Cherokee Traditions: Marble Making

Marbles is a traditional Cherokee social game dating back centuries and is still played by many Cherokee people today. However, the craft of creating the marbles traditionally used in the game is considered something of a lost art. Join Cherokee marble maker Sammy Still as he discusses the processes and history behind the craft in this new episode of Cherokee Traditions.
#Cherokee #Marbles #NativeAmerican

Пікірлер: 64

  • @The_Digital_Arts_World
    @The_Digital_Arts_World3 жыл бұрын

    I found this piece on crafting marbles using what God and Narure have given to us as extremely interesting as well as something that requires patience, dedication, and a craft passed down from our Cherokee ancestors that I would like to try myself. Thanks for making this video and teaching us another lesson but our people.

  • @shaneapplegate1975
    @shaneapplegate1975 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much for sharing this. ✌️ I love digging up artifacts. Finding Indian marbles is always one of my most prized gifts from the earth.

  • @floydsadler3559
    @floydsadler355910 ай бұрын

    Playing marbles with my family and friends has made the most memorable times. Thank you for keeping traditions

  • @stephyg20
    @stephyg20 Жыл бұрын

    This is just incredible. Thank you so much! What an honor to learn the skills of our ancestors.

  • @unknownuser2737
    @unknownuser27372 жыл бұрын

    I find several slabs of limestone with circular holes in them we always call them nutting stones. Some of them have several holes on the slab just like yours and they're way too big to hold nuts. I also find on the same site numerous marbles. Now I have to rethink everything . now they're possibly marble making stones. I also find a lot of fire cooked clay marbles, of all sizes but nothing bigger than 3 in in diameter. Some sites that I hunt on I find porcelain marbles they have painted lines on them and clover leaves and flowers. But most of them are made from hard Stone. I haven't found any made out of limestone. On just one site I found 18 marbles, around 2 in in diameter. I figured they were gaming stones. Where I live I have never found any discoids. Thank you for opening up my mind to another avenue it explains a lot. The campsite that I find all the hard Stone marbles on now tells me it was a permanent camp not just a hunting camp. Very informative.

  • @bozzskaggs112
    @bozzskaggs1122 жыл бұрын

    I loved watching this. Thank you. My dad and uncles made marbles in a similar way but they put their rocks in naturally occurring depressions in a creek bed even directing the water flow to their advantage. Walking to and from school they'ed check on the process and make needed adjustments. I should ask about this process now. In was a kid when I heard it the first time.

  • @BonHomie87
    @BonHomie874 ай бұрын

    Thinking about the countless and almost unthinkable crimes committed against the original American peoples evokes twofold reactions in me. The initial one being disgust or perhaps more specifically I suppose might be that dark desolation of the mind where aching grief and blind red anger overlap followed undoubtedly by an awesome and humbling reverence for the kaleidoscopic wisdoms and myriad of time-tested stewardship and pronounced cultures imparted by those such as this gentleman and the many other proud remaining messengers of those incredible indigenous cultures and practices. Thank you for sharing it with the wider world.

  • @jarstenmandaelki3973
    @jarstenmandaelki3973 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much for this video! I live in Mississippi and have access to these materials. I have crafted one stone marble and have found that patience is the definitely the most important tool.

  • @karensikora9767
    @karensikora97673 жыл бұрын

    I found one in Bastrop, Tx about 15 years ago. Still have it, wuju! I didn't know Indians made marbles until I found mine. This is the first thing I have ever found on Native American marbles. Wah do!

  • @paulisemonger280
    @paulisemonger280 Жыл бұрын

    Absolutely fascinating. I have the great pleasure and honor to live in a house on an ancient Cherokee village settlement. I find many stone tools and am really pleased to find your channel to learn about how these ancient people lived. When my collection reaches a certain size I hope to donate the items to a museum.

  • @dennistrull1475

    @dennistrull1475

    Жыл бұрын

    Are you in TN? 🙂

  • @mamabuudhabear81
    @mamabuudhabear812 жыл бұрын

    This is absolute native wisdom .. Thank you for sharing a lost art to many ... I appreciate you sharing ...

  • @rosettaeagle1718
    @rosettaeagle17183 жыл бұрын

    I love marbles. As a kid. And i like different typs of stone and wood. And i love american indians. Hi from australia. But our marbles were small glass balls

  • @stratocaster1greg
    @stratocaster1greg11 ай бұрын

    Sir I was born in Chickasha, Okla and have Cherokee blood. Im in Colorado now. Today I made a Red Horn Coral marble. Its about 5/8 of an in. Ive made over 200 stone marbles using a diamond wheel, silicon carbide cups and granite countertop polishing pads glued in pvc caps. An inch and a half marble takes me 18 to 20 hours. I sure enjoyed your video and God Bless You.

  • @johncothren603
    @johncothren6032 жыл бұрын

    I've got one about the size of a foosball, been studying it and wondering how it came into being. Thank you!

