Episode Details
Back to EpisodesThe Haudenosaunee Created Lacrosse, but They’re Still Fighting to Play Under Their Own Flag
Description
Lacrosse didn’t begin in prep-school hallways or elite East Coast programs; its roots sit firmly with the Haudenosaunee, the Indigenous creators of North America’s oldest sport. As lacrosse returns to the Olympic stage for the first time in 75 years, the community that invented the game may once again be left on the sidelines.
In this episode of Sportly, the host Kavitha Davidson dives into the powerful, often erased history of lacrosse, from a thousand-year-old ceremonial game to the packed 2015 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship on Haudenosaunee land. The episode revisits the rise of the Thompson Brothers, the dominance of box lacrosse, and the political battles that have kept Indigenous athletes from competing under their own flag.
Now, with the introduction of Lacrosse Sixes and the 2028 LA Olympics on the horizon, a defining question emerges:
Will the Olympics finally allow the Haudenosaunee Nationals to compete as a sovereign team?
Featuring gripping storytelling, historical context, and the voices of players who have carried this game for generations, this episode explores not just a sport but a movement for recognition, sovereignty, and justice.
Host: Kavitha A. Davison | Producer: Paroma Chakravarty I Executive Producer: Saadia Khan | Script Writer: Irene Bantigue & Kavitha Davidson |Sound Designer & Editor: Paroma Chakravarty I Research: Irene Bantigue & Paroma Chakravarty | Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson | Other Music: Epidemic Sound | Cover Art Graphic Designer: Sarah DiMichele
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