Students partake in Stickball and Archery
Posted on 11/21/2019
Stickball at Freedom(SPS) -- Students at Freedom Elementary and Sapulpa Middle School participated in Stickball and Archery this week as part of their education of Native American culture.

Stickball is referred to as the “Little Brother of War” because it was a way for tribes to settle disputes without going to war.

The sticks are made of hickory and formed by hand into the finished product. They look very similar to a lacrosse stick, which is an adapted version of stickball. However, stickball uses two sticks, not one as in lacrosse.

The teams are often divided into males versus females, with ladies being allowed to use their hands. The objective is to hit a fish that sits atop a pole many feet in the air. The winning team is determined by the number of times the fish is hit during a certain amount of time to play or the number of times a team hits the fish decided and agreed upon by both teams prior the start.

Archery was a means for survival for tribes. Many tribes used archery, along with blow darts and spears, for fishing.

“It is fulfilling to see our students get an immersive experience into native culture,” said Indian Education Director Kayla Chupco. “We have many Native American students and families throughout the district so it is our responsibility to provide opportunities for all of our students.”

These activities help Sapulpa Indian Education fulfill the requirements of grants it receives to assist with the cultural needs of students.

Stickball at Freedom

Archery at Freedom