For many years traditional Iroquois representatives have been traveling throughout the world speaking about Native concerns and the need to protect the sovereignty of Indigenous nations. They have repeatedly challenged other Native people to throw off the yoke of dependency and aggressively assert their historical and legal rights as free and independent peoples.

"Sovereignty," as Onondaga leader Oren Lyons says, "Is the act thereof."  Lyons is a Turtle clan Faithkeeper for the Onondaga Nation. He is often cited as one of the most articulate advocates for the retention of Native traditions while promoting activities which strengthen Indian political rights. He is no friend of the U.S. federal "trust" system which has convinced many Indian people they are "tribes" rather than citizens of their own countries.

But to Lyons sovereignty means more than a nice legal argument: it is a people acting upon their principles and undertaking collective actions which make for distinctions. He cites the status of the Onondaga Nation as the one place in North America where neither Canada or the U.S. has any jurisdiction whatsoever.

And he holds up as another example the Haudenosaunee Confederacy's use of its own passports, now accepted in many nations despite U.S. opposition. Those passports have been used in conjunction with another highly visible expression of Haudenosaunee sovereignty: the Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse Club, the first completely Indian sports team to achieve full national recognition by other countries.  Formed in 1983 to compete at a tournament in Baltimore, Maryland the team has literally traveled to the four directions of the earth as they compete in a game invented and refined by the Iroquois many hundreds of years ago.

Composed of players from every one of the Six Nations the Nationals have become a source of great pride across Iroquois territory as they play against Canada, the U.S., Britain, Japan, Australia and as many club teams as they
can manage.  Initially the Nationals faced considerable opposition from the U.S. in its efforts to secure status as an international team. But the team managers were equally determined that the Nationals would compete in world tournaments on 
their own terms. 

By 1990 the U. S. had elected to support the International Lacrosse Federation's decision to grant the Nationals membership as a nation, freeing them to compete in the world championships held in Australia that year. They did so, entering the "land down under" using their Haudenosaunee passports.

Again, in 1994 the Nationals took to the field, this time in England where they battled not only the original ILF squads but newcomer Japan. Held every four years, the world championships are scheduled for Baltimore in 1998 with the U.S. acting as hosts.

Lyons, one of the key movers of the Nationals, said he is trying to secure the games for the years 2002 on Iroquois territory, possibly in Buffalo or Syracuse. He estimated such a tournament would cost almost a million dollars to hold but is confident sponsors for this prestigious event can be found.

By that time, Lyons said, they expect teams from Russia, Sweden, Germany and the Czech Republic. As for the chances of the Nationals winning the title Lyons I was optimistic.  

Lyons observed the Nationals are composed of players I from many Iroquois communities who travel great distances at considerable expense to join the team. They are able to practice for only a couple of weeks before taking to the field against the best teams in the world. While the talent to win the title is there the Nationals need to play as a unit for many months if they are to beat the U.S. or Canada, a goal Lyons would like to see happen before 1998.

It is no coincidence the birth of the Nationals also signaled the revival of Lacrosse throughout Iroquois country. Since its beginning the Iroquois have produced the best players in the world.

A hundred years ago the Iroquois toured England with one game played before Queen Victoria. Their individual skills and quality of play set off a wave of excitement across the sports world, sparking interest in the game wherever they went. 

Lacrosse as a collegiate sport dates from those times and has now grown to include dozens of teams across the United States.  In the 1920's the Iroquois were persuaded to play the game inside vacant hockey arenas, a decision which
marked the beginnings of box lacrosse, now the game of choice by Iroquois because of its great spread and rough physical play.

Most Iroquois Nationals have been raised on box lacrosse, yet take easily to the field variety.  Many Nationals have collegiate experience on teams such as Cornell, Hobart and Syracuse. A few have gained recognition as All Americans, meaning they are considered the the best in the U.S.

Oren Lyons was one of the first Indians to make All American as a goaltender for Syracuse University in 1957.  He sees the coming generation as rightful inheritors of a game central to Iroquois culture.

Far more than a mere athletic contest lacrosse has deep spiritual meaning to the Haudenosaunee.  In a statement issued by the Grand Council of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy it was described as "one of our most revered traditions, spiritually and as a celebration of health, strength, courage and fair play."

Additional information can be obtained by contracting:

 E-MAIL:
info@iroquoisnationals.com

IROQUOIS NATIONALS LACROSSE
PO Box 226 - Onondaga Nation
via Nedrow, New York 13120

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