Here are some words to learn about sports
Pegnegéwen Lacrosse
Bagshanak Lacrosse
Bagadowé Lacrosse
Épeskewéywen Woman's Ball Game
Zetbkwakwet Football
Nejbkwakwet Handball
Gokbenabkwakwet Basketball
Aizhobkwakwet Volleyball
Wizhgebkwakwet Hardball
Wéwébshedi Wrestling
Gwejiwazwen Wrestling
Gwegigndeget Weightlifting
Gwejiwazet Wrestler
Zhoshkjigenatek Ski
Zhowasksé Sled
Ponok Winter
Mnokmek Spring
Nibnek Summer
Dgwagék Fall
Bkwakwet Ball
Agmek Snowshoes
Waka'eken Fence
Ktekiwkan Field
Wishges Physical Strength
Kénbeset Fast (he/she is)
Bnoch Far
Bagshegwan Stick
Sebabgéwen Net
Gabenagéwen Score
Gédaséwen Point
Gédaséwnen Points
Nawi Center
Wéjem Right
Mnénijen Right Hand
Poji Left
Pojnijen Left Hand
Shote

Here

Ézhi Over there
Zhi There
Gigabé Boy
Gigyago Girl
These instructions are to be given to one person.
Chase him/her Jewéshko o
Chase them Jewéshko géwinwa
Go after him/her Nadwa o
Go after them Nadwa géwinwa
Fast! Gzhe'kén
Hurry Yabjiyen
Go there fast Kew zhyan
Come here fast Kew byan
Throw it Pegnon i
Throw it now Pegnon i ode she pi
Pass it to me Byénmeshen i
Pass it Byénen i
Run Bmepton
Run fast Kyénep bmepton
Block him/her Gbashkwa o
Block it Gbashkwan i
Block them Gbashkwa géwinwa
Stop him/her Késhkwa o
Stop them Késhkwa géwinwa
Go get him/her Nadwa o
Go get them Nadwa géwinwa
Move forward Majin nigan
Move back Néyap majin
Stop Negi
Watch him/her Kewabma o
Watch them Kewabmak géwinwa
Watch out! Nasana!
Way to go! Wéwéne!
Good one! Wenet i!
Easy does it Égach shna
That's it Iw shna
   
These commands are to be given to more than one person:
Hurry up Yabjiyék
Fast! Gzhe'kék
Go there fast Kew zhyak
Come here fast Kew byak
Run Bmeptok
Run fast Kyénep bmeptok
Move forward Majik nigan
Move back Néyap majik
Watch out! Nasana!
Way to go! Wéwéne!
Good one! Wenet i!
Let's huddle Ge mawjeshmowmen
Let's play Ge chikasmen
Let's have fun Ge watomen
These are verbs and phrases that you can learn
Gabenagét He/she scores
Gi gabenagé o He scored
Pkenagé He/she wins
Ngi pkenagé I won
Ngi pkenagémen We won (not you)
Ggi pkenagémen We won (all of us)
Ébagdowéwat They are hitting the ball around (can refer to lacrosse, baseball, or any other sport)
Bkwakdeké To Play with a Ball
Nwi bkwakdeké I will play ball
Ke bkwakdekémen! Let's play ball!
Bkwakdekék! Play Ball! (command form, plural)
Ngi bkwakdeké I played ball
Ngi bkwakdekémen We played ball (not you)
Kénbeset He/she is fast
Wato To have fun
Ngi wato I had fun
Nde wato I'm having fun
Nwi wato I will have fun
Ke watomen Let's have fun!
Gwi watomen We're going to have fun!
Ggi watomen We had fun!
Cho ngi watosimen No, we didn't have fun (not you).
Nde chikas I'm playing
Nwi chikas I will play
Gwi chikas ne? Will you play? / Do you want to play?
Gwi chikasom ne? Will you all play?
Ke chikazmen! Let's play!
Chikazo ne? Is he/she playing?
Wi chikazo ne? Will he/she play? / Does he/she want to play?
Cho ngi chikazsimen ngom. We didn't play today. (not you)
Ndemkemges I'm playing
Dnekmegzik They are playing
Neko ngi dnekmeges I used to play
Gwi dnekmeges ne? Do you want to play? / Will you play?

Printable Activities - Click to open in Adobe Reader and print out.

 

Potawatomi women play Épeskewéywen, Kansas circa 1939

*Used with permission from the Denver Public Library Western History and Geneology Department, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, may not be used or reproduced without their permission.