Original medicine games played in Akwesasne

At the end of May, Akwesasne hosted a delegation of Choctaw traveling from Mississippi for a cultural exchange of each nation’s medicine games. 51 people from the Choctaw territory traveled by bus, stopping first in Kanienke to visit that community before finally traveling here to Akwesasne. They were greeted by a ceremony at dawn conducted by the men’s council.

The idea for connecting the Choctaws and the Akwesasne community came about when Jerry “Leadhorse” Williams visited the Akwesasne Museum. A poster in the museum depicted the game of Kabocca Towa (stick ball) and Leadhorse explained to the museum staff that this was an original medicine game of the Choctaw people. Staff then asked how they would go about trying to contact this other nation to learn more about the game and the process to connect the two communities began.

Most of those who traveled here to Akwesasne had never really left their territory before this trip. They were amazed at seeing many of the sights along their travels, and especially about being able to visit Canada. Along the way they were treated to stories about the maple trees and Canadian Geese, and were excited visiting the areas of Kana:takon and Tsi Snaihne after the medicine games were done.

Once the opening ceremony was concluded the Choctaw group walked from their camp at Tsionkwanenti:io to the location where tewa’a:raton (lacrosse) was played at the St. Regis Mohawk School field. The group carried their hickory sticks and hit them together as they stopped the flow of traffic along Route 37 as they walked the route.

Kabocca Towa is a game similar to lacrosse, it is a field game played by two teams of 30 players for a total of 60 on the field. Two small hand made hickory sticks are used for the game for each player. There is a goal pole at each end of the field, which the players have to touch or throw the ball to touch the pole to score a point. Players hands can never touch the ball during the course of the game.

At the end of each day a social gathering was held and lasted until early mornings as both communities shared stories about their lives. Akwesasronon taught many of the local social dances while also learning new dances and verses from the Choctaw. The Choctaw specifically taught the snake dance, which was also used to start the game and bring the players onto the field.

“We hope to travel down in July to see a competition,” said Leadhorse. “There was no fighting on the field here because it was used for medicine, but it is a rough game.”

The hospitality of the community ranged from organizers who provided showers at the Heart to Heart Fitness Center, and some of the visitors being brought into homes of the local community. The community even worked together with the Choctaw to plant a garden, sharing some of our seed songs in the process. The group stayed for one extra day, which allowed them to go on a tour of the community to take in more of the local customs. Luckily enough they were also able to witness the annual Memorial Day Parade with all of the fantastic floats that were entered.

Organizers asked to say nia:wen to the following groups and individuals for their contributions to hosting the visitors from the Choctaw Nation. Without all of the community who turned out to this event it would not have happened:

Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe

Akwesasne Museum

Mohawk Council of Akwesasne

#9 Fuels

Red Oak

Men’s Council

Sandra Terrance

Sherry Begland

Akwesasne Eagle Watch

Katrina Jacobs

Jamie Davis

Jessica Hall

Shawn and Mike Laughing

Dean George

Donnie Smoke

Trey Oakes

Trevor Jocko

Katsitsionni Fox

Bear Fox

Larry and Barbara Mitchell

Karakwentha Lazore & Ricardo

St. Regis Mohawk School

Angela Elijah

Rick White

Teiohontathe Davis

Tommy and Jean Square

Kanarahtiiostha Phillips

Kanesa’tiio Thompson

Julia Skidders

Heart to Heart Fitness Center

James Gray

Brenda David

(Photos on pages 14-15)