30 Kids Games that will take the boredom out of school holidays - Go Native with Indigenous Games
School Holidays are challenging for parents one way to connect your with their culture is to introduce them to traditional aboriginal games and activities. Having children play traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait games will also allow the continuity of the culture that was set by our indigenous ancestors.
Let’s look at some of these traditional aboriginal games and activities that you can share with your kids.
Brambahl
This game was played by the Juwalarai people of the Naran River. The Juwalarai are an indigenous tribe from New South Wales. It is similar to rope skipping but with a twist. While skipping, players are also performing activities until he/she makes a mistake. Examples of the actions taken while skipping rope are taking thorns of their feet, digging in the ground, or hopping like a kangaroo.
Battendi
It is a type of throwing game that is played outdoors. The goal of the game is to hit the target by throwing a ball with a spear. To play the game, the players would need a ball, a spear or a 1 meter stick with a cup at the end and a target mark at the other end. The Battendi was played by the indigenous peoples in the Lake Murray, Lake Alexandria and Lake Albert areas of Southern Australia. Battendi literally means “to throw a spear.”
Set up:
Draw the starting line and place the target marks at some distance (traditionally 20 meters away). Allow a 10 meter area to throw and run up. If various players use the same target, it is recommended to use different colored balls.
Rules
The players stand at the starting line with the spear
At first, the game is distance throwing contest. 3 attempt are given to each player. A method of measuring is made from the throwing line and in a direct line to where the ball lands. The winner is the player that throws the ball the furthest.
Secondly, there is a target contest, which consists in throwing the ball at a target (traditionally representing a kangaroo 20 meters away). The distance to the target however depends on the age of the players. A round of 20 attempts is allowed and the ball must fully hit the target to count. The winner is the player that hits the most targets.
Boogalah
The boogalah is another game that was played by the Juwalarai group of New South Wales. The boogalah is another type of throwing and catching game. When the indigenous kids played it, they used a ball that was made from a sewn-up kangaroo skin. Then, the ball is thrown in the air and whoever catches the ball goes with all of their totem group into the group in the middle with the others are circling around. The ball is thrown into the air until one of the circle outside catches it. Then both groups change positions. The totem keeping the boogalah in play wins.
Bubberah
The game Bubberah means “come back”. The game is played using a boomerang. Each player will have the chance to throw their respective boomerang. Once they have thrown the boomerang they can’t leave their spot. The boomerang that returns closest to the thrower is the winner. Catching the boomerang is even better but you can’t move out of your spot to catch the boomerang. To catch the boomerang, it’s best done between flat hands. An injury to the fingers may happen if the player is caught with only one hand.
Buroinjin
To play the game, you would need cones or any object to mark out the area and a ball, the ball traditional made from kangaroo skin stuffed with grass but any ball will do. This type of ball game is played by the Kabi-kabi people of Southern Queensland. The game observers used to mark their cheers by calling out ‘Ei, ei!” This game is a running and ball passing game. Much like basketball or football, the goal is for one player to run with the buroinjin or the ball and fully cross over the score line at the other end of the field to score a touchdown. The game is started or resumed after a goal with a pass by a team from behind their own score line. The player scores a point if they are able to run over the score line with the buroinjin, without being touched by an opponent.
Goomboobooddoo
This game is a great Boorah-time entertainment. This game is a traditional wrestling played by family clan against another family clan. Before they start the wrestling match, players’ bodies are greased to make them more slippery. One player will go into a ring and plant a painted stick with a bunch of feathers at the top. The other player will run in the ring and try to make off with the stick. The first player will grapple him and the wrestling match begins. Into the ring, others will join in to for their wrestling turn. The side that finally throws the most men wins.
Gorri, Wungoolay
This traditional game is also called “bowl-ball” and was a common game played by people from Western Australia and Victoria. The goal of the game is to hit the moving object using a ball or spear from a distance. Successful players who hit the moving target will help score points for their team. Efficiency and speed in throwing the spear were quickly learned from the game. The game aims to refer to the hunting activities that indigenous people have done at that time.
