As USA Lacrosse joins with the rest of the lacrosse community in the recognition of April as Celebrate Diversity Month, we're taking a closer look at how increased diversity in lacrosse has opened the door to players, coaches, and program leaders from all walks of life. Throughout April, we are spotlighting a variety of different people involved in lacrosse with the hope of showcasing not only the progress that our sport has made, but also its potential to powerfully impact the next generation of players.
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What's your background? How long have you played lacrosse and in what aspects of the game are you involved?
I am Seneca, Hawk Clan, and I am from the Tonawanda Seneca Nation in what is now considered Western New York. I currently live in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I've had the honor of playing the game my whole life. I'm currently a Sankofa clinician and an assistant coach with the Colorado College men's lacrosse program.
How has diversity enhanced the game of lacrosse?
The more diverse the game is, the closer it is to what it was originally intended to be. The Haudenosaunee believe that this game is a gift from the Creator, and it was a gift meant to be shared by all people. One group of people can't claim the game and call it theirs, because it doesn't belong to them, and I feel like that's what has happened in the past; people with clouded minds have tried to monopolize the game and exclude others. But that's not what the game is about at all. Lacrosse is for everyone, and anyone who tells you differently is lying.
What can this sport do to become more diverse?
The game needs more initiatives and grassroot efforts like Sankofa to share the love of the game in underrepresented communities. More resources need to be allocated to bringing the game to places it hasn't traditionally been played nor seen, and more time needs to be invested in the lives of the youth served by programs like Sankofa. People champion the phrase "Grow the Game" but that saying can't just mean getting sticks in hands and the job is done (which is something I think happens too often). There has to be more to that. To make the game more diverse, to "Grow the Game," it's going to take time and dedication and blood and sweat and tears, and the sooner people realize that, the better the game will be for it.
What does diversity mean to you?
To me, diversity means that everyone has a seat at the table, and everyone has a voice. Diversity means inclusivity, it means that people from a multitude of backgrounds are sharing their worldviews and everything that is said is taken fully into consideration and valued. It means the recognition of the inherent goodness of others, and it means compassion amongst all people.
Why is increasing diversity in lacrosse important?
For far too long, the Creator's Game has been seen as a white, upper-class, exclusionary sport and it's about time that narrative ends. Lacrosse is for everyone, bottom line. Everyone has something to offer the game, and everyone should be welcomed and encouraged to play the game in a good way. Lacrosse is a healing game; it's meant to bring people together. That's the true heart of the game; no one is supposed to be left out. If people truly care about the game, they'll realize that and begin making that a reality.
