Northern Plains Bone Game

10.5" L x .75" D + 4.25" L Needle

Hand Crafted Bone Game with Hide and Long Steel Needle 

Excellent Condition with Aged Wear

The Northern Plains Bone Game, often simply called the "Bone Game," is a traditional Indigenous guessing game deeply rooted in the cultures of tribes across the Great Plains and Pacific Northwest regions of North America. It is a form of dice or stick game that emphasizes strategy, bluffing, and social interaction, typically played during gatherings, powwows, or ceremonies. While its origins are traced to Pacific Northwest tribes (where it's known as sla-hal or Stick Game), it spread widely among Plains tribes like the Blackfeet, Lakota, Pawnee, and others, becoming a staple of Northern Plains traditions. The game is played by people of all ages and often involves betting with small items like beads, sticks, or modern equivalents, fostering community bonds and friendly competition.

Provenance:  From the Len and Toni Wood Private Collection, Laguna Beach, California