Pi'ksíkahtssin
Introduction
Pi'ksíkahtssin refers to what is known in English as hand games.
Hand games are played by Indigenous communities throughout North America. They were banned in the Blackfoot community in the 1940s and the memory of that still impacts us today.
You can learn more about hand games here.
Teachings
Performing: using songs and motions to discourage the opponent from guessing the stick
Intuition: Being able to read people, communicate, read their emotions
Spirit: It is a spiritually believing game.
Control: Learning to control your emotions through this game
Stories
Napi Hand Games Story
Places
saoki 'prairie'
isskihta’ 'east / toward the prairie'
Words and Phrases
Imperative verb forms
Pi’ksíkahtsit! - 'Play a hand game!'
(N)inihkít! - 'Sing!'
Iksísatoot! - 'Hide it!'
Nouns
isttokimaan - 'drum, drumming'
ohkin - 'bone'
miistsís - 'stick'
kaanaisskiinaa - 'mouse' (see also: words for animals)
iiníí - 'buffalo' (see also: words for animals)
kiááyo 'bear' (see also: words for animals)
Other words and expressions
isskoohtsika - 'long time ago'
nááwoohtsi - 'leftward'
Language Learning Opportunities
Songs provide opportunities for rhythmic repetition
Counting
Imperatives
Activities
Adapting across Divisions
Division 1
Students concentrate on guessing using a pebble, and can graduate to keeping score using the kick sticks.
Students can learn simple chanting songs.
Division 2
Students start with the pebble and 3 sticks and then they would graduate to using two bones, 10 sticks, and 1 kick stick
Introduce more songs
Division 3
Students play with 2 bones, 1 kick stick, and 10 sticks.
Each group can have as many participants in their team as they want, unless there are rules from the organizers/host.
Students would begin a hand game song to sing when it is their turn to hide
Division 4
Similar play format to Division 3
Introduce more intricate songs
Introduce new vocabulary
Increase use of sentences and phrases