The Beaver Tooth Game (1996)

Anybody studying the history of the American Indians? For an innovative addition to your curriculum, you might try Beaver Tooth, a game played for centuries by the "First People of the Pacific Northwest." The game includes a woven basket, four carved beaver teeth (dice), and a bundle of "counting bones." (In the original game, the beaver teeth were real teeth and the counting bones, bird bones; in the modern version, both are reproductions, made from bone-colored polymer.) The game is simple, fast-paced, and fun: depending on the fall of the carved teeth, players win counting bones; the player with the most bones at the end of the game wins. An accompanying color-illustrated booklet (Beaver Tooth: An Authentic Game from the First People of the Pacific Northwest by David G. Gordon & Mike Kowalski) contains a native legend about the origin of the beaver, historical background information about the Indian tribes of the Pacific Northwest, a list of related reading suggestions, and a history of the Beaver Tooth game. For two or more players, aged 6 and up. $19.95; from the Skookum Jump Rope Co., Box 1159, Port Townsend, WA 98368; (800) 255-9526; fax (360) 379-9049. Authentic good fun. Partial proceeds help support the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation.