Iroquois National Lacrosse Team Plays on South Lawn

From the White House press release:

The White House hosted its first-ever lacrosse clinic today on the South Lawn featuring some of the nation’s best lacrosse players showcasing the health benefits of the nation’s fastest growing sport to 100 youth as part of the First Lady’s Let’s Move! in Indian Country (LMIC) initiative.

The  clinic, organized by the White House Office of Public Engagement and the Department of the Interior, brought players from the Iroquois Nationals Team, Major League Lacrosse, the National Lacrosse League, Metro Lacrosse and representatives from New Balance to introduce local and Native American youth to the sport and its cultural traditions.  The event also kicked off national commitments made between LMIC and major lacrosse leagues and equipment firms to expand Native youths’ access to, and participation in the sport.

“The Iroquois Confederacy is well known for its cultural ties to lacrosse and the ceremonial roots involving healing,” said Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk.  “It is wonderful to have Iroquois representatives demonstrate the continuity and diversity behind the secular sport of lacrosse and its sacred historical relationship to many American Indians.”

Youth from the District of Columbia and Annapolis and Native youth from Baltimore’s Native Lifelines, Menominee Nation and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians learned lacrosse skills as well as the sport’s rich cultural traditions from members of the Onondaga Nation.  Chefs from the National Museum of the American Indian also served healthy, traditional foods.