When was lacrosse first played by native americans

Because of the large number of players involved, these games generally tended to involve a huge mob of players swarming the ball and slowly moving across the field. Passing the ball was thought of as a trick, and it was seen as cowardly to dodge an opponent. The medicine men acted as coaches, and the women of the tribe were usually limited to serving refreshments to the players. There was also a women's version of lacrosse called amtahcha, which used much shorter sticks with larger heads.

Lacrosse traditionally had many different purposes. Some games were played to settle inter-tribal disputes. This function was essential to keeping the Six Nations of the Iroquois together. This resulted not only in greater camaraderie on the field but on-field fights as well.

The area could range from anywhere between several hundred yards to several miles, and goals could be anything from a boulder, a tree, or simply a designated area on the ground. However, in the Native American tradition, passing the ball from one player to another was seen as a trick, and dodging an opponent or their stick checks was seen as cowardly. Many tribes throughout the U. Native tribes that used sport — rather than warfare — to settle disputes exhibited an enlightened approach to problem-solving that society could definitely benefit from today.

About the Author: Grady Winston is an avid internet entrepreneur and copywriter from Indianapolis. Although women didn't participate in these games, they did have their own version called amtahcha , which had shorter sticks. Lacrosse isn't just a cool sport, it's also a very important part of Indigenous culture.

According to an Ojibwa legend — Why Birds go South in Winter — lacrosse also plays a special role in nature. The legend goes like this:. Long ago, there was only summer. The days were always warm and sunny. Winter and snow were unknown. Mong the loon was no different than the other young birds. He played all their games. But most of all, he loved to play lacrosse. The trouble was that his friends didn't always want to play lacrosse.

Although Eastern Canada is absent, the omission was not intentional. There is much more to come, and we hope to include the East too.

Through song and performance, the film spins a tale of indigenous perspectives on history and current events. On The Net: www. If confirmed by the U. I look forward to welcoming her to our leadership team. I am motivated to work with Indian Country to find efficiencies inside the Bureau of Indian Affairs, improve service delivery and culturally relevant curriculum in the Bureau of Indian Education, and create a more effective voice for Tribes throughout the Federal Government.

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