  • @donelmore2540
    @donelmore2540 Жыл бұрын

    I just watched a video of a group of seniors making glass marbles. LOL. It was fun to hear about making stone marbles too.

  • @thegreatowl4912
    @thegreatowl49122 жыл бұрын

    Here in the North East part of the country the artifact hunters and scholars alike find sandstone rocks with indentations similar to yours. They call them "nutting stones". The idea has been that the native people used them for cracking nuts. But, after watching this, I'm not so convinced that they are correct. Thank you for sharing this video!

  • @MrChristianDT

    @MrChristianDT

    Жыл бұрын

    Yeah, probably not. I think they just used a mortar & pestle to crack those.

  • @dereckchildres9601
    @dereckchildres9601Ай бұрын

    Thank you

  • @-CBA-
    @-CBA-2 жыл бұрын

    and i have learned the effigies stack to make totems

  • @hummuna69demetz29
    @hummuna69demetz292 жыл бұрын

    Osiyo. Being a North Carolina Cherokee, and now living in France where we play an ancient game called pétanque (pay-tonk), I see the similarities between both games. The only difference is that we use a very small ball as the object to come the closest to instead of a hole, but I think that the intention of the game is the same. We even try to hit the medium marble sized ball to take the other players out of the game that had their balls close to it. Kind of like when we used to joke about the other players throws that weren't close enough. And in the good old days, hundreds of years ago, the balls were made out of knot wood.

  • @galenmullenax4039
    @galenmullenax40392 жыл бұрын

    Excellent presentation! Love your ways.

  • @randystache78
    @randystache78 Жыл бұрын

    Thanks for helping me learn about a lost part of my family history. I appreciate you and your knowledge.

  • @Nightowlnursery
    @Nightowlnursery3 жыл бұрын

    This is so awesome ty for sharing , I would love to make some.

  • @Scarfbeanie
    @Scarfbeanie8 ай бұрын

    Love it

  • @runawayfaeIX
    @runawayfaeIX2 жыл бұрын

    So cool! Thank you for sharing your knowledge and skill!

  • @davelea8919
    @davelea891910 ай бұрын

    it should be kept alive and documented it can be lost forever in two generations love to ya Dave uk.

  • @vada7259
    @vada7259 Жыл бұрын

    Thanks🌿

  • @rossagar9754
    @rossagar97542 жыл бұрын

    This is one of the most beautiful videos I have seen, thanks

  • @bobbylong4443
    @bobbylong444311 ай бұрын

    ❤ thank you for showing the old ways

  • @laurablair1424
    @laurablair14242 жыл бұрын

    Love from Canada

  • @jak3589
    @jak35892 жыл бұрын

    That was very interesting, what beautiful craftsmanship. Thank you for sharing American history with us. Everybody loves marbles!

  • @Chaplain_GM
    @Chaplain_GM Жыл бұрын

    Glad to hear the stories i am a half Breed but i do love my Cherokee heritage moreso

  • @the_peaceful_penguin
    @the_peaceful_penguin2 жыл бұрын

    Very cool 😎

  • @Getdownorlaydownbum
    @Getdownorlaydownbum2 жыл бұрын

    Very informative video

  • @evelynhenri6982
    @evelynhenri69823 жыл бұрын

    very interesting ..when i was a kid we played marbles with glass marbles i wonder if thats where it comes from ..we had 3 sizes thank you for sharing brought back beautiful memories

  • @oldscoolcooldiecast1879
    @oldscoolcooldiecast1879 Жыл бұрын

    These are the true Americans. love there ways

  • @andymclaughlin7598
    @andymclaughlin7598 Жыл бұрын

    I have an extensive collection of spherical game stones among other artifacts many of which were found in the farm field where I grew up in Indiana. Thank you for posting this information, I always knew they were created by the very first Americans, I just never knew how. Cheers, kudos, bravo and Quyanauqchuk!

  • @runingblackbear
    @runingblackbear5 күн бұрын

    This is how I was told and showed how to make and play the game this game comes from the beginning it is very old game of the Cherokee family ( o s da )

  • @ptrcnns1405
    @ptrcnns1405 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you for sharing this craft with us. In England another dying craft is thatch making. The cottages years age would have thatched roofs, which have to be in part at least replaced or added to. Yes there still are some houses with thatched roofs, but not modern houses

  • @scottrussell6717
    @scottrussell67172 жыл бұрын

    INDIAN TRADITIONS are so fascinating

  • @Creekstain
    @Creekstain Жыл бұрын

    I love this! So informative and packed full of knowledge! I think I have found one if those steelies you talked about. My Grandmother was 1/2 Cherokee and used to sing a lullaby to me. My Mother said it translated roughly to walk softly through the night child. Does anyone know where I can find more info? I remember how it goes but I'm probably not saying the words right. Ton go oh oh Ton go oh oh Upi upi undi o Upi upi undi o Ooh wa A Ooh wa A Maleka ma lu a way Maleka ma lu a way

  • @daniellunning3929
    @daniellunning3929 Жыл бұрын

    I'm nearly certain I just found a billard sized pink granite marbel. Near perfectly round. Makes me want to find some good ppl playing and try my skill. 😊

  • @Mentaltruckr
    @Mentaltruckr2 жыл бұрын

    Yes Gods nature. We country boys. God be with you my brother.

