Xikunahati is a ball sport created by the indigenous Paresi-Haliti people of Brazil. The Paresi-Haliti is part of the Arawak-speaking people of Brazil. They primarily reside in Matto Grasso, which means "thick vegetation" or "great woods." Like many indigenous peoples who encountered European colonizers, lands were taken, and the people were exploited. Around the 1700s, Portuguese colonizers enslaved many Paresi- Haliti to work in the mines looking for gold, and many others were forcibly removed from their lands because they lived among rubber-rich resource areas. Like Aboriginal children in Australia, many were taken to be made "civilized," which was meant to suppress the language and culture. Today, some Paresi-Haliti people are working hard to keep their culture and language alive. One of the ways they do this is by playing the game Xikunahati, one of the featured games of the Indigenous Games. The 12th Indigenous Games was held in the capital of Matto Grasso, where the game took center stage. The games featured many ethnic Brazilian groups and dozens of other indigenous peoples from the Americas. Xikunahati enjoys popularity with neighboring indigenous people of the Paresi-Haliti, who see this game as a symbol of Arawak culture.

The sport's origins descend (pun intended) from their sky god, Wazare. During a great feast, he explained to the ancestors of the Paresi-Haliti that the head was the most essential part of the body. The brain controls the body, and the head protects this vital organ. Therefore, they would create a sport to signify the head's importance with a game that only allows the use of the head. The game is typically played on sand, which makes it easier to dive head-first when striking the ball. The game is like a netless tennis or volleyball game where each team strikes the ball (made of tree sap) over a central division line. A team earns a point when the ball cannot be returned or a player touches the ball with something other than the head.

When Europeans first witnessed this game, they noticed its importance outside its celebratory and religious connotations. The Aztecs and Mayans used the Mesoamerican ball game to settle disputes. Xikunahati served a similar purpose for the Paresi-Haliti. However, there is no account of any sacrificing of players like the Aztecs and Mayans may have done. The game prevented violence and bloodshed over land usage or even marital betrothment if there was more than one suitor.

Modern Brazil's favorite sport is fútbol. Besides primarily using the feet to move the ball, the second most popular skill utilized in fútbol is using the head. It would be interesting if fútbol owes some of its popularity in Brazil to this shared skill set with Xikunahati. Even if this is not the case, Xikunahati has quickly become an essential symbol of the indigenous people of Brazil. Your students will absolutely love the dynamic, fast-paced game that utilizes a diving headbutt movement as the primary play mode!

Materials: 

·      A large play area (gym or outside)

o   If played outside, you will need cones or rubber disc dots to mark the boundaries of the playing area and the midline.

·      At least one big yoga ball

o   To make the game more challenging, use a bouncy kickball instead.

Minimum Amount of Students: This game could be played with as few as two students! However, the perfect number is closer to sixteen, and many more could work well.

Age: All ages