Lacrosse-The Creator's Game
Summary
TLDRThe video script narrates the rich history and cultural significance of lacrosse, a sport deeply rooted in Native American traditions. It details the game's evolution from a spiritual practice to a competitive sport, facing challenges like rule changes by non-natives and the exclusion of native teams. Despite these, lacrosse remains a symbol of pride and unity for indigenous communities, with modern players like Gaylord Powless exemplifying skill and sportsmanship. The script also touches on the game's potential for growth and the need to preserve its cultural essence.
Takeaways
- 🏹 Lacrosse originated as a spiritual and healing game for Indigenous people, played to strengthen medicine and community.
- 🌿 The game was played without boundaries, with minimal rules, and invoked the spirits of swift animals for guidance and strength.
- ⚡ Early non-Native spectators misunderstood lacrosse, perceiving it as violent due to the intense passion of Indigenous players.
- 🏒 Lacrosse evolved with new rules introduced by George Beers, including boundaries and a fixed number of players, to suit non-Native players.
- 👑 In 1876, a Native lacrosse team played at Windsor Castle before Queen Victoria, marking a milestone in the game's global exposure.
- 🚫 By 1880, Indigenous teams were banned from championship play as they were labeled 'professionals,' reflecting racial discrimination.
- 🎖 Despite restrictions, Indigenous players continued to compete and were even recruited as 'ringers' for non-Native teams, though they were often treated unfairly.
- 🥇 Lacrosse gained national and international attention, with Canada winning Olympic gold in 1904 and 1908, but it declined in popularity post-WWI.
- 🪵 Traditional wooden lacrosse sticks are favored by Indigenous players for their control and spiritual significance over modern plastic sticks.
- 🌍 Despite efforts to suppress the Indigenous roots of lacrosse, the game remains a source of pride and cultural identity for Native communities today.
Q & A
What is the cultural significance of the game mentioned in the script?
-The game, which appears to be lacrosse, is described as a gift from the Creator and was played to strengthen medicines. It had deep spiritual roots and was used for healing, with players invoking the spirits of animals to guide them. It was a key part of cultural identity and survival.
How did non-Natives perceive the game when they first encountered it?
-Non-Natives initially misinterpreted the game as violent due to the enthusiasm and intensity of the players. However, they were unaware of the spiritual significance that Native players infused into the game.
What role did George Beers play in the history of lacrosse?
-George Beers was a lacrosse player and a fan who created new rules for lacrosse to suit non-Native preferences. His modifications included the introduction of boundaries and reducing the number of players on a team.
How did the exclusion of Native teams from championship play affect them?
-In 1880, Native teams were barred from championship play and labeled as professionals, which was a tactic used by non-Native rule-makers to avoid competing with Native teams. In response, Native communities continued to play lacrosse among themselves, maintaining their cultural connection to the game.
How did the introduction of the plastic stick affect the game?
-The introduction of plastic sticks distorted the fundamentals of the game. Many players preferred the traditional wooden hickory stick, which provided better control, feel, and leverage, arguing that plastic sticks lacked the flexibility and connection offered by wooden ones.
What impact did lacrosse moving indoors have on the game?
-In the early 1930s, lacrosse moved indoors to hockey arenas, giving rise to the version known as box lacrosse. This allowed Native players to compete in professional leagues, but also marked a shift away from the outdoor version of the game.
How did the cultural shift affect Native communities' relationship with lacrosse?
-As lacrosse became more professionalized and competitive, Native players started to lose their spiritual connection to the game. They began focusing more on competing with non-Natives and excelling in the new professional world, moving away from the traditional cultural values tied to lacrosse.
Who was Harry Smith, and what role did he play in popular culture?
-Harry Smith, from the Six Nations Community, was a lacrosse player who went on to become an actor, famously portraying Tonto in 'The Lone Ranger' series under the nickname Silverheels. His career in Hollywood highlighted a Native presence in mainstream media, even if it sometimes involved stereotypical roles.
How did Native players like Ross Powless handle the racism and abuse they faced?
-Ross Powless, one of the most skilled lacrosse players of his time, faced abuse from teammates and opponents due to his Native background. Despite this, he chose not to retaliate, focusing instead on proving his skills and making his mark in the game.
What message is conveyed at the end of the script regarding lacrosse and Native identity?
-The script concludes by highlighting the enduring connection between lacrosse and Native identity, expressing pride in the game's return to its spiritual roots. It reflects on the strength and resilience of Native communities, emphasizing the importance of reclaiming their culture and traditions through lacrosse.