  • @-CBA-
    @-CBA-2 жыл бұрын

    i have spme awesome pieces i just sit and wonder how they did that , like my angry bird effigy its perfect

  • @miswilks5567
    @miswilks55672 жыл бұрын

    amazing thank you for teaching us about your culture and this amazing craft and the marble game!

  • @charlesmorehouse2260
    @charlesmorehouse22603 жыл бұрын

    I like handball too!

  • @jasonstinson1767
    @jasonstinson1767 Жыл бұрын

    I thought sinew was acquired by harvesting the “ achilles” tendon, as well as other shorter tendons. I never knew that it could be gotten from a Deers back strap. This whole time I’ve just been eating them. Also never knew that the native population had roads that they would find their source material alongside. All of the marbles I have examined have always been made out of something much harder than limestone, with most examples being granite, because it is far too soft to not damage easily. It must have taken them forever to turn a rock into a sphere just grinding it on a piece of sandstone. I guess all those peck marks on stone axes and marbles must have formed from being played with, used or dropped. But this guy has ancestors so I know he has a knowledge of the manufacturing process far greater than any deductive reasoning could provide.

  • @dennistrull1475

    @dennistrull1475

    Жыл бұрын

    Back up in the mountains in a creek, I saw a rock with round holes in it. I often wondered if Indians used to put rocks in there. Over time it might form a sphere. One day, I'll go back and look. 🙂

  • @deansmith1711
    @deansmith17118 ай бұрын

    does anyone have the instructions for playing the Marble Game?

  • @calebm8307
    @calebm8307 Жыл бұрын

    I also live in Tahlequah

  • @svenkollskegg3812
    @svenkollskegg3812 Жыл бұрын

    How long would it take to make a marble the traditional way as Mr. Still was displaying? Thanks for the interesting video!

  • @helenamcginty4920
    @helenamcginty4920Ай бұрын

    I love craft work and finding out how is always fun. Thanks. A question. Do you or any fellow stone carvers have anything in your ancient carving like the neolithic decorated carved stone balls found in Scotland. Unlike your limestone game balls these are carved from hard rocks and decorated in different styles. If so any ideas what they are? You can see what I mean online. In the UK our neolithic populations more or less disapoeared about 4500 yrs ago in our bronze age. Turns out we are descended from new migrants originating in eastern Europe. Those little boats coming across the chanbel 😂😂 So no way any knowledge from the neolithic inhabitants has filtered down to us. Another ball related mystery are the Roman era bronze dodecahedrons. Again pictures online. Maybe there is something similar in your history the use of which is still remembered. Re the game itself. Looks a lot like bowls in the UK. Boules in France. Also pétanque. Bowl type games were played by ancient Greeks and Romans and throughout the world it seems. While ball and other throwing games are used in good junior schools and kindergartens to help children develop good hand eye co ordination I think that if you havent got there by adulthood it aint going to happen. It seems that today it is old people who play these games. Thats certainly the case in the UK and I've only ever seen photos of boules being played recreationally by old men in flat caps. ❤

  • @daviddawson1718
    @daviddawson17182 жыл бұрын

    Marbles are great and all, but I want to learn more about chronometer building. Cherokee people holding back on us.

  • @runingblackbear
    @runingblackbear5 күн бұрын

    I am Cherokee paint clan only I know how to make the sacred paint of the Cherokee

  • @alicjafurtak44
    @alicjafurtak443 жыл бұрын

    Hello, are there names Cherokee Patala and Merino? Thank you and best regards from Poland ❤❤❤🇵🇱

  • @cupcakkeisaslayqueen

    @cupcakkeisaslayqueen

    Жыл бұрын

    I'm also Polish

  • @alicjafurtak44

    @alicjafurtak44

    Жыл бұрын

    @@cupcakkeisaslayqueen miło mi

  • @alicjafurtak44

    @alicjafurtak44

    Жыл бұрын

    @@Dougarrowhead thank you 😊

  • @cupcakkeisaslayqueen

    @cupcakkeisaslayqueen

    Жыл бұрын

    @@alicjafurtak44 też ucze się języka cherokee ale nie mam na razie kiedy

  • @ryandonahue285
    @ryandonahue2853 жыл бұрын

    Wado my friend

  • @terryschiller2625
    @terryschiller26253 жыл бұрын

    WaDo oginalii

  • @terryschiller2625

    @terryschiller2625

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@Dougarrowhead LoL nope

  • @MrChristianDT
    @MrChristianDT Жыл бұрын

    Huh. I had no clue this was a Native American game. That's one you never hear about.