Gurril Boodthul
This Aboriginal game requires players to throw boodthuls towards a bush. Boodthuls or toy waddies are the miniature version of the typical indigenous war club. The goal is to have the boodthuls to graze the top of the bush. Grazing the boodthuls allow the clubs to accelerate, helping it to reach further, even beyond the bush. The player whose boodthul or toy waddy that had the farthest reach is declared the winner.
Kai
The game originates from the Torres Strait group. The goal of the game to try to keep the ball up in the air by allowing each player to take turns in hitting the ball with the palm of either hand. Standing in a circle, players hit the ball while singing the “kai wed’ song. They ball used in this Indigenous game is a thick, oval, deep red fruit of the kai tree. It’s usually dried and is used to play this aboriginal game.
Kalq
Played by the Aboriginal groups on Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland, the name’s origin is from the Yir-Yoront people of north Queensland. Indigenous people used to play the game using “woomera” and “kalq.” However, in today’s time, the game can be played using a bat or a racquet. The aim is to continuously hit a ball in the air without hitting the ground.
Kee’an was a game throwing skill played in the areas of north Queensland. The name “kee’an” is derived from the Wik-Mungkan language which means “to play.” An emu shinbone or any other large animal bone with a twine tied to it is needed to play the game.. Good skills are a definite requirement as well to be successful in this activity as the goal of throwing the bone in the pit without touching the net is a great feat to the players.
Keentan
This is an energy-torching game as the game requires a lot of running, passing and catching team keep-away game, keentan was played everywhere by both genders in the northwest central districts of Queensland. The action of the players jumping up to catch the ball resembled the movements of a kangaroo. Hence, it was described as the ‘kangaroo play’ by the Kalkadoon people. The ball used by the indigenous people was made from possum, wallaby or kangaroo skin hide tied up with twine. Because of the game’s movements, it is sometimes used as a skill or warm up activity in today’s sports like netball, basketball, Australian rules football, rugby league and rugby union.
Kolap
Kolap is an activity focused on the throwing accuracy of the player. This object-throwing game was played by the Aboriginals of Mer Island in the Torres Strait region during the nineteenth century. The goal of the game is to throw towards a set target on the ground.
Kokan
Played in many areas of the Torres Strait, this game is very much performed like the game hockey. Kokan, which was carried on Mabuiag Island, is the name of the ball used to perform the activity. The goal of the game is to move the ball towards the goal on the opponent’s side. This Aboriginal game is played by hitting the kokan with a baiwan or dabi (a rough bat or club). Played by both genders, the players are allowed two touch of the kokan -- to pass and shoot for the goal.
Koolche
Koolche is a mini-game or skill activity that requires ball-throwing and hitting. This traditional activity was played by the Diyari people from Lake Eyre in South Australia. It is usually played in pairs in an open space and rebound ball.
Marngrook, Marn Grook, Marn-Grook
The game is played like the Australian rule football. Played by the Aboriginal groups in Victoria, men and boys of the group would happily assemble and try to go for the ball. The ball used in this game, originally, was made of the tightly packed and twisted hair of possum. The activity is started by giving possession of the ball to the tallest player or highest jumper among the group. Though it may seem a never ending game, players usually endure the activity as an exercise.
Mer Kai
Mer is one of the islands in Torres Strait, while kai is an aboriginal fruit usually used in playing. It is a hand-hitting game, like volleyball. And like the sport, the object if the game is to keep the ball in the air for as long as they can. Overall execution of the players’ skill, teamwork, and movement are judged. Dropping the ball is also ‘penalised’.
Muhanganing
Many children of Arnhem Land in northern Australia have played this running race. It is primarily performed as an evening past time for the children where it is usually accompanied by flickering lights from a campsite.
Parndo
The “Parndo “ is known as an Aboriginal traditional ball game which is primarily played in South Australia near the Kaurna Nation. It is consist of a ball made from the opossum skin. The game’s nature consists primarily of kicking and passing game. This ball is flat shaped and is approximately the same to the size of a tennis ball.
Background
Teams of 12 players on a soccer or rugby field and 15 players on an Australian football field
A rugby, soccer or Australian football field
A soccer ball, rugby ball or Australian football
No shepherding/obstructing opposing players is allowed at any time.