Outlines
🏑 Origins and Spiritual Significance of Lacrosse
The paragraph discusses the origins of lacrosse as a spiritual and medicinal game played by Native Americans, believed to be a gift from the Creator. It was used for healing purposes and invoked the spirits of powerful animals. The game was physically demanding with few rules and no boundaries. The narrative highlights the game's cultural importance, its misinterpretation by non-natives as violent, and its evolution into a sport with set rules. The paragraph also covers the early organization of lacrosse competitions in Montreal, the formation of the first non-native Lacrosse Club, and the influence of George Beers in developing new rules for the game.
🏆 The Rise and Discrimination in Lacrosse
This paragraph delves into the rise of lacrosse's popularity and the subsequent discrimination against native players. In 1880, native teams were barred from championship play due to a rule change that labeled them as professionals, denying them amateur status. Native players were excluded from mainstream competitions but continued to play among themselves. The paragraph also touches on the exploitation of native players by non-native teams, who recruited them for their skills but under the condition of not speaking their native language. It discusses the impact of external influences on the game, such as the introduction of the Man Cup and the temporary decline in lacrosse's popularity due to the rise of baseball and World War I.
🛠️ The Impact of Technology and Change in Lacrosse
The paragraph explores the significant changes in lacrosse equipment, particularly the transition from wooden to plastic sticks, which altered the game's dynamics. It emphasizes the loss of traditional skills and the spiritual connection associated with the use of wooden sticks. The narrative also includes personal accounts of players like Ross Pus, who experienced racism and the struggle to maintain cultural identity within the sport. The paragraph highlights the resilience of native players and their efforts to preserve the integrity of lacrosse despite external pressures.
🏆 Triumphs and Legacy in Lacrosse
This paragraph celebrates the achievements of lacrosse players, especially the Six Nations Chiefs winning the Mann Cup in 1994, signifying a moment of unity between First Nations and non-native athletes. It discusses the personal journey of Gaylord Powless, a champion player who overcame physical challenges and abuse to excel in the sport. The narrative also touches on the importance of community support and the role of elders in fostering a love for lacrosse. The paragraph concludes with reflections on the legacy of players like Ross Powless and his son, Gaylord, who are both inducted into the Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
🎭 The Cultural Reclamation of Lacrosse
The paragraph emphasizes the cultural reclamation of lacrosse by the native community, highlighting the game's spiritual significance and its role in fostering pride and unity. It discusses the efforts to revive the traditional aspects of the game and the importance of passing down the sport's heritage to future generations. The narrative includes a call to action for the broader community to recognize and support lacrosse, and a reflection on the resilience and strength of the native people in preserving their culture and traditions.
🎵 The Resonance of Lacrosse
This paragraph, represented by a music symbol, suggests a continuation of the cultural narrative through music and celebration. It likely includes elements that resonate with the themes of pride, heritage, and the enduring spirit of the game, as well as the community's connection to their roots and the future of lacrosse.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Lacrosse
💡Healing
💡Creator
💡Boundaries
💡George Beers
💡Professionalism
💡Man Cup
💡Plastic vs. Wooden Sticks
💡Box Lacrosse
💡Cultural Assimilation
Highlights
Lacrosse was originally played by Native Americans as a spiritual and healing practice, with no boundaries or strict rules.
Native players invoked the spirits of animals to guide them in the game, strengthening their connection to nature.
Lacrosse was misunderstood by non-natives as a violent sport, overlooking its spiritual significance.
The first non-native Lacrosse Club was formed in Montreal in 1856, after non-native interest grew in the game.
George Beers developed new rules for lacrosse in the mid-1800s, formalizing the game with boundaries and team sizes.
Native teams were barred from championship play in 1880 by non-native rule makers, deemed as professionals despite being amateurs.
Native players were recruited by non-native teams but were warned not to speak their language, symbolizing cultural suppression.
In the early 1900s, native players like Harry Smith were celebrated for their lacrosse skills, but often faced cultural stereotyping in other arenas.
Lacrosse moved indoors in the 1930s, becoming Box Lacrosse, which allowed professional leagues to grow.
Wooden lacrosse sticks were revered by players for their craftsmanship and tactile feedback, contrasting with modern plastic sticks.
The loss of the spiritual connection to lacrosse during the transition to professional play is seen as a major cultural shift for native players.
By 1994, the Six Nations Chiefs became the top lacrosse team in the world, a blend of native and non-native athletes.
Despite the popularity of lacrosse, many sports fans have never seen a game, highlighting a lack of exposure for the sport.
Lacrosse is still a deeply spiritual game for native communities, and there are efforts to revive the spiritual aspect of the game.
The documentary ends with a call for pride and spiritual renewal in native lacrosse communities, emphasizing the importance of cultural resilience.
