In this excerpt, Linda Meanus (Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs) explains stick games, as well as how casinos today operate and the misconceptions surrounding them.
Linda Meanus is an educator whose sharing of knowledge on traditional Indian foods has engaged audiences across the American West. She is the granddaughter of Chief Tommy Thompson and his wife Flora.
Playing the stick game at Celilo village during the annual Feast of the First Salmon on April 7, 1940. This is the traditional way of playing stick game, no drums or anything to make noise. Girl standing at left is Ella Jim (wife of Nathan “8-Ball” Jim) Woman in center is Alice Wahnuhie Minninick.