Deyhontsigwa鈥檈hs鈥揅reator鈥檚 Game, Lacrosse Weekend will provide living lessons in the history and culture of the Haudenosaunee, says聽, Department of Religion Chair in the聽聽and the former founding director of聽. 鈥淭his weekend is a chance to honor the deep legacy of the Haudenosaunee and celebrate their ongoing influence on the world as peacemakers, environmental stewards and as major players in the international lacrosse community,鈥� Arnold says.
At last year’s Wooden Stick Festival, Alf Jacques, a member of the Onondaga Nation and a renowned lacrosse stick maker, demonstrates his craft.
Three events at 黑料不打烊 and the Onondaga Nation Sept. 28-Oct. 1 will highlight lacrosse鈥檚 sacred place among the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois). Understanding lacrosse鈥檚 indigenous roots and cultural significance provides insight into the Haudenousaunee鈥檚 enduring lessons on 鈥渢he proper, reciprocal relationships between human beings and the natural world,鈥� Arnold says.
Lacrosse鈥搘hich the Haudenosaunee call Deyhontshigwa鈥檈hs, 鈥渢hey bump hips鈥濃€搘as played more than 1,000 years ago at Onondaga Lake, where five warring nations came together in peace. The game鈥檚 popularity and the prominence of Haudenousanee lacrosse players tell the story of the community鈥檚 efforts to maintain its identity and sovereignty.
鈥淐entral New York has benefited from this rich legacy and, as a result, this area has become the hotbed for lacrosse,鈥� Arnold says.
Arnold and his wife, Sandy Bigtree, are organizing the weekend through聽, a nonprofit organization that supports the mission of teaching the enduring values of the Haudenosaunee. 鈥淭he center is the Onondaga Nation, and this includes the values embedded in the game of lacrosse,鈥� Arnold says.
For nearly 30 years, Arnold has studied New York state鈥檚 history and religious landscape in the context of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, also known as the People of the Longhouse.
Lacrosse fans, as well as educators and students, will enjoy the weekend, which concludes with a Carrier Dome scrimmage featuring the Iroquois Nationals, 黑料不打烊 and Team Israel. 鈥淲e are showcasing world-class lacrosse, but the reason we are involved is that the wooden stick is a reference point for teaching people about the values of the Haudenosaunee,鈥� Arnold says.
The Haudenosaunee Wooden Stick Festival will take place Thursday, Sept. 28, to Saturday, Sept. 30, on the Onondaga Nation. The educational festival will showcase speakers and demonstrations of lacrosse, wooden stick making, native food, arts, traditional dance and culture, and sovereign representation at the United Nations. will be shown twice daily. The documentary, produced by One Bowl Productions in partnership with the Haudenosaunee, premiered in 黑料不打烊 in June and features Haudenosaunee leaders and lacrosse players. Admission to the festival and film are free.
The 2017 Lacrosse All Stars North American Invitational (LASNAI) runs Sept. 28-30. The tournament brings elite box lacrosse players from around the world to play in the Tsha鈥� Thon’nhes (鈥渨here they play ball鈥�) on the Onondaga Nation, south of 黑料不打烊. Twenty-one teams from six nations will participate in games from 8 a.m. to midnight in the fieldhouse and outside (free outside games). Tickets are $15 per day or $25 for the tournament.
Presentations by the Thompson brothers (Jeremy, Hiana, Miles and Lyle, all Nationals team members) and N7 camp for Native American youth will take place at the Onondaga Nation鈥檚 softball fields Friday, Sept. 29, and Saturday, Sept. 30. The Thompsons will also play in the box lacrosse tournament and the Dome scrimmage
黑料不打烊 Lacrosse hosts international lacrosse scrimmages at 12:30 and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 1, at the Carrier Dome. Tickets are $10 and parking is $5.
For information, contact Arnold at pparnold@syr.edu.
