Save the Date: Saturday, October 15, 2022, Stickball Conference, Atlanta - Georgia

“For the first time in over 200 years, Indigenous Stickball will be played by native nations on traditional Muscogee Land in the heart of Atlanta. Organized by Chickasaw and Choctaw member, Addison Karl, in collaboration with Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. and Emory University, the Southeast Woodlands Stickball Summit will showcase the history and future of the game to the public.”

Stickball is one of the oldest sports in North America, historically played by multiple Indigenous Nations. Both men and women enjoyed the game for sportsmanship, mental health, medicine, and even political resolution. Gameplay and stickball sticks have been handed down from generation to generation, and the game continues to be played by native nations around the country.

The celebratory event will welcome four Native American delegations from Oklahoma, Mississippi, and North Carolina. Following an opening ceremony by the Muscogee Nation, players from The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the Chickasaw Nation, and the Mississippi Choctaw Nations will present three live exhibition games in the Historic Fourth Ward Activity Field.

Spectators will discover the history of the game through play and learn about its evolution through the different styles: Cherokee, Choctaw, and Chickasaw.

In conjunction with the afternoon of Stickball games, Emory University will host a panel discussion with delegation representatives.

Saturday, October 15, 2022:

Historic Fourth Ward Activity Park

10:30 AM: OPENING CEREMONY

Dr. Monte Randall (Muscogee Nation)

10:45 AM- 3:00 PM: PLAY BALL

Follow the history of the game through play and learn about the evolution of the game through the different styles: Cherokee, Choctaw, and Chickasaw.

The Carlos Museum at Emory University

7:00 PM: PANEL DISCUSSION

The Southeast Woodlands Stickball Summit will conclude with an evening panel discussion about the history and future of stickball. This is an in-person event at the Carlos Museum- Ackerman Hall (571 South Kilgo Cir NE, Atlanta, GA 30322) and can be attended virtually through Zoom. Register to attend this panel discussion virtually.

Dr. Natalie M. Welch, Ph.D. (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians), Sport Management Professor
Addison Karl (Chicasaw/Choctaw), artist, creator of the Itti’ Kapochcha To’li’ sculpture currently on display on the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail
Casey Bigpond (Choctaw), artist, singer, traditionalist and lifelong ball player
Ace Greenwood (Chickasaw/Cherokee), coach, teacher, and player
Tosh Welch (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians), educator and player
Dr. Monte Randall (Muscogee Nation), President at the College of the Muscogee Nation

Panelists:

NATALIE M. WELCH

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians

Natalie M. Welch is an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and grew up on the Qualla Boundary in Cherokee, North Carolina. Natalie is currently an assistant professor of Sport Management in the School of Business at Seattle University, teaching Marketing and working with the Sport and Entertainment Management MBA graduate program. She is a two-time alumnus (BS and PhD) of the University of Tennessee and the University of Central Florida (MBA) and has professional experience working at Nike N7 and Wieden+Kennedy. Natalie is passionate about advocating for Indigenous athletes and equity across all sports.

ADDISON KARL

Chickasaw/Choctaw

Addison Karl (b. 1982) is a visual artist, who was born in Denver and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. Contemporary self-taught artist, Addison’s work is created in the United States and Internationally. Throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. His work includes paintings, sculptures, installations, and public art, including large-scale murals.

He builds from an early background in printmaking, held in a private studio for more than 15 years. Addison’s ongoing determination to keep learning about both traditional Chickasaw and Choctaw methods of creating, as well as contemporary painting and sculpture techniques. Through his work, he creates a visual narrative that responds to his heritage and being a Culture Bearer.

He is the recipient of multiple awards for sculpture, including 2021 Southeastern Art Show and Market Chickasaw Nation 3rd Place Sculpture, 2021 Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market 1st & 2nd Place Bronze, 2020 Tony Stones Award Commended from the Society of Portrait Sculptors, 2019 Southeastern Art Show, and Market Chickasaw Nation 3rd Place Bronze. Addison is also the awardee of the 2019 Artists in Business Leadership Fellowship Grant – First Peoples Fund and 2022 Artist Residency Program at Amazon Headquarters in Seattle.