• Players are only allowed to kick the ball if they have received it from a pass/handball.
• The game may be played with teams going to either goal if they gain possession.
Refer to the rules of Australian football for the basics of the game.
Puloga
“Dodgeball” is a common game which is played not just in Australia but also in the various countries in the world. The game Puloga is played just like the game, dodgeball. This game is commonly played in the Tully River Regions of North Queensland and Cardwell.
Purlja
Over the years, the Purlja is played by a lot of Warlpiri Aboriginal people. The game is associated with football due to the game’s similarities. It is also believed that Purlja was primarily played in the north-west of Alice Springs for thousands of years.
Taktyerrain
The game is associated with a mock combat game such as “poison ball” and “brandy.” Taktyerrain is open for boys and girls who want to join the game. In the match, the throwing sticks are required where at times toy spears are used as an alternative. This is made from grasses, reeds and other primary materials.
Tarnambai
On Bathurst Island the children collected the seed heads of the spring rolling grass (Spinifex hirsutis) growing on the sandhills near the coast. They took the seed heads to the beach and tossed them into the air where they were blown along by the wind. After a start, the children chased the seed heads and tried to pick them up while running at full speed.
In many Aboriginal settlements in remote parts of Australia the children commonly played games with ‘rollers’. These could be toy trucks made from wheel rims or large tins filled with damp mud. The rollers are pushed or pulled with handles made of wire. Sometimes groups of children with rollers have races.
This traditional game is widely known in the Western Australia where it is only played by the girls only. The game swirls to the challenge of defending the young children through applying strategic planning for the team. A short stick is usually placed on the ground to represent a baby. Since the game focuses on that stick, these can be used to protect her digging stick. In response to the request for food, the mother tried to fend them off using her digging stick.
The young noongar (or nyungar) girls in the southwest of Western Australia had many games they played just among themselves because after a certain age they were not permitted to play with the boys of the camp. In one of their games a short piece of stick was placed on the ground to represent a nhoba (baby). Each girl had to defend her child from the wanas (digging sticks) of the other girls — all of whom pretended to try and kill the nhoba (baby). Wanas were thrown from all sides at the young ‘mother’, all of which she tried to fend off with her own stick. The mother held her wana between her thumb and forefinger, putting it over her head, behind her back, against her side, in whatever direction the missiles came, thus learning to defend her young ones. In real adult fights women sometimes stood beside their husbands and warded off the kidjas (spears) of their enemies. Click here for how to play
Weme
Players alternated turns with each aiming at the other’s stone.
The first player or team to reach 11 points is the winner.
Play continues until the game is decided.
Whagoo
We all love a game of hide and go seek, let's Change the name of it to Whagoo, Its much cooler. This game has been equivalent to the famous hide and seek
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Wimberoo
The Wimberoo is a fireside game where the winner possesses the leafs which have traveled highest. This game was played over a camp fire. A dry Coolabah leaf was warmed until it started to bend. This was then placed into the hot current of air above the fire. The winner was the person who owned the leaf that travelled the highest.
Woggabaliri
This is a traditional game of football game where the ball is greatly known for having a possum fur predominately played by Aboriginal groups in NSW. The ball is made of possum fur. It is played in a group of four to eight players in circle. It is a cooperative kicking game to see for how long the ball can be kept in the air before it touches the ground.
Wulijini’
Two players in single games or teams of 2–3 players
A small inflated ball or a covered sponge ball as the zamia seed
One or two players in each team
The game is named wulijini after the Tiwi language (Bathurst Island) word for ‘play’.
Yahweerh
The game is known as a trial fight. It revolves on the challenge of defending himself from the bark toy boomerangs. Each player is more likely to own their bark shield.
Yiri
This game is recorded for being played by the men of Ulladulla in New South Wales. The Yiri is believed as a traditional game or the game of accuracy. However, in the modern versions, the competitors developed the game where people throws tennis balls at a moving tyre. Also, there is another game conceptualisation where pieces of bark or woods are placed in a running river where the aim is to spear the moving target to win the match.
