Lacrosse: Reclaiming the Creator’s game

The Documentary Podcast

BBC

Society & Culture, Documentary, Personal Journals

4.3 • 2.6K Ratings

🗓️ 25 August 2022

⏱️ 26 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Why are Native Americans striving to ‘reclaim’ the game of lacrosse? Lacrosse may have the reputation as a white elitist sport, played in private schools. In fact, it was originally a Native American game, practiced across North America before European colonisers arrived. As white settlers pushed westwards, taking land and resources, they also took lacrosse as their own. They stopped Native Americans from playing it, alongside prohibiting other spiritual and cultural practices. But now a Native American grassroots movement is aiming to 'reclaim' what they call "the Creator's game". In doing so they want to promote recognition for their peoples and nations. Rhodri Davies travels to Minnesota, in the American Midwest, to talk to Native Americans about how lacrosse is integral to their identity. Producer: John Murphy Editor: Penny Murphy Studio Manager: Rod Farquhar Production Coordinators: Iona Hammond and Gemma Ashman (Image: A game of traditional lacrosse begins with sticks raised and a shout to the Creator. Credit: Rhodri Davies/BBC)

Transcript

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0:00.0	We don't need the box, we need the shirts.
0:03.0	Where are we going to go now?
0:06.0	We're going to head to the Lower Sioux Community Reservation in South Central Minnesota,
0:13.0	one of the four Dakota Reservations in Minnesota.
0:22.0	Today and through the weekend they're going to have their annual celebration,
0:26.0	which we say watcheepee in the language, which means dance.
0:30.0	It's a social gathering.
0:32.0	Folks will travel from all over just for this weekend to dance,
0:37.0	to participate, to celebrate, to see their friends and relatives.
0:46.0	Welcome to assignment on the BBC World Service. I'm Rodry Davis.
0:50.0	I should introduce you to my guide for this story.
0:53.0	I was given two Ojibwe names and one Hochunk name.
0:58.0	Chiyoshak Jega is my name in Hochunk and Ojibwe.
1:03.0	My name is Minway Widong and Makadewigabo.
1:07.0	Hochunk Ojibwe Dakota.
1:09.0	We'll be hearing these and other Native American tribal names throughout the program.
1:14.0	My name is John Hunter and I'm co-founder of Twin Cities Native Lacrosse.
1:18.0	I'm also the head coach for Minneapolis Boys High School Lacrosse.
1:23.0	I'd like to see the traditional game played as much as possible
1:28.0	and be available for anyone that wants to play it.
1:32.0	How long is it going to take to get there, John?
1:35.0	Up from St. Paul's, be about two hours drive.
	...

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