Smithsonian historians believe the sticks used in lacrosse were made only about a century ago by Tuscarora Iroquois artisans. The sticks were made from hickory and rawhide. They were longer than 3 feet and weighed at least a couple of pounds. Smithsonian researcher Thomas Vennum, Jr. states in his book, "American Indian Lacrosse: Little Brother of War," that lacrosse sticks were the offspring of war clubs.
Expert Insight
The original game was often very violent, according to Vennum, who believes that the ball end of the stick was thrown to hit an enemy in the head and kill him. Some tribes even used their wives and children as bets. It was also said, according to Vennum, that English and French colonialists were appalled by the game's violence. This did not last long because soon they too were engaging in betting on teams.
Significance
"Baggataway" was the name that the Six Tribes of the Iroquois called the game. The Cherokee called it "the little brother of war" because it was a preparatory skill for war. For the Cherokee, the game was sometimes played with thousands of players. Most of the time, the players never even touched the ball. They focused instead on wounding their opponents with their sticks. Sometimes the game went on for days and the goals were a great distance from one another.
Considerations
According to Simply Lacrosse.com, there were many stick-ball games played by Native Americans hundreds of years before the arrival of the first Europeans. There was a game called Ta-bé, which is similar to field hockey, and one called Shinny, which was played by girls and is similar to modern-day girls field hockey. However, because there was not a clear written history of the game, historians are not sure which tribal nation actually invented it.
History
Historians do agree that tribal nations believed that the game of lacrosse was given to them by the creator as a way to form alliances and resolve arguments between tribes. The game also had spiritual implications, and it was a way for young men to test their athletic skills and to acclimate to combat. The beginning of each game commenced with each team shouting out the name of their spiritual deity. The word "lacrosse" came from a Jesuit priest who said that the stick resembled a crook or "crosier" carried by French bishops.
Modern Day
Today, many sovereign Indian nations play lacrosse, but it has become popular among non-Indians and among female players. According to Lacrosse-Information: Rules of Womens Lacrosse, "rough checks" or contact with the stick to another woman's body are not allowed.
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