This school year Maȟpíya Lúta High School is proud to celebrate the 2024–2025 Teca Wačhípi Okȟólakíčhiye High School Hand Games Champions, this year and freshman Suraya Kelly is a big reason why the team came out on top.
For Suraya, this championship season was personal. “It means a lot to me because I didn’t know anyone on the team at the beginning of the year,” she shared. “I was very nervous, but it was great to be welcomed by the older students. They accepted me, and we all had great chemistry together.”
Despite being new to high school, Suraya brought years of experience to the team. She’s been playing hand games since she was four years old, learning from her parents and playing across the region. “My parents traveled to other places and we play a lot to this day,” she said. “Handgames is everywhere, so we met a lot of people and I think that has helped me build up my confidence as a player.”
That lifelong connection to the game and to Lakota culture runs deep. “I love singing the most,” Suraya explained. “My dad taught me a lot of songs, and I’ve learned a lot from our travels. Hand Games is a part of who we are as Lakota people. It’s one of the oldest games that Iktomi brought to us. Each of those 16 sticks represents a spirit from the creation story. It’s really cool to carry that knowledge on today and share that.”
Maȟpíya Lúta’s team also finished as the runner-up at the 2024 Lakota Nation Invitational, and Suraya said their success came from unity and tradition. “We played together during school, and that helped us learn each other’s style. Singing helped us win. I grew up singing with my family, so as a new team member, I was able to teach my team new songs.”
From being the new face on the team to becoming a championship contributor, Suraya Kelly is not only carrying on a powerful family tradition she’s also helping lead a new generation of Lakota youth in keeping this game, and its meaning, alive.
Congratulations to Suraya and the entire Maȟpíya Lúta Hand Games team, Teca Wačhípi Okȟólakíčhiye Champions!