# Haudenosaunee men's national lacrosse team

The Haudenosaunee Nationals Men's Lacrosse Team, formerly known as the Iroquois Nationals, represents the Iroquois Confederacy in international field lacrosse competition. They are currently ranked third in the world by World Lacrosse after winning Bronze at the 2018 World Lacrosse Championship.
In June 2022, the Nationals dropped Iroquois from their name, adopting the name the Haudenosaunee Nationals.
The Haudenosaunee are currently seeking to compete in the 2028 Olympics under their own flag, and have received support from both the Canadian and United States governments.

## History
### Background

Lacrosse was originally played as part of a spiritual endeavour meant to praise and give thanks to the Creator, a tradition still followed today by the Haudenosaunee Nationals. For example, before each game the Haudenosaunee Nationals gather around their spiritual advisor who leads a traditional tobacco-burning rite, in addition to other rituals in an effort to prepare players before they take the field. The traditions attached to lacrosse extend to the wooden sticks, central to the Iroquois religion and culture. Specifically, males are given a miniature wooden lacrosse stick at birth, sleep with their stick nearby throughout their life, and even take one to the grave. It is believed that the first thing a Haudenosaunee does after reaching the afterlife is grab the stick placed in his coffin. The importance given to these wooden lacrosse sticks stem from the belief that these are gifts from Mother Earth. The Haudenosaunee believe that, because a living organism (i.e. a tree) died to make the stick, its spirit has been transferred to the stick's owner. Therefore, the Haudenosaunee play humbly in an attempt to honour the tree's sacrifice.

### Modern team

The Iroquois Nationals men's lacrosse team was formed and sanctioned by the Grand Council of the Haudenosaunee in 1983 in preparation of friendlies at the NCAA championship in Baltimore, Maryland. The Nationals lost to the Syracuse Orangemen 28-5 and the Hobart Statesmen 22–14. Prior to the 1984 Summer Olympics, the Nationals held the Jim Thorpe Memorial Games and Pow-Wow, a 6-team event with local and international teams in Los Angeles. The nationals achieved their first victory over the national team of England. The following year, using their Haudenosaunee passports, the Nationals traveled and toured England losing only once.
The Iroquois Nationals team is the only First Nation's team with international recognition as a sovereign people. After being denied membership by the International Lacrosse Federation (ILF) to compete in the 1986 World Lacrosse Championship in Canada, the Iroquois hosted the teams for preliminary games at the University at Buffalo. The IFL accepted the Iroquois as a full member nation in 1988.
The Iroquois Nationals took part in their first international competition at the 1990 World Lacrosse Championship in Australia, finishing fifth out of five teams. They warmed up for the world championship by competing in the Lacrosse USA tournament in Syracuse against top men's club teams.
In 2002, the Iroquois Nationals were recognized with an Honoring Nations award for demonstrating nation building through traditional sports. The Honoring Nations award program is administered by the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development.
The future of the Haudenosaunee lacrosse team has been limited due to a ruling holding them out of the olympics in 2028. With the ruling of having them excluded out of the olympics, coming in the first year the committee is recognizing lacrosse as an Olympic sport. The Haudenosaunee nation's have given the sport of lacrosse to the world. The game originated from various Haudenosaunee where they play lacrosse as medicine, in a way to gather and connect with each other. This game grew into what has been modernized into the game that is represented in the Olympics.

### Women's team

Although holding cultural importance among Iroquois communities, lacrosse has been described primarily as a men's game. After the recognition of the male lacrosse team in the 1980s, a group of female Haudenosaunee lacrosse players attempted to create a national women's team. However, Haudenosaunee leaders refused to sanction a women's team citing traditional and cultural restrictions. Despite this, lacrosse remained vital to the national identity of Haudenosaunee women. Ultimately, the Haudenosaunee women were able to form a national team, becoming members of the FIL in 2008.

### Nike deal

Historically, the Iroquois Nationals operated on a very small budget while simultaneously trying not to accept any financial resources from the Canadian and American governments in an attempt to assert their sovereignty through financial independence.
In 2006, the Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse Program signed a partnership with Nike, Inc. in which Nike will provide the Nationals with their brand uniforms, clothing, footwear, and other equipment. The company is to develop programs to "promote wellness-and-fitness activities in Native American communities throughout the region", and team members may go to speak to local groups. Team members will also assist in testing of sustainable produced sportswear for Nike's research and development of processes to use non-toxic dyes and biodegradable organic cotton.
Nike is the only Fortune 500 company to have such a relationship with a First Nations organization, and the Iroquois Nationals are the only such group. This partnership extends beyond simply providing equipment and apparel and includes programs to promote wellness and fitness among Native American communities. This focus on the promotion of physical activity among Native Americans is part of Nike's Native American Business Program; they have worked with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service to establish and manage physical activity programs among Native American communities. These programs are particularly important given the disproportionately high rates of obesity and diabetes among Indigenous communities.

