The Creator’s Game

The Iroquois Nation that stretches across the northeastern United States and Canada invented the game of lacrosse centuries ago. The Iroquois people believe the game was gifted to them by The Creator, and they used lacrosse as a healing ritual and to settle disagreements.

Europeans adopted the game for sport in the 19th century and since then, the sport has expanded into many countries across the world. The World Games, an international sporting event that is staged every four years in the summer for sports not included in the Olympics, has included a lacrosse competition since 2017.

When the World Games announced the eight teams for the 2021 Games, one team was notably missing: the Iroquois Nation’s professional lacrosse team, the Iroquois Nationals.

Upon learning this, members of Ireland’s national lacrosse team made the selfless decision to forfeit their place in the 2021 World Games and open up a spot for the Iroquois Nationals.

The Iroquois Nationals graciously accepted and are official competitors for the World Games that has been delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic until summer 2022 in Birmingham, Alabama.