The Haudenosaunee team plays lacrosse for more than the game

Team Haudenosaunee and five other nations face off in Winnipeg this week at the World Junior Lacrosse Championships.

Canada, Australia, Poland, Israel and the United States all have teams in this year’s tournament, but Haudenosaunee is the only nation that has played, what they call the Creator’s Game, for ages. immemorial.

« Our boys are playing for a different reason than most other nations, » said Brent Maracle, the team’s general manager.

Lacrosse is taught to Haudenosaunee children at a young age and is known as one of the oldest organized sports in North America.

« Our boys are raised knowing that this game comes from the Creator and goes back to our earliest history that we know of, » Maracle said.

Team players said they felt honored to represent their communities and play the sport of their ancestors at such a grand venue as the Canada Life Center in Winnipeg.

« Lacrosse is a huge thing on our reserve, so we dream of playing on a stage like this, in a huge arena, » said Owen Vanloon, of Six Nations of the Grand River in southern Ontario.

« You just think about playing for the elders and other people back home. »

Kaymen Diabo of Kahnawake, Que., said he realizes how important lacrosse is to his community.

« Everyone is so supportive of us that we come here, » he said.

He said it brings people together, from all different nations.

« It’s good for everyone, it’s good medicine », Diabo said.

On Friday, Canada and the Haudenosaunee tied for first place and were to face other opponents on Saturday night.

Haudenosaunee are undefeated in the tournament so far, beating Israel 28-14 in their opener on Tuesday and then dominating against Poland on Thursday with a final score of 20-7.

The World Junior Lacrosse Championships wrap up with the gold medal game on Sunday night.