When I think about lacrosse, I think of early mornings, long practices and bruises, but mostly I think of the people who make the sport what it is. I understand firsthand the pride that comes with putting on a jersey and being a part of a team. Lacrosse is a huge part of my life, and it is something I willingly dedicate much of my time to. For most of my life, I understood lacrosse on a surface level, only through my experiences playing. However, in August, I began following the Haudenosaunee Nationals and their fight to compete in the 2028 Olympics. Learning about this situation made me reconsider the sport I love and the history behind it.
Lacrosse was played by Indigenous peoples in North America long before it became the popular, organized sport I now play. The Haudenosaunee Confederacy, made up of the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca and Tuscarora nations, is credited with creating this game over 1,000 years ago. For the Haudenosaunee, lacrosse is known as The Creator’s Game. It is not only a competition, it also connects to their cultural traditions, supporting community and healing.
Lacrosse continues to be played as both a sport and a ceremony. Knowing this history makes the current Olympic situation even more frustrating, the people responsible for creating it may not be able to participate in the sport’s biggest international competition.
Lacrosse is returning to the 2028 Olympics in LA and the Haudenosaunee Nationals are fighting for the opportunity to compete under their own flag. The team has competed internationally for decades, separate from the U.S. and Canada. However, the Olympic system generally requires participating teams to be represented by a National Olympic Committee recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Since the Haudenosaunee do not have their own IOC committee, their path to competing as an independent nation is complicated. World Lacrosse has been working with the IOC to find a solution, but a final decision has not been announced.
Haudenosaunee athletes have competed in the Olympics before. In 1904, when lacrosse appeared in the Games, a team made up of entirely Haudenosaunee athletes won bronze while competing under the Canadian flag. The Haudenosaunee should not have to choose between competing and representing their own identity. Everyone should have the right to represent their own nation — especially when that nation is responsible for creating the sport in which they are competing.
The Haudenosaunee have received support from both the U.S. and Canada. Jan. 17, 2025 President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released a joint statement asking the IOC to allow the Haudenosaunee Nationals to compete in the 2028 Olympics under their own flag. The statement recognizes them as the creators of lacrosse and highlights the cultural importance of the sport. However, this was a request, not an official decision. Even with the support of both governments, the team is still waiting for the IOC to determine whether they will be allowed to compete independently.
The Haudenosaunee Nationals are continuing to earn their place on the field. Their men’s and women’s teams have competed internationally and are working toward the 2027 World Lacrosse Sixes Championships, an important step toward Olympic qualification. These athletes are dedicating their time and energy to the sport I love. They deserve the opportunity to compete at the highest level, just like every other athlete giving their time towards training for the Olympics.
Since learning about the Nationals, I have found it difficult to separate my love for lacrosse from the situation surrounding the Olympics. I love this sport and everything it has given me, from the friendships to the experiences and the time spent on the field.
Lacrosse has shaped me into the person I am today and I was so excited to see it enter the Olympics. However, it also feels wrong to celebrate its return while the people who created this sport are left fighting for the chance to participate. I cannot imagine being asked to represent a country that I am not from, being asked to ignore my identity. A jersey represents more than a team — it represents community, history and a sense of belonging.
The Olympics are supposed to bring people together through competition and celebration. It should include the people whose culture gave lacrosse to the world. I want to see lacrosse on the Olympic stage, but not at the expense of its creators.
Contact Gray Sheridan at gsheridan@oxy.edu
