Cree Games/Activities
Throughout this page you will find a variety of different games/activities that come from the Cree culture. While also talking about the history and the importance of these games to the Cree culture.
Corralling the Buffalo
Corralling the Buffalo was a game used by the Cree people in northern and southern plains of Saskatchewan. Child were taught this game because of their communities survival hinged on their ability to work together as a team. Before the arrival of horses, First Nations people had to develop different ways to capture the buffalo. One way this was done was through corrals, children were taught at a very young age about the importance of a successful hunt.
How to use in Phys Ed
Equipment:
- pinnies
Description
Create 2 teams of hunters, and 2 buffalo for each team. Boundaries should be made and marked off. Create the corral using pylons. The 1st hunting team will start and have 3 minutes to try and corral their prey WITHOUT the hunter and prey touching each other, much like the game of tag. If the hunting team can successfully herd their prey then they will be awarded 5 points. If the prey can successfully dodge the hunters without being captures then they will get 5 points. After 3 minutes, switch the hunting team. If hunting team go multiple times, switch the prey.
How to use in Phys Ed
Equipment:
- pinnies
Description
Create 2 teams of hunters, and 2 buffalo for each team. Boundaries should be made and marked off. Create the corral using pylons. The 1st hunting team will start and have 3 minutes to try and corral their prey WITHOUT the hunter and prey touching each other, much like the game of tag. If the hunting team can successfully herd their prey then they will be awarded 5 points. If the prey can successfully dodge the hunters without being captures then they will get 5 points. After 3 minutes, switch the hunting team. If hunting team go multiple times, switch the prey.
Double Ball
Just like the Blackfoot, Double Ball was a popular game for the Cree people. In the Cree culture, Double Ball was primarily played by women. It was a very rough game, demanding high physical conditions. The goals for this game were usually placed a mile apart. For more information on Double Ball, click the button below.
Tossing the Ball
Tossing the Ball is known as a Cree volleyball game. In this game, participants are in a four quadrant circle to the floor which is similar to a medicine wheel. In a lot of Aborginal cultures such as Cree, the Medicine Wheel is an important symbol as it represents interconnection of life. As well as the the various cycles of life and how life represents a circular journey. For more information such as set up, instructions, adaptations to the game, please look at the PDF below.
Shinny
Shinny was a game played by the Plains Cree and usually during the winter time. This game was usually played on ice. Two teams would play with sticks with a rounded end like a hockey stick. They used a ball with 2 leather circles which were sewn together and filled with fur. The objective for the game was to score on your oppositions goal. Players could only hit the ball with their stick, if they hit it with their hands then the ball would go to the opposing team. No physical contact was allowed during this game, this game is very similar to hockey. This game could be adapted by playing floor hockey in gym class.
Equipment:
- hockey sticks
- nets
- pinnies
Description
- Divide class into 2 teams, let students know that they will be playing floor hockey. Which is an adaptation of shinny. Explain the game of shinny to students and how the Plains Cree people played it and how it is similar to normal hockey.
For official floor hockey rules read the PDF below.
Equipment:
- hockey sticks
- nets
- pinnies
Description
- Divide class into 2 teams, let students know that they will be playing floor hockey. Which is an adaptation of shinny. Explain the game of shinny to students and how the Plains Cree people played it and how it is similar to normal hockey.
For official floor hockey rules read the PDF below.
Long Ball
The game of Longball was played mainly by the Plains Cree but other nations also played it. This game is similar to baseball, but the rules are quite different. Below are instructions for equipment and how to play Longball.
Lacrosse
Often when people think of First Nations games, the first thing that comes to mind is lacrosse. It is almost seen as a stereotype that all First Nations people played lacrosse. The truth is it was played mostly by Huron's and Mohawk tribes, but it was also played by the Plains Cree.
Lacrosse was mostly played during the summer time, usually it was a contest between two villages. Both villages would choose the players to play based on their strengths and qualities. During these games, it was common for there to be fights between the two teams. It was seen as a very physical and rigorous game.
Click the first button below to look at the basic rules used in lacrosse for Physical Education
Lacrosse was mostly played during the summer time, usually it was a contest between two villages. Both villages would choose the players to play based on their strengths and qualities. During these games, it was common for there to be fights between the two teams. It was seen as a very physical and rigorous game.
Click the first button below to look at the basic rules used in lacrosse for Physical Education
The button below will take you to a variety of lesson plans for teachers that do not have a ton of experience with teaching lacrosse. This website was created by Dave Little and Kylo Harris from Manitoba. It was created to help promote the sport of lacrosse and make it easier for teachers to teach the game to students.
This is an example video of a lacrosse lesson plan for people who are just learning to play lacrosse.