Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 27, Number 10, 1 ʻOkakopa 2010 — lroquois Nationals: playing for pride [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

lroquois Nationals: playing for pride

By Howard Dashefsky They practiced hard, they were physically and mentally fit, and they were even considered among the favorites to capture the 2010 World Lacrosse ehampionships in Manchester, England this past July. But the Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team never got to suit up for aehon. In fact, they never even boarded the plane. "Our team got detained at the airport," said team manager Denise Waterman. "Here we were, highly seeded in the tournament, and we never got to travel overseas let alone compete. There was a lot of hurt and there were many dreams broken." The team was detained by U.S. Immigration officials who said they

wouldn't be allowed to exit and reenter the country using Iroquois passports. The Iroquois Nationals represent a confederacy of six nations in North America. Together they make up the only group of Native Americans to compete internationally, on any level, as a sovereign people. The game of lacrosse is the focal point of their centuries old way of life. It's also a game the Iroquois are largely credited with inventing. "We are recognized as a sovereign nahon through the game of lacrosse because we are able to compete as a sovereign nation," said teamcaptain Gewas Schindler. "At least we were able to for the last 30 years up until this year. We had never been denied travel until now." In the weeks before the internationals, mueh media attention was brought to the team's plight - brought on by new, stricter travel

rules. Although the U.S. government eventually offered to allow the contingent to travel on U.S.

passports, the team said thanks, but no thanks. "We are not U.S. citizens," said Schindler. "We are a sovereign people who reside on land that stretches fromCanada to the United States and we have lands and nations on both sides of the borders. We have more than a dozen eommunities that are fully Iroquois, whieh in our language we eall Haudenosaunee, and we are sovereign to the United States and Canada." Now, for the first time since being denied travel outside the United States, the team is coming together onee again. Here in Hawai'i. A road trip teamofficials say will hopefully provide a sense of closure. "In many ways this is a reward for all the hard work the team put in," said Waterman. "It's a pleasure to be able to eome to Hawai'i and eome together in such a beautiful environment." "Were very excited as a team," said Schindler. "Obviously we had a great disappointment not going to the world championships, but we stood up for our sovereignty and what we believe in so we feel good about that." The Iroquois Nationals now say it's time to move on, and time to share their native culture and traditions. They have planned lacrosse

clinics for Hawai'i's youth, as well as many gatherings with Hawaiian elders. "We look forward to sharing our way of life with the native Hawaiian peoples," said Waterman. "I've traveled a number of years with this group and it's always wonderful. Being able to share our culture and at the same time learning from others, it's humbling, it's uplifting and we can't wait to be there." "Onee we land in Hawai'i it will definitely sink in more," said Schindler. "The last time we were all together it was a sour note, so it will be great to eome back together on a positive note, laying some good lacrosse and providing elinics for Hawai'i's youth." And for Schindler, there's an additional reason to be excited for the trip to the islands. He's getting married here. But he says even that pales in comparison to what it means for his team, and his people to be recognized. "We represent so many indigenous people around the world," he said. "The other tribes see that we are strong, that we are independent. We don't allow the United States or Canada to lahel us as one of their own. We are Iroquois." ■ Howard Dashefsky is a Contributing Writer for Ka Wai. 01 a. A 25-year veteran in broadcast news, he teaches journalism at the University of Hawai'i-Mānoa and produces showsfor OC 16.

Lacrosse clinics The lroquois Nationals lacrosse team will offer clinics for Native Hawaiian youth age 8 to 17 on the morning of Friday, Oct. 29. līme and plaee is to be determined. To register or for information, contact Edward Ayau on Hawai'i lsland at halealohahapai64@gmail.com or 808-646-9015. The free elinics are sponsored by Nike's N7 program, whieh aims to bring sports to Native American and aboriginal populations.

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Members of the lroquois Nationals lacrosse team, standing, from left: Spenser Lyons; Freeman Bucktooth; lsaiah Kicknosway; Gewas Schindler, Captain; Breft Bucktooth; Oren Lyons, in black, is a Haudenosaunee leader and Honorary Chairman of the lroquois Nationals; Sid Smith, Captain; Cody Jamieson; Craig Point and James Cathers. Seated from left are: Drew Bucktooth; Marty Ward; Emmett Printup; Peter Jacobs; and Marty Ward, Captain. - Courtesy Photo: PercyAbrams