Transcripts
[Music]
we called the game they
were it was a gift from the Creator we
played it to strengthen our medicines
when someone fell sick then we played
with all our life force we ran from
field to Village through streams and
forests there were few rules and No
Boundaries our bodies were strong and
unprotected and we invoked the spirits
of the Swift and Powerful animals to
guide
us this is the game we call they all
[Music]
do has all the intricate plays of hockey
football
basketball it's it's it's just a
tremendously exhilarating sport it's a
game that demands reflex
stamina speed
dexterity a game would be used in
certain healing rights on certain
occasions and is still done
today I think that when I hold that
stick it just like I feel like more
powerful I feel like I got a like power
within me because it's part of our
history and our culture and and so like
still alive it's one of the things that
keeps Us Alive you
know when non-natives came and first saw
the game they thought it was a very
violent game because of the enthusiasm
that the people put into it but it was
very
misinterpreted it was never revealed the
spiritual component that our people put
into
it diary entry August the 14th 1827
the Indian player made a circuit of many
hundred yards amongst the trees with 30
or 40 Swift footed fellows stretching
after him and he at full speed holding
his stick High over his head sometimes
ducking to avoid a blow or leaping to
escape a trip or breaking his shins on a
fallen tree but seldom losing hold of
his treasure it made the spectators
breathless to look at
them Montreal 1836
lacrosse's Spectators are increasing
Montreal Merchants organize competitions
between native teams the game draws more
interest and the new Canadians want to
play the first non-native Lacrosse Club
is formed in Montreal in
1856 if the new clubs can't beat the
natives at their game they'll change the
rules George beers is a lacr cross
player and a passionate fan of the game
over the next few years he develops new
rules for
lacrosse now instead of Open Fields
there will be boundaries and only 12
will be allowed on a
team lacrosse and the wind for running
which comes As Natural to the as
his dialect has to be gained on the part
of the pale face by a gradual course of
practice and training all Indians are
not good players but I never knew one
without an aptitude for the game George
beers through the efforts of beers and
others lacrosse grows in popularity many
communities boast their own lacrosse
team in
1867 the National Lacrosse Association
is formed two teams Vive for the
national title the Montreal Lacrosse
Club loses to the native team from ghwag
there is now no better lacrosse team in
the world in
1876 two Canadian teams are invited to
play lacrosse at Windsor Castle a native
team dressed in striped shirts red
knickers and white stockings is matched
against the conservative ly dressed
Montreal Lacrosse Club Queen Victoria is
one of the
spectators the Indians Who had most
curious names came up headed by their
Chief they were strangely
painted and some were very
dark the game was very pretty to watch I
gave both Canadians and Indians one of
my signed
[Music]
photographs while Canada Embraces its
new found game it now rejects the people
who invented it in 1880 native teams are
barred from all championship play
labeled as professionals natives are
denied amateur status by non-native rule
makers they w't good
enough uh to compete against natives so
they they said you can't play in our
Championship uh so our elders told us
that they said it's okay so they played
against themselves the different
Villages it was their game and they made
a just a
ribbon and they would compete for
that and they would visit one another
non-native teams recruit native ringers
to help them win chosen for the fairness
of their skin they're warned not to
speak or respond in their native
tongue it was said that uh even the the
the opposition teams knew that somebody
was a ringer that that they were playing
for them because they had a ringer too
my grandfather played lacrosse and he
played lacrosse with a team from Six
Nations that ended up going to the
World's Fair in St Louis at the turn of
the century when they arrived there many
of the people arriving at the fair were
more fascinated with the fact that these
were iroan Indians or iraan
Savages in 1904 and 1908 Canada wins
Olympic gold in
Lacrosse Railway Builder Donald man
donates the man cup a solid gold trophy
for the Senior Lacrosse
championship top lacrosse players earn
more than baseball star Tai
Cobb but with the rising popularity of
baseball and the impact of World War I
lacrosse
suffers attempts to reestablish lacrosse
after the war meet with many obstacles
the law prohibits games on
Sundays memorandum to the attorney
general there is no doubt some Sunday
game promoters could be prosecuted for a
breach of the Lord's Day act it is not
advisable to antagonize the Indians
needlessly but the earlier the matter is
dealt with the less violent any
resistance is apt to
[Music]
be it has always been an Aboriginal game
it always been a very Iran game and
efforts have been made throughout
history to to to CL it to take it away
one of the major ones is that they felt
in the whole acculturating process
lacrosse occupied too much of their time
and if they were playing the cross they
were not planting their fields they were
not going to church they were not doing
a number of
[Music]
things one of the things that I've
always been interested in Lacrosse have
been the the the the people who are
behind the scenes that you don't often
