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

[@The_Digital_Arts_World]

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]

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.

[@unknownuser2737]

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.

[@BonHomie87]

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]

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.

[@rosettaeagle1718]

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

[@paulisemonger280]

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]

Are you in TN? 🙂

[@karensikora9767]

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!

[@stephyg20]

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

[@floydsadler3559]

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

[@bozzskaggs112]

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.

[@hummuna69demetz29]

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.

[@stratocaster1greg]

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.

[@thegreatowl4912]

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]

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

[@mamabuudhabear81]

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

[@davelea8919]

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

[@galenmullenax4039]

Excellent presentation! Love your ways.

[@johncothren603]

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

[@-CBA-]

and i have learned the effigies stack to make totems

[@oldscoolcooldiecast1879]

These are the true Americans. love there ways

[@donelmore2540]

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

[@rossagar9754]

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

[@jak3589]

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

[@randystache78]

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

[@scottrussell6717]

INDIAN TRADITIONS are so fascinating

[@laurablair1424]

Love from Canada

[@andymclaughlin7598]

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!

[@Nightowlnursery]

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

[@runingblackbear]

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 )

[@daniellunning3929]

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. 😊

[@Chaplain_GM]

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

[@dereckchildres9601]

Thank you

[@bobbylong4443]

❤ thank you for showing the old ways

[@Scarfbeanie]

Love it

[@ptrcnns1405]

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

[@runawayfaeIX]

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

[@vada7259]

Thanks🌿

[@Mentaltruckr]

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

[@Getdownorlaydownbum]

Very informative video

[@evelynhenri6982]

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

[@the_peaceful_penguin]

Very cool 😎

[@-CBA-]

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

[@jasonstinson1767]

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]

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. 🙂

[@Creekstain]

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

[@calebm8307]

I also live in Tahlequah

[@charlesmorehouse2260]

I like handball too!

[@miswilks5567]

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

[@deansmith1711]

does anyone have the instructions for playing the Marble Game?

[@helenamcginty4920]

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. ❤

[@svenkollskegg3812]

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

[@daviddawson1718]

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

[@runingblackbear]

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

[@alicjafurtak44]

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

[@cupcakkeisaslayqueen]

I'm also Polish

[@alicjafurtak44]

@@cupcakkeisaslayqueen miło mi

[@alicjafurtak44]

@@Dougarrowhead thank you 😊

[@cupcakkeisaslayqueen]

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

[@ryandonahue285]

Wado my friend

[@terryschiller2625]

WaDo oginalii

[@terryschiller2625]

@@Dougarrowhead LoL nope

[@MrChristianDT]

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