Senior High Tries Traditional Games

Wednesday, it was the Hoop Game.

The Native American Club at Senior High has been celebrating American Indian Heritage Week during its lunch hours and Wednesday was game day.

Club members were out in front of the school on the lawn along Grand Avenue inviting their classmates to play traditional American Indian games.

“We’re just hoping to get some students to enjoy themselves and Heritage Week,” said Glenda McCarthy, a teacher at the high school and the club’s adviser.

Leading the Hoop Game was senior Tahnya LaForge. The game involves a small hoop tied by a long string to a stick. The goal is to pitch the hoop up in the air and catch it on the stick.

“It’s hard,” said Tristan Balsam, a freshman.

He and classmate Miranda Millhollin spent the last of their lunch period trying out the game.

“We wanted something entertaining to do after lunch,” Millhollin said.

Millhollin proved to be the much more competent player.

LaForge said the week of events has gone well. Earlier they had a guest speaker — an expert on tepees — visit the school and heard from poet laureate Henry Real Bird.

“It’s not that hard” getting the students interested, she said.

McCarthy said the week of activities was a way to give exposure to the area’s American Indian population and culture.

“And to do it appropriately,” she said.

Students will be selling Indian tacos today and Friday they will participate in a powwow.