1. Aboriginal Sport

2. evidence Fur traders, missionaries, travelers, conquerors
Oral histories; elders; compared to Jesuit diaries and fur trade accounts
View activity in its own context and not superimpose your cultural values

3. Before Contact
10,000 years
Hundreds of groups across North America with many sub groups
Nomadic; settlements

6. Games in Traditional Culture
The traditional way of life: traveling to “be home” not to get home
in order to make a living and survive, people traveled on the land and relied on the resources that the land provided

7. Survival:
the lifestyle required certain skills and attributes, for example, strength and endurance, resistance to pain
Value strength, endurance, skill
Reinforce these values through cultural practices: wrestling greeting; games, contests

8. Traditional games:
Helped people practice important traditional skills
The games did not require much equipment and could be organized quickly
Gambling games: excitement; redistribution of tools, food, goods among families and visitors

9. Education:
Games and play activities played a role in education

10. Gatherings
When people gathered together and celebrated, they shared their games.

11. Examples from various cultures…
Wrestling, running, boxing
Arm pull
Finger pull
Ear pull
Testicle pull
High kick
Blanket toss
Mooseskin ball
Caribou chase
Stick pull
Pole push
One punch
Hand game
Lacrosse
shinny

13. Traditional Games Arctic sports Dene games
Video – Arctic sports and Dene games

23. Summary Connection to the land and ways of life
Survival skills and games to enhance life skills – strength, speed, endurance, resistance to pain
Redistribute goods
Greetings and celebrations
Spirituality
Contact and permanent change