Native American Gym games
Keeper of the Fire
This game was played by many native tribes in the plains, woodland, and coastal areas of the continent.
This one teaches stealth and keen listening skills, which were other important skills for survival in the
wild. This game can be played indoors or outdoors, and all you need is a blindfold and three items
representing firewood. Craft sticks bundled with yarn or even paint stir sticks work fine. The “chief” (best
if it’s an adult) will place the wood in front of the Fire Keeper, who is seated on his or her knees, hands
on lap, and blindfolded. The rest of the players, the Wood Gatherers, will be seated a distance away. The
chief declares, “Wood Gatherers, we need wood!”, and points to one of the wood gatherers, whose job it
is to stealthily creep up on the Fire Keeper and steal his wood without being detected and tagged by the
Fire Keeper. One point per wood piece collected. Wood gatherers may not “rush” the Fire Keeper, as the
object is stealth, and the Fire Keeper may only remove his or her hand from her lap to attempt to tag a
Wood Gatherer. When the Wood Gatherer’s turn is finished, he or she may play the role of the Fire
Keeper.
SNATCHING PLACES Dakota Sioux (Prairie-Plains) 6-20 players
Equipment: Half cones
One fewer pieces of cloth than the number of players. Play: The players form a ring, each one standing
on his blanket, which marks his “owanka,” or place. (The places may be marked by a piece of cloth or
paper.) The places should be about two feet apart. One player without a blanket stands in the center of
the ring. The others constantly change places with one another, while the one in the center tries to step
into a space left vacant for a moment. When he succeeds, the player displaced must stay in the center
until he in turn is able to find a vacant place.
RACES (The 3 races below require no equipment)
BEAR RACE Northwest Coast Play:
Players line up behind starting line. At signal they begin to run imitating a bear’s shuffling gait – place left
hand and right foot forward at the same time, then right hand and left foot forward. The first over the
finish line wins; or the one with the best imitation of a bear may win. Older Children can return to the
starting line to make the race longer and more challenging. Lesson: Observe ways of nature around you
(in this care, the bear’s movements). It also teaches that speed is not always as important as correct
play.
CRAB RACE Northwest Coast Play:
Players line up 4 feet apart along the starting line. At a signal, players drop on all fours and move
sideways, crab like, to the finish line. Older children should return to starting line but not turn around at
end of course rather just reverse directions. Sometimes it is easier to run this way in one direction than
the other, so both directions should be included for older children.
FROG RACE Northwest Coast Play:
Players line up along a starting line. At a signal, they must squat down clasping their fingers around each
leg just above their ankles and hop in this position to the finish line. If a player falls over but does not let
go of his ankles he may continue. Any player releasing hold of his legs must start over. First over finish
line wins.
