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A game of tradition
Opposing team members sing, drum, clack sticks and shuffle bone game pieces during a traditional stick game at Celilo Village east of The Dalles Friday, May 15. The event was part of the Gathering of the Tribes, a celebration of Oregon's 150th birthday.
The game uses four bone markers in two sets, each set having one plain white and one red-stripped bone. Colorful sticks are used to keep track of scoring. The team holding the bones opens the game with a song, accented by rattles, shakers, drums and other noise makers. The other team tries to guess in which hand the bone with a red stripe is hidden. Bones are shaken, hidden under colorful handkerchiefs and then held hidden in the hands.
The gaming started with one traditional game, with everyone playing, then split into multiple games in a double elimination bracket.
A top prize of $1,000 gave spice to the night’s game, with side bets placed between teams, weighted down by soil or stones.
—May 15, 2009
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