see uh number one the lacr pl makers in
the past uh who took great deal of skill
in making a lacrosse stick um the herb
Martins the John Gibson the enus
Williams these were people who would
work over months to create or a stip to
bend and twist and steam uh and Hickory
Stick
[Music]
if it was possible I'd like to see all
our boys use the wooden stick uh I'd
take any one of them wooden sticks over
the plastic stick uh lot of the players
that use wood stick called the plastic
sticks
[Music]
Tupperware with the with the wooden
stick you you uh can feel everything and
it's just like a another glove to you
it becomes like a piece of cloth and
it's so pliable you can feel every
movement in it with a plastic stick it's
everything is spinning and and coming
out fast and it that doesn't conform
like this leather does the leather is
just like a piece of
cloth it's like so many
slippers plus I fig you have more
control with this with a wooden stick
and plus with a with a wooden handle the
whole frame you can more leverage to
fire a ball with it
too the greatest Distortion of of the
fundamentals and the skills of the game
was the the introduction of plastic
stick and uh and so the game isn't the
same game so if you're going to sell it
as a professional sport let the Hickory
Stick back in if you really want good
defense bring the Hickory Stick back and
if you really want want to see the skill
goals you got to you got to bring
Hickory Stick
[Music]
back in the early 1930s lacrosse moves
indoors to hockey arenas left empty in
the summer
it is now called Box Lacrosse native
players are now allowed to compete in
the new professional leagues field
lacrosse is still a competitive game at
the international level and with
Canadian women's teams in fact women's
field lacrosse continues to be played
most closely to the original native
[Music]
game during that time
our people
saw through our eyes that we had indeed
changed we we wanted to be somebody else
now so in one way our world was was
shrinking and our world view of
ourselves was at its lowest to try to
compete when Box Lacrosse came around we
took a
another uh Viewpoint to try to be as
good as somebody else to try to compete
in his own world or be as good at it
competition they call it at that time
we've left our our spiritual connection
to our game and took on a different
way uh we were good at
it and perhaps it can be said that we
drank with the best of them at
times now native players must leave
their homes families and jobs in order
to compete compete with the best in
North America while playing lacrosse in
California Harry Smith from the Six
Nations Community is discovered by
Hollywood Harry goes on to play Tanto in
The Lone Ranger series an acts and
feature films he adopts his Sports
nickname of silver heels when Hollywood
asks him to speak Mohawk in a film Harry
takes creative license
we all raced up the used to be the
Capital Theater in Bradford and some of
the Mohawk that U that uh Jay used or
Tonto or Harry I I am knowing him as
Harry some of the words he knew didn't
fit in with the parts of the of the of
the play the role that he was playing
and everybody burst out laughing when
they'd hear him say something
most of the people in in there could
understand Mohawk didn't hits what he
was trying to talk but he'd put it in
the wrong place that's
all Ross pus plays on the Peter Bro Team
they win the man cup four years in a row
in the early
1950s but as a team's only native he
endures abuse from all sides beginning
with his own teammates
but we got together afterwards and and
they were telling me how mean they
treated me when I first went to
Peterburg and just right off the face
off said crack me to you know my legs
and everything and they wondered whether
I was yellow or
not um by hit me not me me not
retaliating but uh I wanted to make the
team I way I didn't go up there to fight
they say that lacrosse is such a violent
game and it's this and it's that and uh
it's not violent when uh I I wish they
wouldn't use that word and and put it in
any type of a sport because a game
played properly is never violent it's
the people that play the game that make
it that way I had played I call it good
lacrosse senior a lacrosse for years and
then my family was following me around
at different places you know Huntsville
and Peter bro after they started to go
into school my wife said that's enough
I'm not traveling anymore education is
more important cross so I was going to
be a little different I was going to try
and start a team down
here so when I came home I talked to
several of players and I talked to some
parents of players and I talked to some
Elders
Old-Timers by the time I got a feeling
of whether they would help me or support
the thing I was astounded how much they
were interested the players respected
him and he he knew how to coach
obviously and he had two winning teams
they won two Canadian senior B
championships uh a coach couldn't have
done any more than
that most of Ross and Wilma palace's 13
children ended up with an interest in
Lacrosse but one Gaylord showed early
promise as a champion Gaylord played
Junior lacrosse for 4 years
with yosua green Gales during a period
when the team won seven straight mental
Cup championships he was twice voted
most valuable player in the final
series of all the players that I've seen
i' say Gaylord paus was certainly the
most skilled player and uh he was worth
the price of admission alone and his
ball handling and his passing and the
fact that he he was such a clean player
he took so much abuse and he had the
size that he could have retaliated and
and and been a physical force that way
