For the Sga-Du-Gi (Community)

Modern Day Cherokee Stickball

Bibliographic Data

ID2500948
AuthorsNatalie M Welch, Nicole Welch (0000-0002-5162-6930), Jessica Siegele (0000-0002-0976-2883), Robin Hardin (0000-0002-6638-2246)
Year2017
Volume41
Issue2
Pages93-114
Publication date2017-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Indian Culture and Research Journal (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0161-6463 • E-ISSN: 0161-6463
PublisherCalifornia Digital Library (CDL) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.17953/aicrj.41.2.welch
OpenAlexW2782382148
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited24

Tucked away in the Smoky Mountains of western North Carolina on the Cherokee Indian Reservation is a living tradition that predates the "discovery" of America: the game of stickball. Researchers have reported on the sport and the complex rituals that surround it since the early-twentieth century. Often referred to as the "little brother of war," it is much more than a game. With the purpose of uncovering the reasons for playing the game and its larger meaning as part of players' Cherokee identity and culture, the primary investigator (a native of Cherokee and an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee), interviewed eleven current and former stickball players about what stickball means to them and its importance to Cherokee culture. Three main themes emerged: (1) cultural preservation; (2) community reinforcement; and (3) ethnic identity affirmation. This study exemplifies the importance of sport as a tool for cultural preservation and explores the emphasis and integration of the game in the Cherokee community

Armenian · Cherokee · Animal and Plant Science Education · Folklore, Mythology, and Literature Studies

Tools

Open DOISci-HubOpen Access