### Passport issues

The Iroquois Confederacy began issuing their own passports in 1927 and its holders were able to travel without problem for many years. However, with stricter security measures following the 9/11 terrorist attack, the European Union member states no longer recognized these passports as legal travel documents. While holders of these passports were still able to enter Canada, neither the United States nor Canada recognized the passports as valid travel documents.
These passports became an issue when the Iroquois Nationals attempted to enter England for the 2010 World Lacrosse Championship held in Manchester. The Nationals were unable to attend and compete in the 2010 World Lacrosse Championship in England as the United Kingdom did not accept their Iroquois passports. The Nationals’ players were told by British officials to obtain either U.S. or Canadian passports if they wished to enter the country, as the team's 23 players were eligible to be issued passports from these countries. The Iroquois Nationals refused to travel with Canadian or American passports, arguing that this would be a strike against their identity. As a result, the Nationals were forced to forfeit their three preliminary games. In 2018, the Iroquois Nationals’ travel arrangements to Israel for the World Lacrosse Championship were delayed due to passport issues once again. However, after the intervention of the Federation of International Lacrosse and the local organizing committee, the Israeli and Canadian governments were able to resolve the issue and lift the travel restrictions. As a result, the Iroquois Nationals arrived just before the opening ceremonies and their first game.

### 2028 Summer Olympics

In October 2023, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) officially added lacrosse to the 2028 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles, California. Whether the Haudenosaunee Nationals—a team not representing a member nation in the IOC—would be allowed to compete as a team in the Olympics remains a point of contention. The team has received support from both U.S. President Joe Biden and Canadian Sport Minister Carla Qualtrough, but the IOC has stated that only countries with a National Olympic Committee (NOC) would be allowed to compete, and that it would be up to the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) to allow Haudenosaunee players to play in their respective teams.
On January 17, 2025, U.S. President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released a joint statement from the White House calling on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to allow the Haudenosaunee to compete in lacrosse at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games as their own team under their own flag. They stated
   While we respect the IOC’s independence, we encourage the IOC to take advantage of this historic opportunity. Permitting the Haudenosaunee to compete in lacrosse – the sport they invented – would advance the highest values of the Olympic Games and send a powerful message about respecting and valuing indigenous cultural heritage.
Haudenosaunee players are eligible to play for either Canada or the United States depending on residence. However, most Haudenosaunee players maintain that they would only play for an Indigenous team. Tom Perez, senior advisor to President Biden stated that "hopeful the IOC will see it our way". President Biden stated
   "Their ancestors invented the game. They perfected it for a millennium... Their circumstances are unique and they should be granted an exception to field their own team at the Olympics."
Perez also stated that the U.S. is working with Canada to support inclusion in the 2028 Olympics.

## Awards

| Event | Member | Award |
| 2002 WLC | Neal Powless | All World Team |
| 2006 WLC | Brent Bucktooth | All World Team - Midfield |
| 2014 WLC | Lyle Thompson | All World Team - Attack |
| 2014 WLC | Jeremy Thompson | All World Team - Midfield |
| 2018 WLC | Austin Staats | All World Team - Midfield |
| 2023 WLC | Austin Staats | Best Attackman |
| 2023 WLC | Austin Staats | All World Team - Attack |
| 2023 WLC | Jacob Piseno | Best Defenseman |
| 2023 WLC | Jacob Piseno | All World Team - Defenseman |

## World Lacrosse Championship
### Overall results

World Lacrosse Championship :
| Year | Host | GP | W | L | GF | GA | Finish |
| 1990 | Australia | 4 | 0 | 4 | 44 | 82 | 5th |
| 1994 | England | 6 | 2 | 4 | 68 | 87 | 5th |
| 1998 | United States | 7 | 2 | 5 | 56 | 115 | 4th |
| 2002 | Australia | 7 | 2 | 5 | 55 | 100 | 4th |
| 2006 | Canada | 8 | 4 | 4 | 125 | 107 | 4th |
| 2010 | England | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | - |
| 2014 | United States | 8 | 5 | 3 | 96 | 75 | |
| 2018 | Israel | 8 | 5 | 3 | 94 | 84 | |
| 2023 | United States | 8 | 5 | 3 | 83 | 54 | |
| Total | | 59 | 25 | 34 | 621 | 707 | 3 Bronze Medals |

