The competitions they watched were chaotic and violent. William George Beers grew up watching Mohawk Indians play the game with his father. Little Brother of War’s transformation into modern- day lacrosse began with a dentist’s passion for the traditional tribal game in mid-19th-century Montreal. To many, the ritual and ceremony that was once at the core of the Native-American game has been diminished and the roles tribal warriors played in developing the game is often overlooked. While the sport’s rise in popularity and modi cation by Anglo-American players is generally viewed as a welcome development, lacrosse is now far removed from its roots. People recognize the game’s beauty and speed, which is why it is often referred to as “the fastest game on two feet.” Players protect themselves from the inherent violence and physical contact with helmets, gloves and arm pads. Hard wooden sticks have been replaced with plastic heads (for mesh pockets) and graphite shafts. Today it is one of the fastest-growing sports on the continent. In the early 20th century, the modern game of lacrosse gained a foothold in college preparatory schools and in colleges along the Eastern Seaboard. They played “The Creator’s Game” for the enjoyment and entertainment of the Creator. It was tied to the spiritual world and deeply rooted in mythology and the oral histories of the tribes that played it. Lacrosse was not a form of recreation for the Native Americans. They were horri ed by what they witnessed: a violence that overshadowed the true purpose of the game. The rst Europeans who saw them play were French Jesuit missionaries working in the Saint Lawrence River Valley in the 1630s. The exact origins of lacrosse are unknown, but it was initially embraced by the eastern woodland people across that region of North America. Each tribe may have played di erently, but the fundamentals of the collective game evolved into modern-day lacrosse. The sticks were carved with pockets made from animal hides and hardened sinew to accommodate a ball. Braves painted themselves red-the color of battle-and wore breechclouts and ornamental feathers.

Men were selected to play as much for their bravery and experience in war as for their athletic prowess. The game was often played to settle tribal disputes and serve as a surrogate for warfare. It is no wonder Native Americans called their game “begadwe,” or “Little Brother of War.”Įarly 17th-century Native Americans believed their rugged ballgame was sacred and bestowed upon them by the Creator.

Sounds of play resembled those of bloody con ict. They attacked one another wood clashed and bashed opponents. The men wielded crooked sticks resembling war clubs in a constant state of chaos. Mobs of warriors fought to advance a ball-a leather object stu ed with hair-on elds with loosely de ned, unmarked boundaries.

Brothers of war 2019