Respect. Honor. Peace. Unity.
Lacrosse was a gift to us from the creator and it's our gift to the world. It's very important to our culture, it's part of our ceremony, it's part of our medicine, it's fundamental to who we are. It's a way of expressing friendship, healing and peace. This is what we share with the world.
Origins of Lacrosse
Lacrosse originated in what is present-day North America with Indigenous communities, including the Haudenosaunee. Some believe the sport dates back thousands of years, while others say it emerged around the 1100s. The game held significance to the Indigenous people, who believed that it was a gift from the Creator and even viewed it as a medicine game with healing abilities.
Early versions of the game were played with different equipment - wooden sticks, animal bladders, and carved stones. Games involved upwards of 100 players and were typically played on open fields up to several miles in length. The game was a spectacle to behold, steeped in spiritual significance.
Haudenosaunee Nationals
The Haudenosaunee Nationals represent the Native American community in World Lacrosse events. The men's field team is currently ranked third in the world by World Lacrosse after winning the bronze medal at the 2018 World Lacrosse Championship. The men's team took part in its first international competition in 1990 at the World Lacrosse Championship in Australia, finishing fifth out of five teams.
The women's program became a full member of World Lacrosse in 2008, and played in its first World Cup tournament in 2009 in the Czech Republic. Their highest finish was 7th place at the 2013 championship yournament in Canada.
In men's box lacrosse, the Haudenosaunee Nationals have finished as the silver medalist at every World Lacrosse championship held since 2003.
The Haudenosaunee Nationals lacrosse teams next big ambition? Competing in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.