"When you talk about lacrosse, you talk about the lifeblood of the Six Nations. The game is ingrained into our culture and our system and our lives."
- Chief Oren Lyons, Jr.
Hobart and William Smith Colleges are proud to present,
Lacrosse: The Creator's Game
An exploration of the Native American roots of modern lacrosse featuring:
Exhibition Lacrosse Game
Iroquois National team and Hobart Statesmen
Friday, Oct. 23, 2009
7:30 p.m., McCooey Field
Game will open with traditional blessing by Peter Jemison, the manager of Ganondagan State Historic Site with a half-time performance by Ganondagan's Spirit Dancers.
"Sacred Sport" Film Screening
Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009
7 p.m., Geneva Room
Jordan Kligerman presents his film "Sacred Sport." Special presentation by Alf Jacques on traditional lacrosse stick construction.
Women and Lacrosse
Thursday, Nov., 12, 2009
7 p.m., Seneca Room
Join William Smith Head Lacrosse Coach Pat Genovese for a roundtable discussion with Haudenosaunee Coaches and Players Sandy Jemison and Tia Smith.
All events are free and open to the public.
Sponsored by:
Office of Intercultural Affairs
Hobart Athletics
William Smith Athletics
"Lacrosse: The Creator's Game" is focused on the Native American roots of the sport of lacrosse, much of which began centuries ago in upstate New York. This Native American sport traces its origins back to the 12th century. Commonly referred to as the Creator's Game, or baggataway as it was called by Native Americans, lacrosse was part religious ritual and part training ground for war. Played between tribes, baggataway "fields" could cover many miles with games lasting for several days and including hundreds of participants. First witnessed by Europeans in the 17th century, the sport was given its modern name by French missionaries who thought the stick resembled a bishop's crosier.
By the middle of the 19th century, the sport had nearly died out. The Onondaga's are credited with reviving the ancient sport in the 1860s.
Lacrosse got a foothold in collegiate sports in the late 1800s. The sport gained momentum in the collegiate arena in 1906 with the founding of the U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association, of which Hobart College was a charter member.
Today, lacrosse is one of the fastest growing team sports in the United States. Youth participation in the sport has grown more than 500 percent since 1999. No sport has grown faster at the high school level over the last 10 years and there are now an estimated 200,000 high school players. Lacrosse is also the fastest-growing sport over the last six years at the collegiate level.
