by

Greg Kelsey

In 1790 the Creek and Choctaw tribes used a game of Lacrosse to settle a dispute over the rights to a beaver pond. The pictorial depiction of that historic game featured here gives testimony to the passion and aggressiveness with which the game was played.

America's original team sport, created and shared by the eastern Native American tribes was given its name Lacrosse by the French. The French term "crosse" came from the crooklike crosier carried by bishops to denote their position in the Catholic Church. The sticks used in play by the Indians reminded the French Jesuits of these religious staffs and thus the correlation was made and name given

It was a mass game with entire tribes participating as players. The playing field could range from 500 yards to several miles. They played furiously from sun up till sun down for two to three days. The violence of the game made it solely a man's sport as injuries and deaths were common.

Lacrosse played a serious role in Native American culture. The ceremonialism surrounding the preparation and rituals required for the game were identical to the those practiced before leaving for war. The game was rooted in legend with shamans serving as game officials. Both equipment and players were ritually prepared. Braves decorated their bodies with all kinds of colors wearing only their breech-clout and moccasins The tribesman used the game for curative purposes as well as a vent for aggression, recreation and wagering, and to settle serious disputes between tribes. The game was believed to toughen the braves for actual combat. The Cherokee name for the game seems the most fitting - "Little Brother of War".