Atlanta Beltline Welcomes Native Nations for Return of Southeast Woodlands Stickball Summit

For just the second time in more than 200 years, Indigenous Stickball will be played by Native Nations on traditional Muscogee Land in the heart of Atlanta. Organized by Emory University’s Center for Native & Indigenous Studies, in collaboration with Atlanta Beltline Art, the Southeast Woodlands Stickball Summit will showcase the history, legacy and future of the game to the public. The games will be played on the Beltline’s Shirley Clarke Franklin Park (formerly Westside Reservoir Park). The Summit is free and open to the public. 

“The summit provides a unique opportunity for tribal representatives and teams, community leaders, and supporters to come together, share their rich cultural heritage, and engage in the traditional sport of stickball,” said Beth Michel, Sr. Associate Director for the Center for Native and Indigenous Studies at Emory University.  “Beyond the field, the event serves as a platform for discussions on cultural preservation, community development, and the celebration of the Southeast Woodland Nations’ diverse traditions."

WHO: Atlanta Beltline Art and Emory University’s Center for Native & Indigenous Studies

• Participating: Native American delegations from the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Mississippi Band of Choctaw Nation, and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBIC).

WHAT: Southeast Woodlands Stickball Summit 

WHEN: Saturday, May 10, 2025 - 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. 

• 10:00-11:00 a.m.: Game One

• 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Game Two

• 12:00-1:30 p.m.: Break for Lunch

• 1:30-2:30 p.m.: Game Three

• 2:30-3:00 p.m.: Closing Ceremony

WHERE: Shirley Clarke Franklin Park (formerly Westside Reservoir Park) 

• 1660 Johnson Road, NW, Entrance 1, Atlanta, 30318

SUMMIT OVERVIEW: 

• 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.

• Summit was conceptualized in 2021 by Atlanta Beltline Art and visual artist Addison Karl, a member of the Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations. 

• The inaugural Summit was presented in 2022, marking the first time stickball had been played in Atlanta in 200 years. The May 2025 summit will build on that success, once again blending sport, culture, and education. 

• The Summit will showcase traditional, indigenous stickball games with played exhibitions. The Summit organizers hope to foster collaboration, cultural exchange, and the preservation of traditional sports among our Native American communities. 

• Beyond the field, the event serves as a platform for discussions on cultural preservation, community development, and the celebration of the Southeast Woodland Nations’ diverse traditions.

• “The Atlanta Beltline is situated on the traditional homelands of the Muscogee Creek and Cherokee Peoples, and we’re committed to respecting and acknowledging those who stewarded this land before us." - Nonet Sykes, Atlanta Beltline’s Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer 

  • Official Beltline Land Acknowledgement: https://beltline.org/the-project/project-goals/equity-and-inclusion/land-acknowledgement/?highlight=land%20acknowledgement

SUMMIT SPOKESPEOPLE: 

• Beth Michel, Summit Organizer and Emory University’s Senior Associate Director for the Center for Native American and Indigenous Studies 

• Amina Cooper, Atlanta Beltline’s Arts & Culture Director

• Representatives from Participating Nations 

EVENT SITE: https://beltline.org/art/events/stickball-summit/ 

EVENT IMAGES: Link

EVENT VIDEO - 2022 RECAP: https://vimeo.com/775906333?share=copy

Stay abreast of Atlanta Beltline Art announcements and events at Beltline.org/art, or follow on social media @atlantabeltline and with #BeltlineArt.

The 2025 Southeast Woodlands Stickball Summit is sponsored by 285 LAX Inc., Georgia Swarm, and Southern Empire Leasing and supported by the following Atlanta Beltline Art sponsors: Delta Air Lines and Norfolk Southern at the Gold level; Kaiser Permanente and Northside Hospital at the Silver level; Ponce City Market and Cox Enterprises at the Bronze level.

This program is also supported in part by the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. Major funding for this organization is provided by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners. This program is supported in part by Georgia Council for the Arts through the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. Georgia Council for the Arts also receives support from its partner agency – the National Endowment for the Arts. This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov. 

About the Atlanta Beltline 

Atlanta Beltline, Inc.’s vision is to be the catalyst for making Atlanta a global beacon for equitable, inclusive, and sustainable city life. As one of the largest, most wide-ranging urban redevelopment programs in the United States, the Atlanta Beltline is building a more socially and economically resilient Atlanta with our partner organizations and host communities through job creation, inclusive transportation systems, affordable housing, and public spaces for all. For more information on the Atlanta Beltline, please visit www.Beltline.org.  

About Atlanta Beltline Art

Atlanta Beltline Art is the largest temporary public art exhibition in the history of Atlanta. It showcases the work of hundreds of visual artists, performers, and musicians along the Atlanta Beltline corridor. This dynamic project places working professionals alongside emerging artists, and draws residents and visitors into some of the most unique public spaces in the City of Atlanta, providing powerful new perspectives on the city and its vibrant neighborhoods. The exhibition showcases how art strengthens and beautifies current and former industrial areas and creates signature spaces exemplifying the transformation of the city through the Atlanta Beltline. Atlanta Beltline Art touches almost 20 intown communities. 

Media Contacts:
Atlanta Beltline, Inc. Office of Communications and Media Relations
100 Peachtree Street, NW, Suite 2300, Atlanta, GA 30303

Keona Swindler, Communications & Media Relations Manager
(404) 477-3550, kswindler@atlbeltline.org

Sigele Winbush, PR Consultant
(404) 862-2081, sigele@sigelewinbush.com