There’s more to lacrosse than winning the Minto Cup

FERGUS – Indigenous boys are not born with a lacrosse stick in their hands.

But they aren’t very old before one is placed there. Throughout their childhoods, they learn the history, the lore and the importance of the game in their culture.

It all goes back to the Sky Woman, who fell from the sky and grabbed important medicines and seeds before she landed on earth, explained Kevin Sandy, coach of the Haudenosaunee Lacrosse Program and CEO/director of Cayuga Nation Wolf Clan.

“It’s because of her we have lacrosse,” he explained to an audience of some 50 adults and children at the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex on Feb. 16.

Sandy and Scott Martin, Mohawk members of Six Nations who came up through Brantford minor lacrosse, were invited by Centre Wellington Minor Lacrosse and Centre Wellington Township to speak about “the Creator’s Game,” the first in an educational series called Two Rows Together.

The series is intended to inform, reflect and build respectful relationships and informed decision-making with Indigenous communities.

Sandy talked about The Twins, the characters at the centre of the game.

One twin was left-handed, the other right-handed. One ruled the day, the other ruled the night, but each respected the gifts of the other.

“They were given this game to play,” Sandy said, emphasizing that the number one rule of lacrosse is that you can’t touch the ball with your hands.

Their game was to determine who would rule the world. 

Eventually other animals joined the game – land animals and winged animals.

Some small animals, like mice and squirrels, were transformed by the game, growing wings to become bats and flying squirrels and scoring goals for their team.

“They would play for days on end, from sun-up to sundown,” Sandy said, telling the ancient story.

“Eventually the right-handed twin was the victor.”

The moral of this story is that everyone has gifts they bring to the game and everyone is worthy of respect.

“The moral is never give up,” Sandy said. “It doesn’t matter how small or big you are, you still have a beautiful gift. 

“And with that gift comes responsibility: the responsibility to respect one another.”

Martin said original lacrosse sticks were made of hickory, and when a boy gets one, it is part of him.

“The stick-maker puts his medicine into it as it is passed on,” he said.

“That stick is your spirit. It is supposed to go with you.”

According to tradition, women aren’t allowed to play lacrosse or even to touch a lacrosse stick.

Lacrosse is about men finding the balance and the magic that women naturally possess because they can bear children.

That’s the traditional thought, although some nations today allow women and girls to play.

So the game is about finding balance in your life, about respecting your own gifts and the gifts of others.

Even though the game and the materials used to make the equipment have changed, at its core, “we don’t look to hurt,” Martin said.

“Always put a good mind to everything you do,” Sandy added.

The duo brought a variety of old lacrosse sticks that were passed around so the audience could closely examine their size and weight and how they have changed over time.

They also taught an early iteration of the game called ‘push-pull,’ that uses a plain stick and three balls attached together by string.

One person pushes the balls, the other catches them using the same motions and techniques as in real lacrosse.

The talk was prompted by  a new policy recently passed by council around using Indigenous-themed names and logos by non-Indigenous teams.

In short, they are not allowed in township-owned buildings unless there is some sort of contextual display.

Because of the new policy, the Elora Hawks, formerly the Elora Mohawks, can hang their historic banners at the Elora Arena again.

Kristen Bettiol, manager of community development for the township, said that will happen just prior to lacrosse spring season start.

Following the talk, Martin said he feels good about the changes municipalities are making on this issue.

“All we can do is help with awareness,” he said, adding there will be other talks on other subjects in the future but lacrosse is his expertise.

“More understanding of why we play the sport is a big factor, and so is respecting the sport.

“When we grow, we grow better.”

Nathan Joyes, on the executive of CW minor lacrosse, thanked the two for explaining their knowledge of the game. 

“We have a responsibility to share and to grow,” he said.

“This has been an incredible honour.”