BY YAYOI LENA WINFREY for WEEKLY VOLCANO | 6/26/2026
In a historic first for the tournament, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians has partnered with SeattleFWC26 as the Official Host City Legacy Supporter, welcoming soccer fans from around the globe to the Pacific Northwest for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The partnership marks the first time an Indigenous nation has been formally represented at the World Cup, and the Tribe is using that moment to share its culture with visitors and local residents.
The Tribe is offering the public an opportunity to experience a centuries-old tradition at the 2026 Puyallup Tribal Stickgame Tournament. The game, known as sləhal, is also called bone game, hand game or stick game, depending on tribal affiliation. Its roots are in Coast Salish tradition, a cultural grouping that includes more than forty nations and tribes, among them the Puyallup, Duwamish, Suquamish, Tulalip and Muckleshoot. Today, Stickgame is played by Indigenous communities across Indian Country.
An interactive and entertaining contest, Stickgame is played with both plain and decorated sticks. Two teams face off, and each team begins with an assigned number of sticks. One player on the first team holds the plain and decorated sticks in closed hands behind the player’s back. When the player brings the closed fists forward, the opposing team’s designated guesser points to the hand they believe contains the plain stick.
If the guesser is correct, the hiding team forfeits a stick to the guesser’s team, which then takes a turn hiding the sticks. If the guesser chooses the wrong hand, the guesser’s team gives up a stick to the team that did the hiding.
As excitement mounts, the competition becomes contagious for participants and spectators alike. The objective is to win all of the opposing team’s sticks, and the process relies on the guesser’s strategy, concentration and powers of observation. The game continues until one side has won all of the sticks.
Traditionally, animal bones were used. Today, small sticks are commonly used instead. The game is also played today with eleven sticks, rather than the twenty-one used in the past.
An important part of the competition is the drumming, singing and chanting created by the team hiding the sticks while the opposing team’s guesser tries to focus. The hiding team shows support for its teammate through loud but melodic sound. The deeply spiritual beats and songs can both distract the guesser and promote cultural pride.
More than a source of entertainment, Stickgame provides communal connection. Over the years, it has become widely known across Indian Country, with many Indigenous nations participating. Some players travel from tournament to tournament, crossing state lines to join the festivities. Meeting people from other tribal nations contributes to a sense of unity.
Handed down from generation to generation, Stickgame is often taught to children at an early age by their parents and other relatives. Discovering other Native people who know the game can instill a profound feeling of community.
Although the game is said to bring good luck to its participants, it was historically played in times of conflict to settle disagreements, as well as for trading items such as beads, blankets and horses. In the past, only men were allowed to participate. Today, people of all genders are welcome.
Stickgame is a crucial component of cultural identity for people whose traditions were long suppressed. The survival of the game through hundreds of years reflects the will and determination of those who carried it forward. Ultimately, Stickgame is a reclamation of heritage. Along with encouraging unity and teamwork, its practice helps preserve Puyallup history and Coast Salish tradition.
The tournament will be held June 26 to 28 at Puyallup Tribal Administration, 3001 Puyalupabsh St., on tribal trust land on the Puyallup Reservation. The family-friendly event is open to people of all ages, and visitors may attend for one day or all three. The event flyer says participants can win prizes, awards and gifts.
The tent opens and games begin at 1 p.m. Friday, June 26. Saturday’s schedule includes a catered breakfast at 9 a.m., registration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., an opening song at 11:45 a.m. and the tournament start at 3 p.m. Sunday’s shootout start time is to be announced.
Parking is available for seniors sixty-five and older at the Puyallup Tribal Administration parking garage. ADA parking is available next to the administration building and in the parking garage. Visitors also may park at the Tacoma Dome and ride the Fan Zone Express, or use Pierce Transit bus service to the Puyallup Tribal Health Authority area, a short walk from the site.
In a YouTube post, Muckleshoot Tribal Council member Mike Jerry Sr. said the gambling tradition helped lay a path for tribes to enter the modern gaming industry. He credited Coast Salish ancestors with creating Stickgame and connected the tradition to a revenue source that supports many tribal communities today.
Puyallup Tribal Stickgame Tournament 2026
June 26 to 28
Puyallup Tribal Administration
3001 Puyalupabsh St.
Tacoma, WA 98404
For more information, visit PuyallupAllTogether.org/events/2026-stickgame-tournament
