Cultural: Hand Games

Hand Games

Hand Games

Schedule

December 16th-20th, 2025

Thursday, December 18th, 2025, 9:00 am MT
K-5 and 6-8 Division

Friday, December 19th, 2025, 9:00 am MT
High School

Registration

INVITE ONLY

$350/team

Send Payment to:
Lakota Nation Invitational
3213 W Main St #425
Rapid City, SD 57702

Location

Rushmore Hall 1 and 2
The Monument
444 Mt Rushmore Rd,
Rapid City, SD 57701

Hand Games Coordinator

Roger White Eyes
Coordinator

605.867.1289 ext-2531

rogerwhiteeyes@mahpiyaluta.org

Know Before You Go

Registration is INVITE ONLY.

Workers

Each school must bring one line judge. Submit your workers name to Dani Walking Eagle one week in advance.

All other tournament positions will be staffed by LNI.

Head Referee – Joe Drabb

Programs

Each school must submit a 15 player rooster and team photo two weeks prior to the tournament. Please send to Katie at Clark Printing, katie@clarkprinting.com. If the deadline is missed, schools will not be in the program.

When You Get Here

There will be not practice times as games being Friday morning.

Locker rooms will be available.

Please turn in your rooster to the announcers before game starts.

Official Rules & Conduct

LNI HANDGAME TOURNAMENT

  1. All teams must show respect and sportsmanship. Team sponsors will promote good sportsmanship.
  2. No arguing with judges or the committee. They will settle all disputes.
  3. Teams must be ready to play within ten (10) minutes of the conclusion of the previous game.
  4. Otherwise the game will be forfeited. No Exceptions.
  5. All team members must be listed on the team roster, with a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 10.
  6. Each team must have a captain or a head guesser.
  7. Guessers and hiders must identify themselves to opposing teams.
  8. Trick guessing will be allowed with closed fist only, Once a legal signal is made that is a guess.
  9. No thumbs, hooks or forks.
  10. Only the team captain or the judges can call a time out to settle a dispute.
  11. The judges have the option to shorten a game that continues on too long. Sticks will be removed only during a stop and a tie.
  12. The judges will take an active role in controlling the game
  13. Teams must have a singer listed on the Roster. If a team does not have a registered singer they will lose one stick, each time they have the bones.
  14. Judges’ decisions are FINAL

    Lakota Style Hand Games Rules Marked Bones

    Eight Sticks Per Team and No Kick Stick

    1. If both sets of marked bones are guessed correctly, they must be forfeited to the guessing team.
    2. If both sets of marked bones are missed or guessed incorrectly, the guessing team must forfeit two sticks to the hiders team
    3. If one set of marked bones is guessed and the other set is missed: *the one who is missed hides the bones again
      • the guesser forfeits one stick to the opposing team *the one who is guessed will hold and be in a stay
      • if the 2nd guess is missed then both bones come back into play
      • the guesser forfeits one stick to the opposing team
      • if the 2nd guess is correctly guessed then the hiders forfeit the bones to the guessers.
    4. There are no live and dead sticks in Lakota Style
    5. A team must win all sixteen sticks to be declared the Winner

    Champions

    2023 results:

    2023 Elementary K-5:
    1st place- Wakiyan Chetan #2 – Tiospaye Topa
    2nd place- Haganmnapi – Enemy Swim
    3rd Place- Mahpiya Luta Ska – Red Cloud

    2023 Middle School 6-8:
    1st Place – Wazi Ite – St. Francis
    2nd Place – Ateyapi – North Middle School
    3rd Place – Kul Wicas – Lower Brule

    Register Your School

    This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
    School Address(Required)
    Please mark one of the following for Division
    Team Roster(Required)
    Name
    Grade
     
    Max 10, include name and grade

    Have Questions?

    Get in Touch!

    We’d love to hear from you! Whether you have questions about participation or event proposals, we’re here to help. Don’t hesitate to reach out.