### 1998

1998 World Lacrosse Championship roster :
| Jersey | Name | Position | Age | Height | Weight | Team |
| 1 | Chris Hopps | Goal | 27 | 6–0 | 165 | Potsdam |
| 2 | Pat Solomon | Goal | 20 | 6–0 | 175 | Hobart |
| 3 | J.D. Jones | Mid | 19 | 6–1 | 185 | Mercyhurst |
| 5 | Cory Bomberry | Mid | 22 | 5–11 | 195 | Rochester Knighthawks |
| 7 | Owen Benedict | Mid | 27 | 6–2 | 175 | Long Island / Syracuse Smash |
| 9 | Dan Burnam | Attack | 28 | 5–9 | 200 | Nazareth |
| 11 | Scott Burnam | Mid | 29 | 5–10 | 180 | Cornell |
| 12 | Mike Benedict | Mid | 27 | 5–9 | 170 | North County CC / Syracuse Smash |
| 13 | Chip George | Def | 32 | 6–1 | 185 | Potsdam |
| 14 | Jim Barnes | Mid | 20 | 5–9 | 175 | Herkimer |
| 15 | Rex Lyons | Attack | 36 | 5–11 | 190 | Syracuse |
| 16 | Neal Powless | Attack | 23 | 5–10 | 190 | Nazareth |
| 17 | Tony Gray | Mid | 26 | 6–2 | 180 | Hobart |
| 18 | Tim Solomon | Mid | 24 | 5–11 | 190 | Hobart |
| 19 | Cam Bomberry | Attack | 28 | 5–9 | 200 | Nazareth / Rochester Knighthawks |
| 20 | Evan Thompson | Mid | 20 | 5–10 | 175 | Hobart |
| 21 | Bill Solomon | Attack | 29 | 5–9 | 175 | Canton |
| 22 | Al Jones | Mid | 22 | 6–0 | 200 | Herkimer |
| 23 | Mark Burnam | Def | 34 | 5–10 | 210 | Syracuse / Syracuse Smash |
| 24 | Cal Smith | Def | 18 | 5–11 | 165 | Wesley |
| 29 | Vince Schiffert | Def | 32 | 5–9 | 160 | |
| 30 | Matt Alexander | Mid | 22 | 5–10 | 170 | Syracuse |
| 33 | Jim Bissell | Def | 34 | 6–0 | 208 | |
| 42 | Gewas Schindler | Attack | 22 | 5–11 | 175 | Loyola |
| 43 | Marshall Abrams | Def | 20 | 6–0 | 175 | Syracuse |
| 44 | Joe Solomon | Goal | 30 | 5–11 | 260 | Cornell |
| | Ron Doctor | Coach | | | | |
| | Dave Pittard | Coach | | | | |
| | Reggie Thorpe | Coach | | | | |

### 2014

2014 World Lacrosse Championship roster :
| Name | College | Hometown | Notes |
| Myan Adams, D | Cornell University '13 | Akwesasne, NY | |
| Adam Bomberry, M | Onondaga Community College '17 | Akwesasne, NY | |
| Brendan Bomberry, M | University of Denver '18 | Vaughan, Ontario | Graduate of The Hill Academy |
| Brett Bucktooth, M/A | Syracuse University '06 | Nedrow, NY | Won NCAA championship in 2004 |
| Kevin Bucktooth Jr. D | Onondaga Community College '06 | Nedrow, NY | Won NJCAA National Championship in 2006 |
| Vaughn Harris, M | Onondaga Community College '16 | Six Nations, Ontario | NJCAA 1st Team All-American in 2014 |
| Alex Kedoh Hill, M | | Six Nations, Ontario | Experience in Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) league and the National Lacrosse League (NLL) |
| Travis Hill, D | Canisius College | Sanborn, NY | |
| Warren Hill, G | Syracuse University '16 (transferred from OCC in 2014) | Ohsweken, Ontario | On the Iroquois 2012 U-19 men's lacrosse team, named to All-World Team and Most Outstanding Goalie |
| Cody Jamieson, A | Syracuse University '10 (transferred from OCC in 2008) | Six Nations, Ontario | Won NCAA championship in 2009; on NLL's Rochester Knighthawks roster at time of selection to national team |
| Mike Lazore, M | Hobart College '10 | Carthage, NY | On MLL's Rochester Rattlers roster at time of selection to national team |
| Zach Miller, M/A | University of Denver '17 | Steamburg, NY | Member of Denver Pioneers |
| Tom Montour, D | | Brantford, Ontario | On NLL's Buffalo Bandits roster at time of selection to national team |
| Craig Point, M | Onondaga Community College '06 | Ohsweken, Ontario | Won NJCAA National Championship in 2006; on NLL's Rochester Knighthawks roster at time of selection to national team |
| Jeff Shattler, M | | Edmonton, Alberta | |
| Sid Smith, D | Syracuse University '09 (transferred from OCC in 2007) | Ohsweken, Ontario | Won NCAA championship in 2008 and 2009 |
| Taylor Smoke, D | Saint. Michael's College '09 | Akwesasne, NY | |
| Randy Staats, A | Syracuse University '15 (transferred from OCC in 2013) | Six Nations, Ontario | |
| Oakley Thomas, D | Onondaga Community College '17 | Akwesasne, NY | |
| Lyle Thompson, A | University at Albany '15 | Onondaga Nation, NY | Co-Tewaraaton Award recipient in 2014 with older brother Miles; two other older brothers on team are Jeremy and Jerome |
| Jeremy Thompson, M | Syracuse University '11 (transferred from OCC in 2009) | Onondaga Nation, NY | Brother of Jerome, Lyle and Miles; cousin of Brett Bucktooth |
| Jerome "Haina" Thompson Jr., M | Onondaga Community College | Onondaga Nation, NY | Brother of Jeremy, Lyle and Miles |
| Miles Thompson, A | University at Albany '14 | Onondaga Nation, NY | Co-Tewaraaton Trophy recipient in 2014 with younger brother Lyle; two other older brothers on team are Jeremy and Jerome |
| Ty Thompson, A | University at Albany '14 | Onondaga Nation, NY | |
| Roger Vyse, A | | Ohsweken, Ontario | |
| Marty Ward, G | Limestone College '07 | Syracuse, NY | Head coach at Florida Southern College |
| Jeff White, G | Le Moyne College '13 | Buffalo, NY | |

