Indigenous North American Stickball

The latest Google Doodle shines a spotlight on Indigenous North American stickball, one of the oldest sports in North America.

It’s a symbol of how to live and respect the natural and supernatural worlds. Each game starts with smudging or the burning of tobacco, so that people’s minds are in a purified and healthy manner before starting the game. As a team sport, the aim of stickball is to get the ball to the opposing team’s goal post, originally with the only rule being that you cannot touch the ball with your hands. From there, the game was dubbed “lacrosse” and began to diverge from its predecessor. Similarly, the ball was often made from cloth and wrapped with strips of leather. Since 1990, in the United States, the month of November has been dedicated as Native American Heritage Month.

Google Doodles update the artwork on Google's homepage logo to celebrate special occasions like holidays and historical events. "In celebration of U.S. Native ...

[Cherokee legend,](https://www.newsweek.com/what-indigenous-north-american-stickball-google-doodle-celebrates-1755912) the first stickball game was between land animals and birds. But the birds relied on flight, speed and cunning to outsmart and outmaneuver their opponents and won. In the game, two teams try to pass and move the ball toward their opponent's goalpost. "The artwork was illustrated by Saint Paul-based artist Marlena Myles who is a member of the Spirit Lake Dakota/Mohegan/Muscogee tribe." Players may not touch the ball with their hands. "In celebration of U.S.

Google commissioned artist Marlena Myles for the Doodle. A citizen of the Mohegan and Muscogee (Creek) nations and member of the Spirit Lake Dakota tribe, Myles ...

“I was inspired by interviews of players and how the game is meaningful to them in their lives,” Myles said. Myles features three different styles of sticks in her artwork based on versions of stickball played by the Indigenous peoples of those regions. Originally, Iroquois sticks had a triangular pocket two-thirds the length of the stick. Peoples include the Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, Seminole, Yuchi and other Native nations. “I also could learn more about the different styles played in different regions, so it was a learning experience for me as well.” The game isn’t just for sport or exercise, but also is considered a healing activity for the mind and it helps create a healthy body and mind.

The Google Doodle for the North American Stickball was designed by Native American artist Marlen Myles. It included three distinct versions of the game.

The views expressed here are that of the respective authors/ entities and do not represent the views of Economic Times (ET). [Joe Biden](/news/joe-biden), also reiterated the importance of the event on Monday, October 31. [North America](/topic/north-america). The illustration depicted three distinct versions of the game, which also included the sage smudging practice. [North American Stickball](/topic/north-american-stickball)through its [Doodle](/topic/doodle). The game is also one of the oldest team sports in

For many Native American tribes, Stickball is a centuries-old tradition that is cut from the very fabric of their being.

Whether as a means of physical and mental well-being or a method in which to bring harmony to the community around us, Stickball represents harmony and peace. Stickball was once used as a non-violent competition to settle disputes and Myles says that today the game is often played to bring healing to the community. November 1st marks the beginning of Native American Heritage Month and Google has teamed up with Native American artist Marlena Myles to share her inspiration.

Google doodle celebrates Indigenous North American stickball · Google commemorates U.S. Native American Heritage Month with a narrative drawing on a ...

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW [Skip Advertisement] “The game isn’t just for sport or exercise, but also is considered a healing activity for the mind and it helps create a healthy body,” Myles said. The four net-headed sticks each hold, varying in sizes and feature designs according to the region where the sport is played. “This sport has played an active role through the generations in our many tribes, and it will continue to do so,” Myles said. “I was very excited to create something meaningful that can teach many people about an ancient sport of Native people, which is still practiced today in both the traditional version using traditional sticks and the adapted version known to many as lacrosse,” Myles said in an interview posted on the Google site.