LACROSSE: THE CREATOR'S GAME (TV)
Summary
A documentary program featuring the Native-American
sport of lacrosse. The program opens with footage of
Native Americans playing lacrosse. It continues as a
sequence of interviews and lacrosse footage,
interspersed with narration by Dan Smoke. Miles
General, a championship lacrosse player, talks about his
love of lacrosse, and the Faithkeeper of the Akwesasne
Mohawk Longhouse, Mike Mitchell, discusses the spiritual
component of the game. Smoke tells the history of the
sport, lists some alterations made to it by the white
man, and describes the formation of the National
Lacrosse Association in 1867 and the barring of Native
Americans from championship play in 1880. Tom Hill, a
museum director at the Woodland Cultural Center, says
that his grandfather played lacrosse, and he talks about
the game. Enos Williams, a lacrosse-stick maker, is
shown in his workshop making sticks. Specifics of his
craft are discussed, including the differences between
wooden sticks and plastic sticks. Smoke describes the
introduction of box lacrosse, the continuation of field
lacrosse, and the formation of women's lacrosse teams.
The story of Harry Smith -- a Native-American lacrosse
player who was discovered by Hollywood and became an
actor, taking the role of Tonto in "The Lone Ranger" --
is told. Ross Powless, a winner of four Mann Cups and
an inductee into the Lacrosse Hall of Fame, talks about
the abuse he received from fellow players because he
wasn't white. Cap Bomberry, general manager of the Six
Nations Chiefs Mann Cup winners, talks about the
allegation that lacrosse is a violent sport. Powless
explains why he formed lacrosse teams at home, and Ted
Beare, a former sports editor of the Brantford
Expositor, talks about the teams. Gaylord Powless,
Ross's son, was also inducted into the Lacrosse Hall of
Fame and also endured abuse for being Indian; Morley
Kells comments on his career. Chris Powless, Gaylord's
son, says he hopes to be in the Lacrosse Hall of Fame
like his father and grandfather. David General, a
sculptor and lacrosse coach, talks about his art, his
players, and society's need for more heroes. Footage of
the 1992 Minto Cup game is shown, and General, who
played on the winning team, shares his feelings about
the victory. Smoke closes the program with some
comments about the winning team of the 1994 Mann Cup.
Cataloging of this program was made possible by the
Corporation for Public Broadcasting, 2000.
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: November 30, 1993
- RUNNING TIME: 0:25:20
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:61102
- GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: Indians of North America - Social life and customs; Indians of North America - Sports; Lacrosse; Sports - History; Indigenous Peoples Collection
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Kem Murch … Director, Writer
- Scott Calbeck … Writer
- Dan Smoke … Narrator
- Ted Beare
- Cap Bomberry
- David General
- Miles General
- Tom Hill
- Morley Kells
- Mike Mitchell
- Chris Powless
- Gaylord Powless
- Ross Powless
- Harry Smith
- Enos Williams