How is traditional lacrosse stick making keeping Indigenous culture alive. What are the challenges faced by modern stick makers. Why are handcrafted wooden lacrosse sticks still valued in the sport today. How has the craft evolved over generations.
The Art and Heritage of Indigenous Lacrosse Stick Making
Lacrosse, deeply rooted in Native American culture, relies on a crucial piece of equipment – the lacrosse stick. For centuries, Indigenous craftsmen have honed the art of creating these sticks, passing down techniques through generations. This ancient practice is more than just manufacturing sports gear; it’s a vital link to cultural heritage and traditional craftsmanship.
The process of making a traditional wooden lacrosse stick is intricate and time-consuming. It requires not only skill and patience but also a deep understanding of the materials and their spiritual significance. Each stick is a unique piece of functional art, embodying the spirit of the game and the craftsman who created it.
The Significance of Wood Selection
Choosing the right wood is crucial in stick making. Hickory is often preferred for its strength and flexibility. The wood must be carefully selected, cut, and cured before it can be shaped into a stick. This process can take months or even years to ensure the wood has the right properties.
Legendary Stick Makers: Keeping Tradition Alive
Among the most renowned stick makers is Alf Jacques from the Onondaga Nation. Jacques learned the craft from his father Louie in the 1970s and has since made thousands of wooden lacrosse sticks. His work has played a significant role in preserving this traditional art form and promoting its importance in Indigenous culture.
Jacques’ dedication to his craft extends beyond mere production. He sees each stick as a connection to the past and a way to educate future generations about their heritage. His work has inspired many to take up the craft and ensure its continuity.
The Impact of Modern Materials
With the introduction of synthetic materials in sports equipment manufacturing, traditional wooden sticks faced a challenge. Many players switched to lighter, more durable plastic sticks. However, there remains a strong appreciation for wooden sticks, especially in traditional games and ceremonial contexts.
The Process of Crafting a Traditional Lacrosse Stick
Creating a traditional lacrosse stick is a labor-intensive process that can take weeks or even months. It involves several steps:
- Selecting and cutting the wood
- Steaming and bending the wood to form the stick’s shape
- Carving and smoothing the stick
- Creating and attaching the head
- Stringing the pocket
Each step requires precision and patience. The craftsman must work with the natural grain and characteristics of the wood, making each stick unique.
The Role of Traditional Tools
While some modern tools may be used, many stick makers still rely on traditional tools and techniques. These include draw knives, spokeshaves, and steam boxes. The use of these tools connects the craftsman to their ancestors and maintains the authenticity of the process.
Preserving Cultural Heritage Through Stick Making
Lacrosse stick making is more than just creating sports equipment; it’s a way of preserving and passing on cultural knowledge. The process often involves storytelling, teaching of traditional values, and connection to the natural world.
Many Indigenous communities are working to revitalize this craft. Workshops and apprenticeships are being organized to teach young people the skills needed to make traditional sticks. These efforts ensure that the knowledge and techniques are not lost to time.
The Spiritual Aspect of Stick Making
For many Indigenous craftsmen, making a lacrosse stick is a spiritual process. It involves respect for the materials, connection to the land, and understanding of the game’s sacred origins. This spiritual dimension adds depth and meaning to the craft, making each stick a powerful cultural symbol.
Challenges Facing Modern Stick Makers
Despite the cultural significance and enduring appeal of traditional lacrosse sticks, modern stick makers face several challenges:
- Competition from mass-produced synthetic sticks
- Scarcity of suitable wood
- Time-intensive nature of the craft
- Lack of widespread recognition for the cultural value of handmade sticks
These challenges have made it difficult for many stick makers to sustain their craft as a full-time occupation. However, the dedication of craftsmen like Alf Jacques and growing awareness of the cultural importance of traditional sticks are helping to keep the practice alive.
The Future of Traditional Lacrosse Stick Making
Despite the challenges, there is hope for the future of traditional lacrosse stick making. A renewed interest in Indigenous crafts and growing appreciation for handmade, sustainable products are creating new opportunities for stick makers.
