Roots: Exploring the History of Lacrosse

Premier Lacrosse League

24 Nov 202009:45

Summary

TLDRThe video script narrates the rich history and cultural significance of lacrosse, originating from the Iroquois people as a ceremonial game for healing and unity. It discusses the sport's evolution, its appropriation by European settlers, and its current status as a predominantly white, expensive sport. Despite this, the script highlights the efforts to diversify the sport, with notable players of color and the reestablishment of lacrosse programs at historically black colleges. The narrative calls for a more inclusive and accessible future for lacrosse, reflecting the game's indigenous roots and promoting a community based on friendship, respect, and peace.

Takeaways

🏑 Lacrosse is deeply rooted in the culture of the Iroquois (Huda Rosoni) people, who were given the game as a ceremonial medicine game over a thousand years ago.
🌐 The game was originally intended to heal the sick, make peace among nations, and bring fun, reflecting a connection to the natural world.
🏆 Lacrosse has a rich history, with the first recorded college game played in 1877, predating the first college basketball game by 22 years.
🔄 The sport has undergone significant changes since its origins, including shifts in how it is played and perceived, especially with the influence of French missionaries and its adoption as Canada's national sport.
🌈 Despite early racial segregation, the civil rights movement and subsequent changes have allowed for more diversity in lacrosse, with notable players like Jim Brown breaking barriers.
🏈 Morgan State College was a pioneer in lacrosse diversity, fielding an NCAA team in the 1970s and achieving significant victories before financial challenges led to the program's closure.
💼 The cost of equipment and insurance has been a barrier to participation in lacrosse, similar to other sports like hockey and golf, affecting demographic expansion.
🏆 Players of color have made significant impacts in recent years, with individuals like Lyle Thompson and Miles Thompson achieving records and inspiring others.
🌟 The Iroquois Nationals hope to see lacrosse played at the Olympics in 2028, symbolizing a broader acceptance and appreciation for the sport's origins and values.
🌱 The future of lacrosse involves embracing its traditional roots, advocating for inclusivity, and addressing social injustices to create a more diverse and representative sport.

Q & A

What is the traditional name of the Iroquois people mentioned in the script?
-The traditional name of the Iroquois people is Huda Roshoni.
How old is the game of lacrosse according to the script?
-Lacrosse is over a thousand years old, as it was first given to the Hada Noshone people as a gift from the creator.
What were the original purposes of the game of lacrosse?
-The game of lacrosse was originally given as a medicine game to heal the sick, make peace among nations, and to have fun.
What materials were used to make the traditional lacrosse stick and net?
-The traditional lacrosse stick was made from the hickory tree, representing all plant life, and the net was made from the sinew of the deer, representing all animals.
How is the lacrosse stick connected to the Iroquois people's life cycle?
-The lacrosse stick is put in an Iroquois child's cradle board when they are born and is buried with them when they die, symbolizing a connection to the natural world and the next life.
Who coined the name 'lacrosse' and why?
-The French missionaries coined the name 'lacrosse' in the 1630s because they thought the stick looked like a crosier, or cross, that bishops carried.
How did the game of lacrosse evolve after being played outside Native reservations?
-After being played outside Native reservations, lacrosse began to take a new shape, eventually being declared Canada's national sport and distancing itself from its Native roots.
What was the significance of Jim Brown in the history of lacrosse?
-Jim Brown was a legendary lacrosse player who played midfield and remains the only black male player in the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame. He was known for his exceptional skills and for inspiring others.
Why did Morgan State College discontinue its lacrosse program?
-Morgan State College discontinued its lacrosse program in 1981 due to financial hardship.
What is the significance of the phrase 'grow the game' in the context of lacrosse?
-The phrase 'grow the game' refers to the efforts to expand the sport of lacrosse's geographical footprint, demographic participation, and to make it more accessible and inclusive.
What is the hope for the future of lacrosse as expressed in the script?
-The hope for the future of lacrosse is that it will be a sport that represents the direction of where the world is moving, is inclusive, and brings a world community based on true friendship, respect, and peace.

Outlines

00:00

🏑 Origins and Cultural Significance of Lacrosse

This paragraph delves into the origins of lacrosse, highlighting its roots in Native American culture as a medicine game played by the Hada Noshone people, also known as the Iroquois. The game was a gift from the creator, intended for healing, fostering peace, and enjoyment. It was deeply connected to the natural world, with equipment made from elements representing all plant and animal life. The paragraph also discusses the evolution of lacrosse, from its traditional form to how it was adapted by French missionaries who named it 'lacrosse' and changed its original name to 'Iroquois'. It notes the sport's journey to becoming Canada's national sport and the subsequent distancing from its Native American origins. The narrative emphasizes the sport's significance to the Iroquois people, its cultural and spiritual importance, and the pride associated with being a lacrosse player within their community.

05:02

🌟 Lacrosse's Journey to Diversity and Inclusivity

The second paragraph explores the history of lacrosse's diversity and the challenges it faced in becoming an inclusive sport. It mentions the racial segregation that nearly excluded black, indigenous, and people of color from collegiate sports in the early 1900s. The paragraph acknowledges the civil rights movement's impact on sports, including lacrosse, and highlights significant milestones such as Jim Brown's exceptional play and the brief but notable presence of Morgan State College's lacrosse team, the 'Ten Bears'. It also discusses the financial hardships that led to the discontinuation of the Morgan State lacrosse program. The narrative then shifts to the modern era, emphasizing the sport's expansion and the efforts to make it more diverse and accessible. It celebrates the achievements of players of color in recent years and the launch of a Division One men's program at Hampton University, marking a return to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) involvement in lacrosse. The paragraph concludes with a hopeful vision for lacrosse's future, advocating for a more inclusive and representative sport that aligns with global values of friendship, respect, and peace.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Lacrosse

Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin, traditionally played with a small rubber ball and a netted wooden stick. In the video, it is depicted as a medicine game and a ceremonial activity with deep cultural significance for the Iroquois people. The sport has evolved over time, becoming more mainstream and diverse, yet it retains its roots as a gift from the creator to promote healing, peace, and fun.

