'guessers', selected 'hiders', medicine men and judges. The women sit in the back and the men sit and kneel in the front row.

The Crow Clan system, language, songs, and cultural protocol are always followed at all activities and include youth, adults, elders, clan, and community and is all inclusive and intergenerational. For more information on the Crow Tribe, please call the Tribal Administration at 406-638-3706. Thank you to the Crow Tribe for sharing.