Pegnegewen (stickball)
The forerunner of lacrosse, stickball is considered one the oldest American Indian sports, played in various forms by woodland tribes for centuries. The sport has three distinct regional styles [Northeast; Southeast; Great Lakes], with equipment, gameplay and fundamentals varying for each. Known to the Potawatomi as pegnegewen [stickball], games are played for recreation, communal prestige, spiritual reverence and healing.
Exclusively for males, bagjegejek (players) are equipped with their own bagwzhanatek (ball stick) and divided amongst two even teams based on their moiety, shkesh (first-born) and kishko (second-born). Traditionally, each team was managed by and received guidance from a mshkekiwnene (medicine man), who would sing songs of strength and protection for his players.
Pegnegewen (stickball) is played on a field comparable to a regulation football field, with a goal post at each end. In the past, fields were in excess of half a mile long, with teams comprised of hundreds of players. Points are scored by throwing a pkwakwet (ball) and striking the opposing team’s goal post, the first team to score 12 points wins.
