In Lake Placid for the University Games Tribal Council Members Forge New Friendships

By Isaac White

Lake Placid, site for the World University Games saw opening night ceremonies last Thursday the likes of which it hasn’t been part of since the 1980 Winter Olympics were hosted there. The games have drawn great interest around the world, locally, and from folks in Akwesasne.

Herb Brooks Arena, the venue which hosted the legendary 1980 Miracle On Ice that saw the U.S. men’s hockey team defeat the overwhelmingly favored goliath Soviet Union hockey team and eventually win the gold medal, was the site for the opening ceremonies of the University Games.

Governor Kathy Hochul opened the biennial multi-winter event, where 1,443 student-athletes from more than 500 universities and 46 nations around the world were welcomed to the legendary arena.

“With New York’s North Country known as a global winter sports destination, I can’t think of a better place than Lake Placid to host the 2023 FISU World University Games,” Governor Hochul said. “After more than $550 million in state-supported renovations and investments in the North Country to prepare for the games, New York is ready to welcome athletes and spectators from all over the world to our state. I wish the best of luck to the athletes competing, and I thank FISU, the organizing committee and partners at every level of government for ensuring that this event is a resounding success. Let the Games begin.”

Members of the Oneida Indian Nation and Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe were featured in the opening ceremony, that included the opening address, as well as on ice performances, oaths, and a flameless cauldron being lit.

In addition to student athletes, the arena was packed with local people as well as state and regional officials. Akwesasronon were amongst those in attendance, and that included members of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council watching the festitivites from the stands.

Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Chief Ron LaFrance, Tribal Sub-Chiefs Agnes Jacobs and Derrick King were amongst those in attendance. It was reported by multiple news outlets that when the Ukrainian student athletes stepped on the ice and made their rounds, a complete and deafening standing ovation was heard throughout the arena. Chief LaFrance agreed, “The greatest part of the Opening Ceremony was when the team from Ukraine entered the arena and were greeted to a standing ovation.”

Sub-Chief Jacobs told Indian Time, “It was an honor to be part of the FISU opening ceremony. The land acknowledgement and seed exchange was something I’ll be forever grateful for. My proudest moment was to stand in solidarity with Ukraine team and giving them a Mohawk sweet grass basket. Niawen to Faith West Gorman for inviting us.” Sub-Chief Jacobs credited Judy Cole for making the basket given to the Ukrainian team.

The support for the Ukrainian team was undeniable, yet Chief LaFrance made sure he expressed the importance of having Onkwehonwe acknowledgments of the original people and the inclusion of cultural offerings as part of the ceremonies, “Being a part of the World University Games was a great experience. Derrick, Sweets, and I participated in a seed exchange where the student athletes planted a red oak seed and our (SRMT) Environment Division will take them to Potsdam State and nurture them. They will one day be replanted in Lake Placid in our ancestral homeland.”

The Lake Placid 2023 FISU Games run from January 12, 2023 until January 22, 2023. There will be 85 events over the course of the games and will be held in venues throughout the North Country, including Lake Placid, Potsdam, Canton, North Creek, and Wilmington.