A Message from Garcia: ‘Plum Seed Game’

Message # 134 Plum Seed Game Page 1

Long ago in Dakota culture there was a strict division of labor. Male labor was to defend the people and hunt large and small animals, and birds to feed the people. The female labor job description was to birth children, and do an unending list of jobs from tanning hides, make clothing, cook food. The female job description goes on and on. Only men can play The Moccasin Game (Hanpa Ape Icunpi), a rule which continues today. Only Females can play Shooting the Plum Seed Game (Kansukutepi). Or Plum Stone Game in English. The Spirit of Fun, Games, and Dance were under the control of The Whirl Wind (Wamniyomni), the younger brother of the Four Winds. He also referred to as The Little Wind (Tatecikana) and a Dust Devil or Water Spout in English. The equipment required are a bowl, or basket, an 8-piece set of plum seeds (plum stones), and Counting Sticks, used to keep score.

Women and young children play this game. The number of players range from two to a dozen. They sit in a circle with the bowl filled with the 8 game pieces which are marked and or colored Plum Seeds In their center. The rules are explained to the children if present, and then everyone bets some item which are put in a pile nearby. Whoever wins the game, wins the pile of objects wagered. If the game is to be continued, everyone bets on the outcome of the second game. Usually the game can last all day or end when the prizes are exhausted. This game is a good way to teach the children how to count and do mathematical calculations. The game was played indoors during inclement weather or during the winter when the women had less chores to do.

The bowl filled with wild plum seeds is lifted with one hand three or four inches and bounced on the robe or blanket everyone is sitting on. The seeds “shoot” upward and fall to the bottom. The bowl is returned to the center, for everyone to establish the score and the number of counting sticks awarded to the person who shot the seeds. The next person takes the bowl and shoots. After all the players have taken their turn, the woman with the most counting sticks, wins the prizes.

The eight games pieces are marked according to the whim of the owner of the set. The small plum seeds (about a half-inch in diameter) are burned with a hot knife blade or carefully carved. They can be painted a solid color or left plain. As an example, some of the markings used are an eagle, sparrow hawk, turtle, and muskrat. Whichever design is used, usually two of the same dice are used. The choice of design rests in the different spirit power invoked by the set owner.

On an internet search, the Osage use a nine-piece set: 2 with white stars and 7 with red dots is an automatic winner. 9 white stars and dots equals 8 points, I white star, 1 red star, 7 white dots equal 10 points, 2 white stars, 1 red dot, and 6 white disks equals 5 points, 2 white stars, 2 red dots, and 5 white dots equals 2 points, 1 red star, 1 white star, 1 red dot, and 6 white disks equals 2 points. As you can see it is a complicated scoring system.

On the South Dakota State University website has Jeremy Red Eagle from the Sisseton Wahpeton College explain the Dakota today use six plum seed dice, 25 to 100 counting sticks and a small basket or cup. In their rules, the game is played until one person wins all the counting sticks. The set of six seeds are marked

Two turtles equal 6 points, 2 eagles equal 4 points, 2 elk equal 2 points. An ‘X” is marked on the unmarked seeds. Jeremy Red Eagle says the players can agree on scoring system or any other rule that needs clarification. Everything must be agreed upon before the start of the game.

The counting sticks are made of painted willow branches cut to the length of an outstretched hand from thumb to the little Finger, about 8 inches long. The diameter of the sticks is about one-half inch. Today pencils or straws could be used as a substitute. Gaming pieces could be cut from heavy cardboard, or items taken from commercial board games.

The prizes can be Star Quilts, moccasins, or other expensive craft items as well as kitchen utensils, and food items. However, the prizes must be of equal value such as a quilt and a cooking pot set, a bowl of fried bread and a cake. Things can get serious when money is involved and therefore should not be considered as this is a traditional game. Formerly songs were sung, but now have been lost. The women would give playful mocking to each other.

As mentioned before children and adults can learn how to count in Dakota as well as use the language to learn the Dakota names for the game equipment.

Dakota Language Terms for the Plum Seed Shooting Game

Kansukutepi (Kanta = Plum; kanta; Su =plum seed; Kute = shoot; Pi = plural).

Kanta Hu = Plum Bush. Skata = play. Counting Stick Can Wiyawa = Can = wood; Wiyawa = to count),

Wiyaksica = Bowl; MazaWaksica = meal bowl; CanWaksica = wooden bowl; Cohwanzica = Willow Basket; Blanket = Sina; Star Quilt Wicanhpisina; Bet= Yekiya; Win= Ohiye.

Bibliography

Brooklyn Museum: Osage Dice game. Brooklyn Museum, New York. Osage Bowl and set of nine dice. 1911, Number 11.694.8974.1

Culin, Stewart Games of the North American Indian. Smithsonian Institute24^th Annual Report Washington, DC Government Printing Office 1907.

Macfarlan, Alan & Paulette Handbook of American Indian Games. Dover Publications. New York: 1985.

Nickkirajala.com The Plum Stone Game. Handbook of American Indian Games.

Red Eagle, Jeremy Dakota and Lakota Traditional Game Resource. South Dakota State University: Extension Family and Community Health.

Schoolcraft, Henry Rowe Historical and Statistical Information Reflecting the History, Conditions, and Prospects of the Indian Tribes of the United States. Philadelphia, Volume 6,1857. Reprinted by the Historical American Indian Press.