too but he didn't he took that and uh he
was he was just a fine team
player every game he sto every year when
the season started we had to buy him two
braces two new braces for his knees so
finally I said to him one year I said
gayl you know when of those knees are
going to get better he says I don't wear
the braces because I got bad knees I
wear the braces I get so many slashes
that the braces just you know the steel
down the both sides keep those you know
those waxs off my my shin bones and my
my
kneecaps follow
through I felt like I was knocked around
quite a bit but I didn't feel like I was
any better than anyone else I think
whenever you have the ball as amount of
time I had you're going to get take the
knock and and if you don't want the
knock don't touch the ball simple as
that I used to tell your dad and all the
players I'd leave my stick out so
they're going to shift when I play with
my
grandsons um I can't move around being
handicapped and wearing braces all over
the place
now I can't move around to show them
what I'd like to show him and gay and I
are are the only two in Canada father
and son in the player bracket of the
Hall of Fame where and then I find
out over here that uh Christopher that's
his name to make the Hall of Fame but
that's how that's how you practice I was
in I think Pue first year and we got our
pictures done and we got a mug or like a
lacrosse card done like a hockey card
and on the back it had our dreams and
stuff like that and our hobbies and my
hobbies are lacrosse and stuff like that
and my dream was being the lacrosse Hall
of Fame with my dad and my
[Music]
grandpa I am a far better artist than I
am a lacrosse coach as an artist
uh I pride myself in being very distinct
from everybody else and that's based on
my choice of materials I choose to work
in marble and bronze they take a
beautiful polish and uh you know once
they're once they're complete they're
you get the beauty of the luster the
form and just the hardness of the
material and a lot of times I think I
view the players that way you know lot
of these guys are rough tough rugged you
know hardage kind of guys and
um just with a little bit of polishing
and a little bit of U prompting you know
they they look like Superstars they act
like Superstars they are
superstars you know and uh I think
that's what your community needs what
the world needs is more Heroes and you
know some of these guys in 1992 became
Heroes and still are heroes
[Music]
congratulations you had a tremendous
tournament what does it mean to win a
MTO Cup oh it means everything
everything you could imagine we partied
all the way back on a on the plane there
was like camera Crews and stuff like
that from televisions and stuff and and
we went like we were able to bus back
the reserve and when we got on the
reserve there was fire trucks and um
police cars so we all boarded those and
we are about a good mile good two 2 and
1/2 miles out of Shan this is a main
little village on a reserve it kind of
made you tingle inside you know that
You' really done it then cuz like when
we won it like we just didn't win it for
our own Reserve or our own people or are
just us like we want it for Indian
people across Canada you
know in September
1994 the Six Nations Chiefs win the
game's top prize the man
[Music]
cup First Nations and non-native
athletes playing
together there is no better lacrosse
team in the
[Music]
world everybody whether they're a sport
fan or not has seen a hockey game or a
baseball game or a football game one
time or another but so many even sports
fans have never seen a lacrosse game and
there's something wrong there that uh
that these people have not been
introduced to it and I think that's
where they've got to get out and sell it
to those people I still think its
potential is enormous here we have we
live in an era where people make up
Sports you know they have these crazy
Sports you see on TV that are made into
somebody's you know feeble mind uh where
we have this natural game with with
roots deep in North
America we
[Music]
the years
War still
[Music]
like no matter what you take from
us the heart of the
E the heart of the eagle
well you you get nothing out of life
unless you unless you live it and you
get nothing on of Lacrosse unless you
play it the more involved you get in
life the more things you do the more
more things you experience the more you
travel the more people you meet the more
dialogues you get into with people the
more views you share I mean you're
living a full life where the same in
Lacrosse I mean the more you get into
the play the more shots you take it net
the more loose balls you you go to the
corners for the more hits you take the
more goals you prevent uh it's all part
of the game it's it's it's part of the
Gusto of it it that that's what makes
the game fun that's what makes love fun
being involved Full
[Music]
Tilt no matter where you go in the ira
Community you'll see people come out and
watch the game you see it played in such
enthusiasm and that spiritual aspect of
our
game is coming
back and when it finds its way back here
Pride will find its way back to our
nation
you've had
500
[Music]
years to show us your B
way this your IDE I'm
[Music]
good this
poverty and pain
[Music]
why can't we make you see the
light we are ready we will not
[Music]
we why must push always come to
sh why must we find for what's already
out
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
you took away our
[Music]
horns our language and our l
[Music]
don't forget I'll let you have
[Music]
land no choice just
[Music]
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