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territories could mean a chance for lacrosse skilled high school graduates to obtain athletic scholarship at universities (Vennum 1994: 296). It was also a political assertion of Haudenosaunee sovereignty (Downey 2012: 322). According to Downey: “While the establishment of the Iroquois Nationals was a newly adapted political strategy for the Haudenosaunee to declare their sovereignty, it was equally a new instrument for ‘traditionalists’ to create a renewed strenght in traditional culture unification between Haudenosaunee communities. The team was a modern manifestation of Haudenosaunee cultural revitalization and survival; it was an example of the use of traditionalism as an organizing tool for community survival.” (2012: 327) During the 1980s the Iroquois Nationals attempted to become a member of the International Lacrosse Federation (ILF)95. Finally, they were accepted as the organization’s fifth member in 1987. It was decided that the ILF would accept only one Native American team as a member of the organization.96 By this decission the ILF has become the only international sport organization that recognizes a Native American representation. The most important step happened in 1990 when the Iroquois Nationals were competing in the International Lacrosse Championship in Australia, after nearly a century when their teams were excluded from participation.97 The international lacrosse competition has become a form of an expression of the Haudenosaunee sovereignty.

The possibility to compete on the international level in a game that has been a substantial part of the Haudenosaunee identity stimulated young Haudenosaunee players to improve their skills to represent their nation and 95 The International Lacrosse Federation (ILF) was founded in 1974 to promote and develop the game of men’s lacrosse throughout the world. The four “founding” members were United States, Canada, England and Australia. In 2008, the International Lacrosse Federation (ILF) and the the International Federation of Women’s Lacrosse Associations (IFWLA) joined together as the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL). The International Federation of Women’s Lacrosse Associations (IFWLA) was formed in 1972 to promote and develop the game of women’s lacrosse over the world. Inaugural members were Australia, England, Scotland, Wales and the United States. FIL Guide to International Lacrosse (http://www.uslacrosse.org/Portals/1/documents/ pdf/team-usa/fil-guide.pdf), Federation of International Lacrosse (http://filacrosse.com).

96 The Iroquois Nationals make possible to accept to the team also skilled lacrosse players who are members of other Native American groups. During the last years, the Iroquois Nationals represented also members of the Anishinaabeg and the Cherokee.

97 Already in 1868 it was decided that no white club could feature an Indian unless the opposition agreed. The Native Americans were recognized as the best players, and as “professionals.” Their skills were presented at Olympics held in St. Louis in 1904, where the Mohawk from the Six Nations Reserve won the bronze medal as a team representing Canada. During the second half of the 19th century with disputes over professionalism and amateurism, the Native American players were further pushed aside. Although competing with U.S. teams, the most American society was regarding Native Americans as savages. With the prevailing belief of the affluent lacrosse enthusiasts in superiority of their race and class, the Native players were excluded from participation in national championships in the United States as well. At the beginning of the 1930s, it was decided by the Olympic games organizers that the Haudenosaunee representation would not be allowed to compete internationally (Fisher 2002).

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to have better chance to break through in professional sport. Being pushed aside and stigmatized by the dominant society, deeply influenced by racism and racial stereotypes, this step meant a chance for “cultural revival” by gaining pride from their own specific Native American heritage.

“There is no higher honour then to be picked up to represent your nation.”98 At the same time, it has meant a chance for young generation to enhance its social mobility by gaining access to the scholarships and job opportunities not only in professional lacrosse leagues, such as National Lacrosse League (NLL), but also in different areas outside their communities.

The potential of the lacrosse game for empowering Native American youth has been recently recognized by Canadian politicians as well. The project PLAY (Promoting Life-skills in Aboriginal Youth) started in 2010 and was supported by the Ontario Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs and by the non-profit global organisation Right To Play.99 The Lacrosse for Development program has become a part of this project since 2012. The National Lacrosse League (NLL), Professional Lacrosse Players Association (PLPA) in conjunction with Ontario’s provincial institutions organise camps, meetings and trainings to inspire and motivate First Nation100 children and youth to participate in lacrosse game.101 The skills of the Iroquois Nationals players are also honoured by their contestants, who recognize their importance and game skilles.

“The first world cup of box lacrosse was in Toronto in 2003 and six teams attended. The Czech Republic was a total newbie. We ended up on the sixth position. Our match against Australia was kind of ok, but our score against the Iroquois was 3:24. But in any case, playing against the Iroquois is the climax for any lacrosse player. Because it is the kind of match you don’t give up even if you have a really bad score.”102 “Everybody knows what this sport comes from. And it is an honour to play against them.”103

98 Holden Vyse, Iroquois Nationals, interview, 2011.

99 Right To Play focuses its’ activities on work in humanitarian and development context. Its’ aim is to build local capacity by training community leaders as coaches to deliver its programs in countries affected by war, poverty, and disease in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America. Lately also in the North America. See RightToPlay (www.righttoplay.com); RightToPlay − Promoting Life-skills in Aboriginal Youth (PLAY) Program (http://www.righttoplay.ca).

100 First Nations is Canadian term equivalent to Native Americans or American Indians used in the United States.

101 Vancouver Stealth, McElroy, Right to Play Visit Thunder Bay, By Craig Rybczynski, 17th September 2012 (http://www.stealthlax.com/news_article/show/178539?referrer_id=430082).

102 Ondřej Mika, Czech Lacrosse Union, interview, 2013.

103 Scott Prestridge, Megamen, USA, interview, 2014.

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Not only the Haudenosaunee national anthem sounds in arenas and fields and the Hiawatha wampum belt flag waves side by side with other national flags. The most obvious expression of the Haudenosaunee sovereignty are their passports, which the Iroquois Nationals use for international travel.

Their use is not a new affair. Already in 1920s, the Haudenosaunee representative, Cayuga Deskaheh from the Six Nations Reserve of the Grand River in Ontario traveled on it to Geneva to appeal at the League of Nations (Akwesasne Notes 1993). Another important event happened in 1977 when Switzerland accepted Haudenosaunee representatives with their passports to the United Nations Conference on Indians in the Americas – International NGO Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas.104 It is not surprising that one of the Haudenosaunee leaders and the conference participant, famous lacrosse player and contemporary honorary chairman of the Iroquois Nationals, Oren Lyons has been active participant at the United Nations meetings dealing with indigenous rights since the 1970s.105 The Iroquois Nationals have been travelling on their Haudenosaunee passports for the last 40 years. England’s refusal to accept the Haudenosaunee passports as valid travel documents in 2010 brougth worldwide attention to the issue of Haudenosaunee sovereignty. Although they had been in England twice before on their passports, this time they could not enter and participate in the World Field Lacrosse Championship. In the following year, the Czech Republic, hosting the World Indoor Lacrosse Championship, accepted the Haudenosaunee travel documents, and the same happened in 2012 when Finland organized the Under-19 World Men’s Championship. Some national women’s team members competing in 2009 in the Czech Republic also travelled on their Haudenosaunee passports. Travelling on the Haudenosaunee passports is not only an act of performing sovereignty, it is also a testimony of the struggle experienced by indigenous transnational communities divided by nation states.

WHEN NATIONS ARE BUILT... AND POLITICS ARE INVOLVED...

Scholars have recognized that sports often serve as tools to create shared or collective identities and as instruments of nation building. Lacrosse, together with other sports, such as baseball, football, or basketball, have played similar role on the American continent. Lacrosse’s function of nation building can be seen in the case of Canada as well, though in a slightly different form than in the United States.

104 Ibid.

105 Ibid.

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