Cherokee marbles (ᏗᎦᏓᏲᏍᏗ, digadayosdi), or five hole is a traditional game among the Cherokee people of the United States, in which players roll small stone balls between five shallow pits dug into a playing field. Today, the game is commonly played with billiard balls. The game may be played in individual or team play, and in this century, has been introduced into the curricula of students attending schools in the Cherokee Nation. There is also a national tournament held annually during the Cherokee National Holiday.
History
The origin of this traditional Cherokee game is unknown, and it is not mentioned in the works of ethnologist
James Mooney.
[Conley, Robert J. A Cherokee Encyclopedia; Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press' (2007); p. 144.] Cherokee marbles is a game similar to
rolley hole,
[Shockley, Linda. A Game of Rolley Hole; September–November issue; (2008); Grit Magazine; accessed November 2020] an
game comprising at least two teams of marble players, although the dimensions are different and rolley hole uses three holes instead of five.
[Bilger, Burkhard. Noodling for Flatheads; New York: Simon & Schuster; (2001); p. 210.] Cherokee marbles incorporates elements which are also found in such diverse games as
croquet,
Bocce, and
billiards. In the early 21st century, the game was introduced into public schools in northeast Oklahoma, by the
Cherokee Nation, as part of a program to discourage
methamphetamine abuse.
[ Cherokee Children Play Games to Fight Drugs; WebPage, online; at Turtle Island.org; Retrieved November 2020]
The game
Cherokee marbles was traditionally played with round balls made of stone. Today
billiard balls are typically used, with a favorite being the cue ball. An annual tournament is held during Cherokee National Holiday each
Labor Day weekend.
Rules
The game is played on a field about 100 feet in length and shaped like an "L" with five shallow holes, about two inches in diameter, approximately 10 to 12 feet apart, the fifth hole being located at the end of the long arm of the "L."
To determine who starts, players stand at the second hole and throw a marble back at the first hole. The first to get their marble in the hole becomes the start player for the main game.
Players
There can be any number of individual players however during team competitions each team must have an equal number of participants. In today's tournaments a three person team is preferred.
[ "The People's Paths! - Cherokee Social Games"; Cherokee News Path ] There is an official rulebook which is used in tournament play.
[ Cherokee Marbles Training Underway; Cherokee.org; accessed ???; DEAD LINK]
See also