💡Huda Roshoni

The Huda Roshoni, also known as the Iroquois, are a group of indigenous people to whom lacrosse was first given as a gift over a thousand years ago. They are the originators of the sport, and their traditional name is used in the video to emphasize the historical and cultural importance of lacrosse to their community.

💡Medicine Game

The term 'medicine game' refers to the original purpose of lacrosse as a ceremonial activity meant for healing, fostering peace among nations, and enjoyment. It underscores the spiritual and communal aspects of the sport, which are integral to the Iroquois culture and are carried into modern lacrosse through the values and traditions upheld by players.

💡Iroquois Nationals

The Iroquois Nationals represent a lacrosse team that embodies the heritage and tradition of the Iroquois people. They are mentioned in the video as a symbol of the sport's indigenous roots and as ambassadors for the game's cultural significance on the world stage.

💡Olympics

The Olympics are referenced in the video as a goal for the Iroquois Nationals, indicating a desire for global recognition and the inclusion of lacrosse as a sport that represents a diverse and inclusive future. It also signifies the potential for lacrosse to gain more widespread acceptance and appreciation.

💡Racial Segregation

Racial segregation is discussed in the context of historical barriers that limited the participation of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) in collegiate sports, including lacrosse. The video highlights the impact of the civil rights movement in breaking down these barriers and the gradual increase in diversity within the sport.

💡Morgan State College

Morgan State College is noted as the first historically black college to field an NCAA lacrosse team, known as the 'Ten Bears.' Their success and subsequent discontinuation of the program due to financial hardship are mentioned to illustrate the challenges faced by historically black institutions in maintaining sports programs and the broader issues of access and funding in sports.

💡Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity and inclusion are central themes in the video, emphasizing the need for lacrosse to represent a wide range of participants and to be accessible to all. The video discusses the historical exclusion of certain groups and the ongoing efforts to make the sport more inclusive, reflecting a broader societal movement towards equality and representation.

💡Traditional Roots

The concept of returning to traditional roots is presented as a way to grow the game of lacrosse. It suggests that reconnecting with the indigenous origins and cultural significance of the sport can help to make it more inclusive and meaningful, both for the Iroquois community and for new players from diverse backgrounds.

💡Allies and Advocates

Allies and advocates are mentioned as essential to the process of changing the sport's landscape. The video calls for those within the lacrosse community and beyond to support and champion the cause of inclusivity, social justice, and the growth of the game, highlighting the collective effort required to create a more equitable future.

💡Women's Game

The video also touches on the need to grow the women's game, indicating that efforts towards inclusivity and expansion should not be limited to men's lacrosse. It suggests that promoting women's participation is part of the broader goal of making lacrosse a sport for everyone, regardless of gender.

Highlights

Lacrosse is viewed as an exclusive and expensive sport, but it has a rich history that predates these modern perceptions.

The Huda Rosoni, also known as the Iroquois, were the original stewards of lacrosse, which was given to them as a ceremonial game over a thousand years ago.

Lacrosse was a medicine game intended for healing, making peace, and enjoyment, with no referees and played with wooden sticks and deer sinew nets.

The game is deeply connected to the natural world and the Iroquois culture, with the wooden stick symbolizing the connection to all plant life.

The Iroquois believe that the lacrosse stick is a lifelong companion, present from birth to death, and into the afterlife.

The name 'lacrosse' was given by French missionaries in the 1630s, who thought the stick resembled a bishop's crosier.

Canada declared lacrosse its national sport, which led to a distancing from the game's Native American roots.

Lacrosse's history includes efforts to share the game as a gift to the world, emphasizing its cultural significance beyond sport.

Racial segregation in the U.S. historically limited the participation of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in collegiate sports, including lacrosse.

Jim Brown, a legendary football player, was also a standout lacrosse player and remains the only black male player in the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

Morgan State College fielded an NCAA lacrosse team, the Ten Bears, who were a top 25 team from 1970 to 1975, including victories over Harvard and Notre Dame.

Financial hardship led to the discontinuation of Morgan State's lacrosse program in 1981, marking a significant loss for diversity in the sport.

The modern lacrosse landscape has expanded geographically, with growth in Dallas, Denver, the Bay Area, and the Pacific Northwest.

The cost of equipment and insurance presents a barrier to participation in lacrosse, similar to other sports like hockey and golf.

Football's subsidization of equipment and insurance costs has contributed to its widespread popularity and demographic diversity.

Players of color have made significant impacts on lacrosse in recent years, including Damien Davis, John Christmas, and the Thompson brothers.

Hampton University launched a Division One men's lacrosse program in 2016, becoming the first HBCU to do so since Morgan State.

The future of lacrosse is envisioned as a sport that is inclusive, respectful, and representative of the global community.

Advocacy and allyship are called for to grow the game, especially the women's lacrosse, and to fight against social injustice.

The hope is for lacrosse to evolve into a sport that embodies the future direction of the world, with the Iroquois Nationals potentially participating in the 2028 Olympics.