Given to us for enjoyment

acrosse, or "lax," is something special to Northern native Americans. It has been tightly integrated into family activities as far back as memory will allow. After all, "the game was given to them by the Creator for his enjoyment," according to Chief Irving Powless Jr of the Onondaga Nation. Lax is strongly rooted in a spiritual foundation, and native American children are taught early on that when a game is being played here on Earth, a game is also being played at the same time in the Creator’s land.

Chief Powless continues that for American Indians, the game allows us "spiritual and physical peace of mind and body and to demonstrate our gifts to the Creator. How special it is to be able to throw a ball, catch it and run fast. How challenging in making 'split-second decisions' while at the same time learning to work together as a unit." It is the relationship between the earthly and a greater presence from which the game gains its strength and "sticking power."

Continued...