Educational programs and cultural initiatives are helping to train new generations of craftsmen. Museums and cultural centers are also playing a role in preserving and showcasing the art of stick making, raising public awareness of its significance.
Innovations in Traditional Stick Making
Some stick makers are finding ways to blend traditional techniques with modern innovations. This includes experimenting with sustainable wood alternatives and developing methods to increase durability while maintaining the stick’s traditional feel and appearance.
The Role of Lacrosse Sticks in Modern Indigenous Culture
Traditional lacrosse sticks continue to play a vital role in Indigenous communities. They are used in ceremonial games, displayed as works of art, and serve as powerful symbols of cultural identity and resilience.
Many Indigenous lacrosse players, even those who use modern sticks in competitive play, own and cherish traditional wooden sticks. These sticks serve as a tangible connection to their heritage and the spiritual roots of the game.
Lacrosse Sticks as Cultural Ambassadors
Traditional lacrosse sticks also serve as cultural ambassadors, educating non-Indigenous people about Native American history and traditions. They provide a tangible link to Indigenous culture that can spark conversations and promote understanding.
Supporting Indigenous Craftsmen and Cultural Preservation
The preservation of traditional lacrosse stick making is crucial for maintaining Indigenous cultural heritage. There are several ways to support this important craft:
- Purchasing traditional sticks from Indigenous craftsmen
- Supporting educational programs that teach stick making
- Advocating for the recognition of traditional crafts as cultural treasures
- Learning about and sharing the history and significance of traditional lacrosse sticks
By valuing and supporting this ancient craft, we can help ensure that the art of traditional lacrosse stick making continues to thrive for generations to come.
The Importance of Community Support
Community support plays a crucial role in preserving traditional crafts like lacrosse stick making. When communities value and celebrate these skills, it encourages younger generations to learn and carry on the tradition. This support can take many forms, from organizing cultural events to integrating traditional crafts into educational curricula.
The recent fundraising tournament for Alf Jacques is a perfect example of how the lacrosse community can come together to support its craftsmen. Such events not only provide practical assistance but also highlight the importance of stick makers to the sport and culture.
Indigenous lacrosse community rallies for stick-maker Alf Jacques (photo of the week)
Posted inPhotojournalism
Funds from the tournament will help pay Jacques’ medical bills as he battles cancer.
by Michael Greenlar
Mike Greenlar | Central Current
The Native American lacrosse community organized a five-team tournament on April 15 and 16 to support legendary stick-maker Alf Jacques.
He is currently battling cancer, and the proceeds from the tournament will go toward his treatment. The five teams came from across New York State.
Jacques is a world-renowned, traditional wooden lacrosse stick maker. He began making his sticks with his father Louie in their backyard on the Onondaga Nation in the 1970s.
Since that time, Jacques has made thousands of wooden lacrosse sticks.
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Lacrosse Stickmaker (Short 2016) – IMDb
- 2016
- 42m
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The almost lost art of ancient American Indian lacrosse stick making.The almost lost art of ancient American Indian lacrosse stick making.The almost lost art of ancient American Indian lacrosse stick making.
- Director
- Tracy Morse
- Writer
- Tracy Morse
- Star
- Ron Patterson
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Ron Patterson
- Stick Maker
- Director
- Tracy Morse
- Writer
- Tracy Morse
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- Release date
- January 20, 2016 (United States)
- Country of origin
- United States
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- Language
- English
- Production company
- Four Directions Production
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The hockey equipment market becomes a monopoly
Hockey is traditionally considered one of the most expensive sports in terms of equipment costs.
If football players only need leggings, boots, underwear and uniforms with a ball, then hockey players have a much larger set of protective equipment both in terms of the number of elements and their complexity. Do not forget about the service life – modern professional-grade composite sticks break like matches.
