Haudenosaunee Wooden Stick Festival brings ‘The Creator’s Game’ back home

The Haudenosaunee Wooden Stick Festival welcomed all local Indigenous Peoples and allies from the East Coast to the Canadian border this past weekend at Onondaga Lake Park in an effort to re-establish the Haudenosaunee presence in Central New York. 

The lacrosse festival has grown immensely since its inception more than 20 years ago, particularly in the increasing number of attendees, craft vendors and participating teams, said Betty Lyons, president and executive director of the American Indian Law Alliance. 

“[The festival] gives people a kind of taste of our culture,” Lyons said.

Lyons said the festival is more than an educational platform; it’s also a memorial of Randy Hall, who brought the lacrosse tournament to Onondaga Lake. 

“Randy Hall was a friend of mine, and a long time ago, he approached [the previous organizers] about having this tournament here, because this is where the origins of lacrosse came, right here on the shore,” Lyons said.

Photo by Andrea Jacob

Audience members watch the lacrosse match at Onondaga Lake Park.

Photo by Andrea Jacob

Players in the Randy Hall Masters Wood Stick Lacrosse Tournament play on the open field by vendor tents.

Over the two-day festival, 25 vendors set up to sell Indigenous foods and crafts, including handmade jewelry, and kastowas (feathered headdresses). Dancers of all ages competed in a smoke dance and a 5K run in support of restoring Onondaga Lake. 

Returning craftsman, Travis Tionatakwente Gabriel, demonstrated traditional wooden lacrosse stick making during both days. 

Gabriel showed how a small log can be split into at least four wooden lacrosse sticks. Before the lacrosse stick-making process begins, he treats the wood as a living being and a relative. 

“I give it some tobacco, I say some words to it. I explain to the tree what it’s going to be used for, so he knew he was coming down here,” Gabriel said during the demonstration.

In this year’s master’s tournament, five lacrosse teams competed, four of which were predominantly native, and one was non-native. All players were 35 and or older. 

Captain Brandon Ska’nerahtiio Etienne of the Wild Turkeys team said the game has changed since he first played in the tournament. 

“In 2018, when we came, it was only required of one wooden stick on the field,” Etienne said.

Next year, Lyons said, they’re introducing an all-wooden stick tournament to honor how The Creator played.

Due to the craftsmanship and time necessary to make wooden lacrosse sticks, next year’s all-wooden stick requirement could be a major increase in expenses for tournament teams. 

“Each stick is $350 to $500 a stick, plastic is a lot cheaper, but [we do this] because that’s what was the original game, ‘The Creator’s Game,’ was played with,” Lyons said. 

Photo by Andrea Jacob

The Haudenosaunee Wooden Stick Festival hosted vendors selling traditional foods and crafts.

Mauhalk craft vendor Ronnie Francisco noted that using traditional materials in tournaments and crafts is vital to Indigenous cultures, despite the challenges.

Francisco has worked with quahog clam shells for over 45 years, which are known for their deep purple colors to make necklaces and bracelets. Working with the shells is hazardous, she said.

“[The shells are] extremely toxic if you are drilling, sanding and working with them,” she said. “Some say you shouldn’t even handle it with your hands because the toxins will go right into your skin.”

Even with the possible risk, she plans to continue working with quahog, since it is a part of her tradition.  

Francisco said lacrosse is a way of life for the Haudenosaunee, and this year’s tournament, along with future ones, is all about preserving that tradition for generations.

“If you are Haudenosaunee, you grow up with lacrosse,” Francisco said. “You either have players in your family or you’re sweet on some guy who’s a lacrosse player, or you got uncles [who play]. It is just how it is if you’re Haudenosaunee”. 

Updates on next year’s the festival can be found on its Facebook page.