Bag of Bones is played with a caribou skin bag, small, polished caribou vertebrae (or other bones) and a thick string. Each bone shape represents a particular family member: the grandmother, father, dog, child, etc. Contestants take turns trying to lasso bones from the bag. Each makes a loop in the string and lowers it into the opening at the top of the bag. Then the player closes the bag with one hand (leaving one end of the string sticking out of the bag) and shakes up the bones. With one hand still holding the bag closed, the player slowly pulls the end of the string that is sticking out of the bag. If you pull a bone out, you get to go again. The player who gets a complete family first wins. (In another version, students pretend they are fishing and the bones represent different sizes of fish.)

Right: Shaking up the bag.      Far right: Better luck next time!

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