Akwesasne Tewa'a:raton Festival

Our game was celebrated and a deeper appreciation for Canada's National Sport was on display at the Anowarako:wa Arena last weekend.

The Akwesasne Tewa'a:raton Festival was a two day event featuring a lacrosse tournament, history classes of the game and Akwesasne's contribution to it. There were also clinics, kids activities and all things relating to lacrosse.

Darrel Thompson, a presenter, spoke of the traditional aspects of the game. He spoke of how lacrosse is a gift from the creator and should be treated as such. Respect should be a part of the game as well and players should not try to hurt the opponents.

"We are supposed to look at it in a sacred way, some of the former players are in wheelchairs now and have bad legs, they wish they could run and jump and the Creator is watching that happen," said Thompson.

Thompson told his own personal story of why he quit playing lacrosse after a short stint. He saw the game wasn't treated with respect with teammates partying and not playing the game the way the Creator intended.

Peter Garrow spoke about the origins of the game, the uses of the game and the sticks that are raising a controversy on the national lacrosse scene.

"When the game was called a medicine game the game was to give back, use whatever skills you have but give it back to the creator, the game was for several reasons, to settle disputes, to heal, if there was some type of quarrel between families and nations they would try to settle that dispute through a game of lacrosse," said Garrow.

The game had existed long before George Beers saw Caughnawaga Mohawks playing and recognized this could be a great sport for getting the military into shape. So Beers created rules and that helped bring lacrosse into the spotlight.

"In 1867 Canada passed a parliamentary resolution that declared lacrosse as Canada's National game", said Garrow.

When the sport grew lacrosse clubs sprang up all over and the Natives who had been pioneered the game took their skills to the floor and they were unbeatable. Then politics stepped in and outlawed native teams. Some city teams recruited local players and a select few were allowed to play for teams like Ottawa and Lachine, but in Quebec but players had to change their last name.

Native vs. Native games were very few until the beginning of the century when a league was created that allowed Nations to play against other Aboriginal Nations. This was the forerunner to the present Nations Cup.

Garrow also brought a collection of older sticks to show the crowd, some sticks were from the local lacrosse factory run by the Roundpoints and many were very old.

At one time in the 1950's the Roundpoints were supplying most of the worlds wooden lacrosse sticks. When the field lacrosse game took off – mainly college – the wooden stick got traded in for plastic. Then that plastic stick made it's way into the indoor box game and now the wooden stick is being outlawed because players are using those as a weapon.

There is however a movement underway to bring back those wooden sticks.

Mike Thompson, winner of two Mann Cups – top of the Senior "A" class and several all-world honors. Thompson had the opportunity to travel and he encouraged the kids to explore, to get an education and to keep playing sports.

"Keep focused don't be afraid to try something different," he said.

Thompson also talked about the Lacrosse festival and it brought back some memories of when he was in the minor ranks.

"I grew up playing with the Akwesasne Minor Lacrosse house league and everyone had to use wood sticks, I love this tournament today. It's not to often you get to see it, just the sounds of the game is different, the sticks sound different, checking the bodies, you can tell who hasn't play with a wood stick in a while," said Thompson.

The Tewa'a:raton Festival was strictly for wooden sticks.

"There are about 15 brand new sticks out there and 20 older ones, it's a fun experience out there," he said.

Thompson mentioned he makes wooden lacrosse sticks and he weighed in on the Canadian Lacrosse Association's movement to ban the wooden stick.

"I'm training to be a coaching facilitator, so I can do the coaching clinics in our area, I'm going to be voicing my opinion to the CLA to keep the wooden sticks in the game, they are trying to ban it. There is no reason for them to take it away from us, as soon as I get it made it's off the shelf," said Thompson.

Richard Mitchell gave a presentation on the traditional medicine game and a reenactment was held. He talked about the responsibilities of a lacrosse player and that his skills in the sport are a gift from the Creator so therefore he must not brag but be thankful he has the skill. Also it's the player's duty to display good sportsmanship.

"You have to use a good mind, not to hurt anyone, someday they will hurt you," said Mitchell.

Also at the Tewa'a:raton festival local schools attended the first day events and were given a demonstration of Lacrosse stick making by Jack Johnson.

Local cultural historian Darren Bonaparte gave presentations on Colonial and Pre-contact clothing. They also had education stations, Tug-of-War, health information sessions with Aaron Jock of Mohawk Council of Akwesasne's Community Health. Akwesasne Child and Family Services staff members Wanda Thompson, Glen Swamp and Brandon David were on hand for presentations. Students from Tsi Snaihne School, Akwesasne Mohawk School, Cornwall Collegiate and the Akwesasne Freedom School were on hand to take in the Festival. There was even a group from Ithaca New York. The Salmon River Boys and Girls lacrosse teams were on hand to put on a clinic as well.

The following were instrumental in the Lacrosse weekend.

Education, Loisir et Sport Monteregie Quebec, Traditional Lacrosse, Native North American Travelling College, UPS Akwesasne, Anowarako:wa arena, Akwesasne Lacrosse Hall of Fame, Salmon River Lacrosse, Government of Quebec – Le minister responsible des Affaires Autochiones and the following individuals; Shannon Hall, Brendan White- who also did Announcing during the Lacrosse games, Jack Johnson, Atha Lazore, Ryan Jacobs, Garett Cree, Kariwate Mitchell and Randy Hall.

Various departments from the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne were recognized for making the Lacrosse festival a success: Economic Development, Child and Family Services, Community Health, and Diabetes Prevention Unit, Board of Education and Akwesasne Police Services.

On Saturday the modern game was held in a tournament with players representing their districts.

Kawehnoke won their first game 8-7 over Kanatakon but dropped the rest of their games. That Kanatakon team went 0-3 in the tourney.

Tsi Snaihne and Kawehnoke tied 2-2 in their first game with Tsi Snaihne and Tekahshon'karon:rens both finishing the round robin 2-0-1 and putting them in the Championship which was won by Tekahshon'karon:rens 6-4.