Moccasin games test competitors’ skills

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This article was published 04/02/2019 (2643 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Walking down the halls of the Keystone Centre, you could here the slap of sticks, beating of drums and singing of sacred songs as teams of four participate in the traditional moccasin games.

Playing since he was 15, Percy Tacan has almost 50 years of experience playing the games, and brought his expertise to help run the moccasin game at Dakota Nation Winterfest.

The tournament had seven teams playing over the course of the day Saturday in Salon A at the Keystone Centre.

A traditional gambling game, two teams of four take turns hiding an object under moccasins or a mat. When the item, typically a bead or pebble, has been hidden, the opposing team guesses where it has been placed.

Hearing the slapping of sticks, one can watch skilled players attempt to track down the strategically hidden item under a sheep skin, as opponents bluff each other into revealing the hiding place.

Players use a stick to point at the mat they think is hiding the pebble.

During the game, team members drum and sing, celebrating the game and distracting would-be guessers.

“Sometimes if the hider is not good at the hiding, they switch,” Tacan said. “Or if the finder is having trouble finding it they switch.”

Teams compete to win by collecting certain amount of sticks. A team needs five sticks to win the game. Depending on the luck and skill of players, games can last anywhere from one to five hours typically.

Learning the sport from his father and uncle, Tacan said they passed down the secret knowledge of the best way to hide the pebble.

“It depends how good they know each other,” Tacan said. “It’s like a mind game.”

Winterfest has been hosting moccasin games since it first began, and the event has become a staple of the event.

In Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, young kids come out and they are taught how to play games, Tacan said.

“When my grandson gets older, I’m going to teach him to play,” Tacan said.

With a new generation picking up the game, they are carrying on the tradition as the elders who shared that knowledge pass away or retire. For example, Tacan said his son has picked up the sport.

Getting into the B finals of the competition, Chris Standing from the Wahpeton Dakota Nation, Sask., enjoyed the day.

Three of his fellow team members were playing the moccasin game for the first time.

“We just tried it out and had some fun,” Standing said.

Getting to the B final, Standing considers the team lucky because they will walk away with a little bit of prize money.

The most challenging part of the day is figuring out the tells of a new person playing the role of hider.

“Some guys you can tell what places they avoid … I figure out what spots they avoid and narrow it down from there,” Standing said.

The secret to winning is a bit of luck, paired with avoiding showing the other team one’s tells.

“It’s almost like poker — you don’t want to give away your hand,” Standing said.

» ckemp@brandonsun.com

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