Experiencing Lacrosse Through Culture and Community Partnership

Monday, May 25, 2026

Grade 7 and 8 students across the Grand Erie District School Board had the unique opportunity to step onto the turf at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena in the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory to experience a sport rooted in culture, history and community.

For many students, it was their first time holding a lacrosse stick. Graham-Bell Victoria Public School's Matt Pawlicki and Burford District Elementary School's Stephen Dales reported notable interest and a desire to dig deeper. Over the 2025-26 school year, more than 200 students have participated in the initiative. 

The partnership with the Haudenosaunee Sports Development was designed with a broader purpose in mind. Beyond fundamentals and game mechanics, Indigenous Education System Leader Stacy Hill emphasized the cultural significance in the Haudenosaunee community and the impact of knowledge shared across land and generations. 

Within the Haudenosaunee culture, "Lacrosse is connected to the land and ways of learning that extend far beyond the game students see today," shared Hill. Learners explored the traditional use of tools like sticks made of hickory and the significance of trees, medicines, foods and other natural resources that shaped the game early on. They also learned that lacrosse is a unifying force that informs Haudenosaunee storytelling, other cultural games and conflict resolution to settle disputes.

The program is led by a team of facilitators and instructors with a rooted knowledge in Haudenosaunee oral traditions and offers teachings of the Haudenosaunee way of life to educate and inspire learners. Over the past 16 years, they have provided cultural education experiences to more than 250,000 participants.

Dr. JoAnna Roberto, Chief Executive Officer, expressed gratitude for the partnership and for the positive experiences students shared, which included lessons on leadership and personal growth. Program leaders Kevin Sandy and Carmen Thomas encouraged students to apply the skills developed in lacrosse, such as teamwork, discipline and resilience, to their everyday life.

Students can further explore lacrosse through the Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program. The Health and Wellness SHSM at McKinnon Park Secondary School includes a special focus on lacrosse, developed in partnership with the Haudenosaunee Sports Development and delivered at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena. In the program, students learn about sector-focused courses, co-operative education placements, certifications and experiential learning, including lacrosse skill development, sport leadership, health promotion activities and Haudenosaunee cultural teachings.

"These learning opportunities and local partnerships provide students with positive experiences, where they embrace challenges and, by the end of the session, ask how to return and how to join a lacrosse team. We're thankful for Kevin Sandy and Carmen Thomas for sharing their knowledge, time and traditions with Grand Erie students," said Julie White, Superintendent of Education.

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