Lacrosse: The National Game of the Iroquois

Lacrosse: The National Game of the Iroquois is a photo-essay telling the story of thirteen-year-old Monte Lyons, who has grown up playing lacrosse. His family is part of the Onondaga Nation and lacrosse is part of their heritage. The book begins by discussing the Onondaga Nation Territory and the six nations of the Iroquois. It then describes the history of lacrosse and its significance to the Onondaga Nation. It also provides some information about how to play the game, including how the field is set up, what positions there are, what equipment is needed, and the skills used. The book mentions that women's lacrosse is somewhat different but does not go into details about the women's version of the game. Also included are a description of how lacrosse sticks are made and a glossary of terms used in the book. I would recommend using this book for children ages 8 through 11. Many children in this age group are interested in learning about other cultures and history. In addition, sports books are popular in this age group. The combination of these elements in this book make it appealing on different levels. I would use this book during the summer as part of a discussion on lacrosse. I would have lacrosse sticks available for the children to see and possibly include a guest speaker from one of the local college or professional lacrosse teams. The photographs and illustrations give children a better understanding of the Iroquois, the Onondaga Nation Territory, and the game of lacrosse.

It is fortunate to finally hear about the origins of a world class game from the indigneous people who first introduced it to this country. Rarely are the origins of team sports made available to those who play them. In this case, it is revealed how the game of lacrosse is still connected to the cultural integrity of the Haudenosaunee, past, present and future. In turn, the reader also hears an Onondaga voice regarding their history--a voice usually not heard in a public school environment.