The Haudenosaunee Nationals lacrosse team is looking to take a place in the game that their ancestors created.
Both the men's and women's teams compete this week in the Sixers Cup in Puerto Rico; their sixth PALA competition. The tournament is organized by the Pan American Lacrosse Association, one of the three continental federations of World Lacrosse. The tournament runs from Wednesday to Sunday.
The women's team won bronze at the previous PALA tournament in Florida this year and qualified for the 2026 Women's Lacrosse World Championship in Tokyo.
“The talent in the National League is growing quickly,” said Jalin Jimerson, 25, who plays for the Haudenosaunee National League and is a member of the Cayuga Nation in southern Ontario of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.
The Haudenosaunee national teams are also campaigning to be included in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics under their own flag when the Sixers sport makes its Olympic debut. The Board of Directors worked with World Lacrosse to make this possible.
“You want to see that purple and gold color there. And I think that's what should happen,” Jimerson said.
Jalyn Jimerson said despite the trauma her people have endured throughout their history, their community and their sport remain strong.
The national body said informal discussions have taken place between them, World Lacrosse and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and they hope to eventually meet with IOC President Kirsty Coventry.
“We're trying to be strategic, but [also] mindful of the state of the IOC…” said Claudia Jimerson, noting the IOC's preparations for the Winter Olympics in Cortina in February. Jimerson, Jalin's mother, is a board member, director of national championship operations and a former team player.
World Lacrosse recognized and supported Haudenausee as a national team, including them in international competitions and promoting their participation on the world's largest sporting stage.
“World Lacrosse shares the passion and commitment of the Haudenosaunee for their participation in the Olympic Games,” the organization said in a statement. “We are fully committed to working with the IOC and other key stakeholders to find creative solutions to showcase the history of the sport and explore a potential path for Haudenosaunee participation in Los Angeles 2028 while respecting the Olympic Games framework.”
This is no easy feat. The Haudenosaunee Confederacy is not recognized as a sovereign state by the United Nations and does not have a National Olympic Committee (NOC). An NOC is required to participate in the Olympic Games in accordance with the Olympic Charter.
The IOC statement said: “Only [NOCs] recognized by the IOC, can be part of teams for the Olympic Games in accordance with the Olympic Charter. This means it depends on two NOC concerned (USA and Canada) – in agreement with the World Lacrosse Organization and the National Federation concerned – decide whether they include Haudenosaunee athletes in their appropriate commands depending on the passport they have.”
Regardless of Olympic eligibility, as participants in the World Lacrosse Championships, nationals can compete in next year's PALA Championships. The tournament is a qualifier for the 2027 World Sixes Championship.
Bean Minerd, 30, a national championship player, head coach of the Buffalo State women's lacrosse team and member of the Onondaga Nation, imagined herself and her teammates walking through the Olympic tunnel with the flag flying above them. She said just thinking about it gives her goosebumps.
“We'll just keep fighting [for participation]and we’re good at it because we’re still here,” Jalyn Jimerson said.
The governments of the United States and Canada have released statements supporting the inclusion of the Haudenosaunee in the Olympic Games.
You are here to play for good medicine and have fun playing.– Jalyn Jimerson
Support from major organizations helped amplify the team's voice, giving players hope. Claudia Jimerson said this sends a powerful message about these organizations' commitment to truth and reconciliation.
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Before the advent of the modern version of the game, lacrosse was played ceremoniously in Haudenosaunee culture. While women do not compete in ceremonial lacrosse, they bring its principles to the national championship field.
“You’re here to play for good medicine and to play with joy,” Jalin said.
Claudia Jimerson believes that play helps people reconnect with their roots after generations of trauma. Her work is about more than just building a competitive team and organization. The community is still trying to heal, so it is important to include healing in the process. This is the essence of sport for the Haudenosaunee and why they call it medicine.
“Lacrosse has given HC a voice and a platform for the world to recognize their story,” said Jalyn Jimerson.
The women's squad for the PALA Sixes Cup includes approximately 12 players ranging in age from 18 to 30 years old. To compete, each athlete must provide proof of maternal ancestry or be enrolled in the Confederacy of Haudenosaunee Nations.
The women's team was reinstated in 2006 after disbanding in 1988. Since then, they have survived everything from heartbreaking travel restrictions from airport authorities to gaining international recognition. Jalin's team was refused entry to Scotland in 2015, was accepted into London the following year, and recently became the first to travel to Asia with their Haudenosaunee passports.
According to Jalin Jimerson, despite all the obstacles the team faces, they manage to overcome them.
Jalyn Jimerson and Minerd described their team as a family whose presence they enjoy and whose work ethic they respect. After years of friendship, the pair discovered that they were cousins, a reflection of the family ties within the team.
When Jalyn Jimerson puts on her National Championship jersey, she feels empowered to stand next to her teammates and represent her ancestors who never had the opportunity to play.
“You represent a big part of the story that hasn't been told yet,” Jalyn Jimerson said. She acknowledged the atrocities her ancestors endured after European settlers arrived and said the game is also played by those who never returned home due to the destructive residential school system.
The tournament is one of many opportunities for players like Minerd and Jalyn to give back to their culture and people. They hope the Olympics will soon follow suit.
