First Nations Lacrosse Association facts for kids
| Sport | Lacrosse |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | Regional |
| Abbreviation | FNLA |
| Founded | 1983 |
| Affiliation | Lacrosse Canada |
| Affiliation date | 1988 |
| Headquarters | Akwesasne, New York |
| President | James Rickard |
| Official website | |
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The First Nations Lacrosse Association (FNLA) is a group that helps organize lacrosse for Native American communities. It works with teams in both Canada and the United States. The FNLA used to be known as the Iroquois Lacrosse Association. It is a member of Lacrosse Canada, which is the main organization for lacrosse in Canada.
Besides helping young players, the FNLA also manages three men's box lacrosse leagues. Box lacrosse is a version of the sport played indoors. These leagues are the Can-Am Senior B Lacrosse League, the Three Nations Senior Lacrosse League, and the First Nations Junior B Lacrosse League.
It's important to know that the FNLA does not manage the five Haudenosaunee Nationals international teams. These teams include the men's, women's, and under-19 teams for both field and indoor lacrosse. These Haudenosaunee teams are special because World Lacrosse recognizes them for international games. This makes them the only indigenous peoples' national teams allowed to compete in any sport around the world.
Lacrosse Leagues Organized by FNLA
The First Nations Lacrosse Association oversees several exciting box lacrosse leagues. These leagues offer players a chance to compete at different levels.
Can-Am Senior B Lacrosse League
The Can-Am Senior B Lacrosse League started in 1969. It was first called the North American Lacrosse Association. Teams in this league play to win the Presidents Cup. This cup is the championship for Senior B box lacrosse in North America. Can-Am teams have won this championship five times: in 1994, 1996, 2000, 2010, and 2014.
Three Nations Senior Lacrosse League
The Three Nations Senior Lacrosse League was created in 1994. This is another Senior B box lacrosse league. Teams in the TNSLL also compete for the Presidents Cup. They have won the championship five times as well: in 1994, 1995, 1997, 2011, and 2012.
First Nations Junior B Lacrosse League
The First Nations Junior B Lacrosse League is a box lacrosse league for younger players. It was formed in 2014 when the Canadian Lacrosse Association changed its structure. Four teams played in its first season. In 2015, this league joined with the Montreal Junior Lacrosse League. This created a bigger league with seven teams. The team that wins the FNLA league gets to compete for the Founders Cup. This is the national championship for Junior B lacrosse in Canada.
Haudenosaunee Nationals Lacrosse Teams
The Haudenosaunee Nationals are special lacrosse teams that represent the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. They are recognized internationally.
History of the Nationals
The Iroquois Nationals men's lacrosse team was first formed in 1983. This was done by the Grand Council of the Haudenosaunee. They played their first friendly games against college teams in Maryland. They lost to Syracuse Orange and Hobart College.
Before the 1984 Summer Olympics, the Nationals hosted a special event in Los Angeles. Six teams, both local and international, played. The Nationals won their first game against the national team of England. The next year, they traveled to England using their Haudenosaunee passports and only lost one game.
In 1986, the International Lacrosse Federation (ILF) did not allow the Iroquois to join their World Games in Canada. So, the Iroquois hosted teams for games at the University of Buffalo. In 1988, the ILF finally accepted the Iroquois as a full member nation.
The Iroquois Nationals played in their first international competition in 1990. This was at the World Lacrosse Championships, where they finished fifth. In 2015, the first official under-17 box lacrosse friendly game happened. It was between the Iroquois Nationals and Team Canada.
Partnership with Nike
In 2006, the Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse Program started a partnership with Nike, Inc.. Nike agreed to provide the Nationals with uniforms, clothing, shoes, and other gear. Nike also planned to create programs to help promote healthy living in Native American communities. Team members might also speak to local groups. The players also help Nike test new sportswear made from sustainable materials. This includes testing non-toxic dyes and biodegradable organic cotton.
Nike is the only large company like this to have a partnership with a Native American organization. The Iroquois Nationals are the only group of their kind to have such a deal.
Challenges with Passports
The Nationals faced problems attending the 2010 World Lacrosse Championship in England. The United Kingdom did not accept their Iroquois passports. Because of this, the Nationals had to give up their first three games. In 2015, the Haudenosaunee Nationals women's under-19 team also had to pull out of their World Lacrosse Championship in Scotland for the same reason.
Changing the Team Name
In 2022, the team officially changed its name. They went from the Iroquois Nationals to the Haudenosaunee Nationals. They wanted to use the name their own people use for themselves. The name "Iroquois" was historically used by enemy tribes and European colonists.
Field Lacrosse Achievements
The Haudenosaunee Nationals represent the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. They were first recognized as a full member nation by the Federation of International Lacrosse in 1987. Their first tournament was the 1990 World Lacrosse Championship, where they finished fifth.
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Event | Member | Award |
| 2002 World Championships | Neal Powless | All World Team |
| 2006 World Championships | Brent Bucktooth | All World Team |
| 2008 U19 World Championships | Emmett Printup | All World Team - Attack |
| 2008 U19 World Championships | Jason Johns | All World Team - Defense |
| 2012 U19 World Championships | Seth Oakes | All World Team - Attack |
| 2012 U19 World Championships | Lyle Thompson | All World Team - Midfield |
| 2012 U19 World Championships | Warren Hill | All World Team - Goalie |
| 2014 World Championships | Lyle Thompson | All World Team - Attack |
| 2014 World Championships | Jeremy Thompson | All World Team - Midfield |
| 2016 U19 World Championships | Tehoka Nanticoke | Attack MVP |
| 2016 U19 World Championships | Tehoka Nanticoke | All World Team - Attack |
| 2016 U19 World Championships | Austin Staats | All World Team - Attack |
Field Lacrosse Results
| Year | Competition | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | World Lacrosse Championship | 5th | |
| 1994 | World Lacrosse Championship | 5th | |
| 1998 | World Lacrosse Championship | 4th | |
| 2002 | World Lacrosse Championship | 4th | |
| 2006 | World Lacrosse Championship | 4th | |
| 2010 | World Lacrosse Championship | DNP | Passport controversy |
| 2014 | World Lacrosse Championship | Bronze | |
| 2018 | World Lacrosse Championship | Bronze | Passport delay |
Box Lacrosse Achievements
| Year | GP | W | L | GF | GA | Final | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 Canada | 7 | 5 | 2 | 126 | 81 | Lost to Canada 21-4 |  |
| 2007 Canada | 5 | 4 | 1 | 98 | 35 | Lost to Canada 15-14 (OT) | |
| 2011 Czech Republic | 5 | 4 | 1 | 84 | 37 | Lost to Canada 13-6 | |
| 2015 Onondaga Nation | 6 | 4 | 2 | 84 | 48 | Lost to Canada 12-8 | |
| Totals | 23 | 17 | 6 | 392 | 201 | 4 Silver Medals | |
Hosting the 2015 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship
The Iroquois Nationals hosted the 2015 FIL World Indoor Lacrosse Championships. This was the first time in the tournament's history that they hosted it. The games took place on Haudenosaunee Territories. Venues included the Tsha’Hon’nonyen’dakhwa’ Onondaga Nation Arena and the Carrier Dome near Syracuse. Some games were also held at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo. The event ran from September 18 to 27, 2015.
See also
- Mike Kanentakeron Mitchell, who founded the Iroquois Lacrosse Association.
