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Steven ever since man invented weapons or sharp tools some one always had to throw one at something.
Perhaps it was because thrown rocks were the first missiles?
And the ndn was no different than anyone else.
The ndn was/is very much a games player and a gambler which is why I am probably scared to gamble much and also the reason I always tried to walk away or talk my way out of a fight. I found out early in life that I liked that feeling of winning or leaving the other guy on the ground bleeding and it scared
me.
There were always contests and war games where 'Hawks and knives were thrown at targets and many times at moving targets, same with bows and arrows and lances.
(Many of these skills were learned very young by the games the male children played.)
They generally weren't thrown in actual warfare, but could be thrown to take out a sentry if needed as the ones designated for such tasks were very highly skilled, however that would have been a rare occourance as sentries were usually just slipped up on and taken out as quietly as possible much like today.
Only warriors carried 'Hawks, but you have to realize that anyone 14, and sometimes as young as 12, or older and male was a warrior and considered a man.
The men could and sometimes did use their "Hawks as tools when cutting wood for Bows, Arrows and lance shafts.
However most weapons were venerated and considered to have special powers and or spirits and any work would have been considered beneath their use. These venerated weapons of all sorts were usually highly decorated with brass tacks, beads, paint and feathers or the like.
And then yet again even sounding contradictory a bow or lance shaft made by one of these venerated weapons would be considered to have some of the power of the "hawk or knife used to make it and would be especially powerful. And when things like this were done it was under ceremony conditions and considered Sacred.
Women were not allowed to touch a man's weapons and many other personal things like a Pipe for example at any time.
Women on their moon time were Especially strictly taboo and usually isolated in a seperate hut during that time. And also women on their moon time if they should even step on a mans shadow it was considered to be very bad "medicine" and the man would have to undergo some powerful ceremony to rid himself of the bad medicine. And the woman who did such a thing was usually beaten badly at the very least, such was the power of women considered at that time! There's more about this, but will cut short for brevity.
However when the Yonegi's (Whiteman's) steel tools became available they were traded for to make life easier. Many women had their own hand axes which were in essence the same as many of the "Hawks having a single edge and a poll on the backside, much like the modern hatchet. And if needed the women could and would use them as fierce or more so than the men. The enemy captured by the Cherokee were delievered to the women and the Gods help any man that showed weakness or fear as they would suffer the utmost pain imaginable and yet if they showed no pain or concern they were usually set free. Those not as strong were killed very slowly. That's why most men would rather die in battle than be captured.
Od course even a simple tool like my Elk handled hide scraper with its very sharp blade would make a very formidable weapon, you can use your imagination of what the women would do to a captured enemy with one.
Probably more info than you wanted to know.
Does that answer your questions okay?
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