Ice hockey is inferior to football in terms of audience and geographic coverage, but the key markets of Canada, the US, Scandinavia and Russia are still very desirable. In addition, the specifics of the production of many elements of hockey equipment are similar to technologies in other sports – baseball (bats and traps), lacrosse (sticks and helmets), roller skates (skates), so many manufacturers are not limited solely to hockey.
During the 1990s and early 2000s, the market remained extremely competitive. Finnish Koho goalkeeping equipment was in great demand, many field players chose helmets from the Swedish company Jofa. Canadian CCM has experienced two bankruptcies in the 80s and 90s and more than one change of ownership.
Bauer, one of the pillars of the industry, was bought by Nike in 1994, a move that marked a turning point in the gradual monopolization of the market.
The motives of the Americans were quite understandable – the Nagano Olympics were on the nose, where professionals from the NHL played for the first time, and Nike, which replaced Reebok, again became the supplier of game jerseys for all national teams for the first time. The contract with the IOC, by the way, is still valid.
Quite quickly, the Bauer Hockey brand turned into Nike Bauer, and many were sure that the moment would soon come when the entire line of equipment would be transferred to the parent brand.
In 1998, CCM acquired the legendary hockey brands Jofa, Koho, Canadien, Heaton and Titan. Wayne Gretzky played with Titan clubs for almost his entire career. In 2004, the combined company was acquired by Reebok, which had not previously been represented in hockey (gaming jumpers at the Olympics in Lillehammer were a one-time story).
Almost immediately, the company’s management decides to stop production under all brands except CCM, and use the existing developments and models for a new line under the RBK Hockey label. This decision was largely dictated by the policy of the NHL, IIHF and IOC, according to which manufacturers of hockey equipment had to pay fees to tournament organizers for the opportunity to display their trademarks in television broadcasts. The logos of companies that did not enter the pool of suppliers were simply pasted over (pay attention to the helmet).
Naturally, the same goes for advertising budgets – why spend money on promoting 5 brands when you can focus on one or two?
As a result, by the mid-2000s, an interesting situation had developed on the hockey equipment market. The leaders were Nike Bauer and Reebok-CCM, which by that time had already been absorbed by the German adidas, which fought with Nike for leadership on the scale of the entire sports goods market. The Warrior brand entered the market, which in turn was owned by New Balance.
Easton Hockey also held strong positions. The market seemed to have come into balance with 4 key players and 7-8 second-tier brands.
On February 21, 2008, Nike unexpectedly announced the sale of its Nike Bauer division to a group of private investors for $200 million. In 1994, Bauer was worth $395 million. There was no clear explanation for the reasons for this step, but analysts noted that the margins of the hockey equipment market are much lower than conventional sportswear, and Bauer’s performance had a negative impact on Nike’s performance overall. Literally six months later, the new owners of Bauer gained control of Mission-Itech, which merged two brands of hockey equipment in 2004. In 2009-m, both lines began to be released under the Bauer brand.
In 2013, after almost 10 years and tens of millions of dollars spent, adidas bosses recognized the futility of the Reebok brand presence in hockey and announced the closure of the line. From next year, all models of skates, sticks, helmets, gloves and hockey equipment began to be called CCM.
Two years ago, the owners of the Bauer brand, which by that time had already bought several manufacturers of equipment for sports related to hockey (primarily lacrosse and baseball), announced the acquisition of control in Easton Bell Sports. Under the terms of the deal, the baseball and softball divisions came under the control of Bauer’s parent company, Performance Sports Group (PSG), while hockey equipment continued to be released under the Easton brand, albeit under license. A year and a half later, the hockey division was also under the control of PSG. The merger press release was quite candid: “Performance Sports Group has acquired all of Easton Hockey’s patents and we will be looking closely at all patents in other categories to identify elements that can be used to promote the Bauer Hockey product line.” . Reading between the lines, Easton’s days are surely numbered.
As a result, now there are essentially 2 key players left on the market – adidas and PSG, as well as 3-4 second-tier brands, the most famous of which remains Warrior.
