Iroquois Nationals
Iroquois Nationals is called the national team of the Iroquois in their national sport of Lacrosse. As the only organization that represents no nation state belong to the Iroquois since 1987 as a full member of the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL ). Thus, they are the only indigenous people of America that is approved in a sport for international championships. The team is now one of the most successful national teams in addition to the United States, Canada and Australia. The women's team is a member of the International Federation of Women's Lacrosse Associations.
History
The game Lacrosse goes back to the Native Americans of the Five Nations of the Iroquois or Six Nations and is an important part of the Indian cultural tradition. According to tradition, the game was brought to the Iroquois as a divine gift and therefore has a special spiritual significance.
Lacrosse at the Iroquois today
For the first time a national team in 1983, invited to play during a friendly match against the Canadian National Team. As a result, the Iroquois made great efforts to recover their very own sport in itself and to promote through international successes for the recognition of their sovereignty. So Lacrosse comes to a great symbolic importance for the self-understanding of the Six Nations. Is no accident that puts the Grand Council of Chiefs, the chief meeting together almost exclusively of former outstanding lacrosse players.
The Iroquois now live in Ontario, Canada and on the northeast coast of the United States, members of the national teams thus have different nationalities. In team traveling abroad, however, the players use their own passports of the Iroquois Confederacy. In order for the team plays an important role in the recognition of First Nations as national entities and, accordingly, officially supported by the Grand Council of Chiefs.
In the Lacrosse World Championships 2010 in Manchester failed the participation of the national team in the UK customs authorities who refused to Iroquois with their passport of the Iroquois Confederacy entry.
2015 Iroquoi will host the Lacrosse World Indoor Championship in the two U.S. cities Buffalo and Syracuse.
Achievements
In the Lacrosse World Championships in 1998, 2002 and 2006, the Iroquois Nationals fourth positions respectively, in the two previously discharged Indoor World Championships 2003, 2007 and 2011 Vice World Champion.
In the U-19 World Cup in 1999 and 2008, the Iroquois won the third place, respectively.
Known Lacrosse Player of the Iroquois are Brett Bucktooth, Clay Hill, Darris Kilgour, Ken Montour, Craig Point, Delby Powless, Gaylord Powless, Neal Powless, Ross Powless and Michael Thompson, who professionally in Major League Lacrosse, or Hallenlacrosse in the National Lacrosse League play. The midfielder Bucktooth was selected at the 2006 tournament in a World XI.