February 2014 12
The Comanche Nation sponsored a Handgame tournament on January 25, The tournament was held at the Comanche Nation Complex’s Watchetaker Hall. The alcohol and drug free event attracted a great crowd. The registration was held from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Drawing was scheduled at 11:45 a.m. The handgames began at 12 noon with no exceptions. The age limit was 18 years. The entry fee per team was $250 on or before 1/22/2014 and $300 on day of tournament, unless out of state team. The prizes were as follows: 1st Place-$5,000 2nd Place-$1,000 3rd Place-$500 4th Place-$250 Other prizes were Best Dressed Team, Best Singing Team (Men&Women), Best
Shaking Bones at the Comanche Nation Handgame Tournament
The Comanche Nation News
Hider (Male&Female), and Best Guesser (Male&Female) The tournament consisted of 13 teams. One of the visiting teams was Native X from Crow Agency, Mont. The winners were: 1st Place, Challengers; 2nd Place, 12 Pack; 3rd Place, Magic; 4th Place, Southside. Best Dressed Team went to Camp 7; Best Singing Team (Men & Women) Native X; and Camp 7; Best Male Hider was Raymond Chalepah; Best Female Hider was a tie between Juanita Trout and Vidala Yackeshi; Best Female and Male Guesser were Georgianne Wilburn and Gerald Chasenah. The evening was enjoyable for young and old. The Association of Comanche Employees ran the concession stand. The handgame tournament was coordinated by Carlene Atauvich Collins.
Story/Photos by Stacey Heminokeky/New Staff
1st Place: CHAMPIONS! $5,000. Cheyenne/Arapaho Tribe. Weatherford/Clinton, Okla. Area.
2nd Place: 12 Pack $1,000 Comanche Nation Cache/Lawton, Okla.
Best Female Guesser with 3 Door Pops. Georgianne Wilburn from Clinton, Okla. (Challengers Team)
3rd Place: Magic $500. Cheyenne Tribe of Oklahoma/ Clinton, Okla.
4th Place: Southside /Comanche Nation Lawton, Okla.
Best Male Guesser with 8 Door Pops. Gerald Chasenah from Weatherford, Okla. (12 Pack Team)
Best Singing Men’s Team Native-X from Crow Agency, Montana.
Best Male Hider with 10 sticks. Raymond Chalepah from Elk City, Okla. (Challengers Team)
Best Dressed Team with 20 players with all matching T-shirts, shakers and matching drumsticks. Camp 7 from Cache, Okla. Comanche Nation.
Best Female Hider. There was a tie, both ladies with 8 sticks Juanita “Skeeter Trout (Challengers Team) and Vidala Yackeshi (12 pack team)
Best Singing Women’s Team. Camp 7 from Cache, Okla.