A La Crosse team that’s boosting morale on Standing Buffalo Dakota First Nation, is getting a boost of its own.
It’s been building for almost seven years, and last month one of the First Nation’s three lacrosse teams took home a title at a cross-Canada tournament.
A group of residential school survivors helped them get there, and have further deepened the ties between the athletes.
There’s a strong tie between Standing Buffalo’s lacrosse teams, and the first nation’s residential school survivors.
The survivors did more than donate educational school credits they’d received for their difficult pasts, which totalled about $193,000.
They’ve acted as drivers, cooks, monitored penalty boxes, and held spiritual ceremonies for the young athletes.
That’s something teacher, and the lacrosse club’s founder, Russ Matthews is grateful for.
“This is exactly the opposite of what happened to them. You know, our survivors were taken from their homes, and put with strangers, and were really tried to take the Indian out of the child, and tear up the families and so what their motive was, our survivors’ motive was to build something in the community,” Matthews said.
He’s a strong believer in the power of sports.
“It’s good for families and it helps to bring communities together. So it’s one of the most important things, I think, that’s missing on first nations or communities that are marginalized,” he said.
He says the support for sports in Standing Buffalo was clear seven years ago.
“I remember the very first day of work and we were sitting in a staff meeting. And a couple of ladies, at the end of the meeting, just came over and just gave me $150 in bingo money and said ‘this is to help with your lacrosse program.’ You know, just a pile of cash in an envelope and said ‘you know, we really want to do this,” Matthews said.
The funds from the survivors bought new equipment, supported training camps, covered registration fees, and brought Standing Buffalo’s three teams to a cross-country tournament, where a big win was in store.
“You know, when the gloves were flying, and the helmets were going, I just sat back and savoured it,” Matthews said.
This is a huge accomplishment, considering the barriers they faced over the years.
“In some of these suburbs of cities and stuff, you see all these kids out in the spring and families, and getting the opportunity. But when you live in a community that’s been marginalized, you just don’t get the same kind of opportunities and then when you don’t get the opportunities you don’t develop,” Matthews said.
On the weekend, the Standing Buffalo powwow honoured the survivors and the lacrosse players.
“That was really moving, walking in to the drum and the grand entry, and all the people there. And I think they were really proud of our accomplishments. And I know our players felt a lot of pride in themselves,” he said.
He wants to share lacrosse with other First Nations, offering to travel and do several days of training with the basic equipment.
Matthews said his goal is to spread the sport to other areas and can help communities start their own lacrosse programs. If your community is interested in holding a workshop, he can be contacted at (306)-530-1227.