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First ever Grand Ronde Stick Game Tournament held during the pow-wow.
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Native Players -The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde's
first ever stick game tournament took place near the Governance
Center during the Tribe's Annual Contest Pow-wow August 16, 17
and 18. Grand Ronde Tribal member Jeff Brisbois (left) has breathed
new life into the stick game tradition by organizing the tournament.
By Peta Tinda
They chatter like baseball players. They drum
while they play, but only to throw off their op
ponents. More importantly, stick game players
don't want you to know what they are thinking.
The First Annual Grand Ronde Stick Game
Tournament was held in a large white tent, just
west of the governance center. Inside the tent
were rows of people singing and drumming, or
just visiting and drinking coffee. A man in a
brightly colored coat made from a Grand Ronde
Pendleton blanket stood in the midst of all this,
smiling and greeting people.
That man was Tribal member Jeff Brisbois, a
self professed "die hard," stick gamer.
To him, the stick game is more than just a
game - it's a valuable cultural tradition.
"I believe that the game is important to our
tradition," said Brisbois. "It's a solid link to our
past."
With that in mind, Brisbois set about organiz
ing the tournament. He was involved with
teaching classes locally in the months leading
up to the tournament. He contacted old friends
that he knew from the stick game circuit and
told them about the tournament.
The result was a successful tournament, with
teams coming from all over the United States
and Canada to take part in the traditional game.
"It went pretty good, all the teams had a good
time and said they'd be back next year," said
Brisbois.
The traditional game, in which two teams try
to guess which hands the other team is holding
a marked set of bones, accompanied by drum
ming and singing, has increased in popularity
in recent years. Stick games are often held dur
ing pow-wow's. Many Tribal members have
traded in their slot tokens and bingo dabbers for
a set of bones and sticks, or instead of gaming
at the local casino, many have begun to take up
traditional stick gaming. Several who came for
the tournament were Tribal Elders in they're
own communities, who to go to tournaments not
only to play, but also to see old friends and meet
people.
It's more traditional and a more friendly, so
cial setting, says Brisbois.
"People just like to be around the drum and
learn those good songs," he said.
The tournament reflected that. Everyone was
smiling and visiting, or sipping the free coffee
that was provided. Nine teams, including a team
from Grand Ronde, competed for cash prizes and
embroidered jackets.
"We're trying to bring it back," said Brisbois.
"This is something we used to do. It helps us
remember who we are." B