Since time immemorial, the Kumeyaay people young, old and of any gender have been playing games. Common traditional games included footraces, shinny (similar to hockey), hoop games and stick dice. Kumeyaay games require skill and often ahve an element of luck. Many games share the purpose of improving players' physical and mental abilities.
KUMEYAAY DOLLS Kumeyaay children also played with dolls made of the materials they had readily available to them, such as clay for the body and head, willow bark for skirts, juncus for hats, as well as feathers, seeds and sea shells.
SYNAAW KWETUM
Synaaw Kwetum (acorn stick game) is a popular hand-eye coordination game. The game is made from a stick, cord and acorn caps carved into rings. The rings are tossed into the air with the goal of looping the most number of acorn rings onto the stick.
APAL UUMARR
Requiring precise aim, Apal Uumarr (hoop and pole game) can improve a player’s physical abilities and hunting skills. Players roll a hoop and run alongside it, while aiming to throw a long pole through the moving hoop.
PEON (HOMARP)
The oldest and most popular game the Kumeyaay play is Peon (homarp in the Kumeyaay language). Peon is a guessing game in which two teams face each other and take turns hiding behind a blanket. The hiding team conceals their black and white game pieces, often made of coyote or rabbit bones, then the other team must guess how the pieces are hidden. Counting sticks are used to keep track of the score. The game carries pride and rivalry when played between villages. This game is often played at large gatherings and accompanied by song. It is not unique to the Kumeyaay – in fact, Peon is played by many tribes throughout the Southwest. Counting sticks (ii) can have painted ends and are used to score the game. Counting sticks (ii) can have painted ends and are used to score the game.
The importance of song Songs are central to Kumeyaay ceremonies and often incorporated into games. During games such as Peon, both the players and bystanders sing songs. Different songs are sung at different points during the game—some serving to tell a story and others to intimidate the opposing team.