Casey Bigpond

Mississippi Band of Choctaw

Casey Bigpond is a member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. He is Half Choctaw/Half Creek. Raised on the Pearl River Reservation in Choctaw, Mississippi. At an early age, his interest in tribal traditions led him to take up the Choctaw cultural arts.
Casey is now a young traditionalist, one of the few young artisans who are becoming the tradition-bearers of the Choctaw people. A skilled craftsman, Casey’s work includes making the “Kabocha” and “Towa” — the sticks and ball used in the ancient Choctaw game of Stickball; crafting blow guns and rabbit sticks – traditional hunting weaponry; and creating beaded medallions.

Mr. Bigpond is an accomplished singer and chanter for many Choctaw Social Dance Groups, and a Pow Wow Singer with the group, Medicine Tail Singers, which takes him regularly to various events across the globe. From the World Series of Stickball, Mr. Bigpond holds numerous World Series titles: (3) with Bok Cito team and (1) Pearl River team, (7) from the Tushkahoma Series in Oklahoma, and several All-Star team selections. He had the distinct honor of ambassador representing the United States of America, the State of Mississippi, and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and traveled to Europe to perform at the International Council of Organizations of Folklore and Folk Arts Festival in Confolens, France with the Choctaw Dance Troupe. and to market his arts and crafts.

Presently, Casey is employed with the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and works as a Cultural Revitalization Specialist for the Department of Chahta Immi for almost a decade, learning, growing, and sharing his cultural knowledge with tribal members who want to learn and carry on the knowledge to the next generation of cultural bearers.

Ace Greenwood

Chickasaw/Cherokee

Ace Greenwood (Chickasaw/ Cherokee) was raised in a traditional home where he was exposed to the Southeastern way of life. he began playing the social game when he was only a child, then the ceremonial game of stickball in his teen years, and was introduced to the tournament style within the last decade. he has stepped on the field of most Southeastern tribe’s games and has a love for all of the styles. Ace currently coaches and teaches the game to many different groups, ages, and nationalities through camps, presentations, and demonstrations. “There are many things that we as human beings can learn from a simple game. we can’t afford to let it go away.”

TOSH C. WELCH

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians

My name is Tosh C. Welch. I have worked for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians for 15yrs across the areas of Higher Education, Recreation. I currently work for the EBCI in the Emergency Operations Communications Center. I possess a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and a Master of Public Affairs from Western Carolina University as well as being an Alumni of the Native Leadership Institute at The University of North Carolina @ Chapel Hill. I earned my Ed.S. from The University of Georgia in Adult Learning; Higher Education Emphasis.

I have played Cherokee Indian Ball since the age of 7, with my beginnings playing for the Wolftown Boys Team. Upon living away from the Qualla Boundary for 12yrs, I returned home and worked for the Tribe. I was one of the founding members of the Walelu (Hummingbird) Indian Ball Team in 2010. I am currently the Team Chairman, serving in that elected capacity for a 7yr term. I currently reside in the Wolftown Community. I am a member of the Wolf Clan (AniWaya) and am also a member of the Oganvyi Gatiyo (Groundhog Place) Stomp Grounds at Kituwah Town.

Dr. Monte Randall

Muscogee Nation

Dr. Monte Randall is Muscogee (Creek) from the Talladega Tribal Town and Deer Clan. He is a veteran of the United States Navy and the Oklahoma Army National Guard. Monte is a graduate of Haskell Indian Nations University, the University of Oklahoma, and Oral Roberts University, where he received a doctorate in educational leadership. He resides in Glenpool, OK, with his wife Lauren and three children.

Dr. Randall’s research interest focuses on Native American culture, problem-solving abilities, and leadership. His dissertation correlated the significance of cultural teaching and learning in overcoming the impacts of the historical trauma on Native American students. Dr. Randall is the fifth President at the College of the Muscogee Nation (CMN). He has worked extensively at CMN as the Dean of Academic Affairs, Dean of Student Affairs, Tribal Services Instructor, and Research Specialist. While at CMN, Dr. Randall developed the federal financial aid policies, Office of Student Affairs, and academic assessment plan, and contributed to CMN’s accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission.

Dr. Monte Randall is an Aspen Institute and Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fellow, and contributor to the Tribal College Journal. He volunteers as a community leader with Glenpool Public Schools, Okmulgee Chamber of Commerce, and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Dr. Randall regularly presents topics relating to Native American education, culture, and leadership within the community.