Raven's Passion Part 3

I wanted to give a little about the game played by the Cherokee braves.
Stickball resembles the modern European game of lacrosse, using ball sticks which are made by hand from hickory. A small ball, made of deer hair and hide, is tossed into the air by the medicine man. The players use a pair of the sticks.

The game played an important role in Cherokee life. As with team sports today there were hard lessons to learn and character was developed while participating in the game. In earlier times, only the braves and warriors with the greatest athletic ability played. The game was a way to build strength, cunning and reputation. It was also used as preparation to battle and was even called “the little war” The game was sometime used to settle a dispute, but no dispute came from the game.

The game was tremendously active and dangerous. It was not unheard of that someone could lose their life from injury that happened during the game. If this happened there would be no blood cry. The players did not play the game with the intention of causing another's death. There was much honor among the Cherokee and their customs were very important to them.