### 2018

2018 World Lacrosse Championship roster :
| Number | Name | Position |
| 1 | Tehoka Nanticoke | Attack |
| 2 | Miles Thompson | Attack |
| 4 | Lyle Thompson | Attack |
| 6 | Tyler Armstrong | Goalie |
| 7 | Liam Anderson | Defense |
| 11 | Taylor Smoke | Defense |
| 15 | Jake Fox (lacrosse) | Defense |
| 18 | Tyson Bomberry | Defense |
| 19 | Ron John | Midfield |
| 21 | Frank Brown | Midfield |
| 22 | Jerome "Hiana" Thompson | Midfield |
| 24 | Mike Lazore | Midfield |
| 42 | Oran Horn | Midfield |
| 43 | Brendan Bomberry | Midfield |
| 44 | Johnson Jimerson | Defense |
| 45 | Randy Staats | Attack |
| 47 | Kyle Jackson | Attack |
| 66 | Chase Scanlan | Midfield |
| 74 | Jeremy Thompson | Midfield |
| 76 | Warren Hill | Goalie |
| 77 | Jerry Staats | Defense |
| 83 | Austin Staats | Attack |
| 91 | Ty Thompson | Attack |
| | Mark Burnam | Head coach |
| | Scott Marr | Assistant coach |
| | Brett Bucktooth | Assistant coach |
| | Lars Tiffany | Assistant coach |
| | Tony Pineda | Trainer |
| | Scott Burnam | General Manager |
| | Mark Martin | General Manager |
| | Shaniece Mohawk | Team Assistant |
| | Ansley Jemison | Executive Director |

### 2023
## World Games
### Overall results

World Games :
| Year | Host | GP | W | L | GF | GA | Finish |
| 2022 | United States | 4 | 2 | 2 | 60 | 65 | 5th |
| Total | | 4 | 2 | 2 | 60 | 65 | - |

### 2022

2022 World Games roster :
| Number | Name |
| 1 | Tehoka Nanticoke |
| 4 | Jacob Patterson |
| 15 | Jake Fox |
| 19 | Shonwahnonkon Thompson |
| 23 | Brooker Muir |
| 24 | Kayson Tarbell |
| 33 | Ron John |
| 43 | Brendan Bomberry |
| 45 | Cody Jamieson |
| 47 | Kyle Jackson |
| 74 | Jeremy Thompson |
| 76 | Warren Hill |

## Other tournaments and games
### 1980s

1983 Lacrosse International roster :
| Name | Position |
| Louie Mitchell | Midfield |
| Dave White | Midfield |
| Doug Smoke | Midfield |
| Thomas Thomas | Midfield |
| Gregory Tarbell | Midfield |
| Steve Miller | Defense |
| Sid Jamieson | Head coach |
| Kenneth Fournier | Assistant coach |
| Ron Doctor | Assistant coach |
| Marty Ground | Team manager |
| Betsey Woodbury | Trainer |
| Eddy Schinler | Team manager |
| Kevin Nephew | Team manager |
1984 Jim Thorpe Memorial Pow Wow roster :
| Jersey | Name | Position | Tribe / Clan | College |
| 1 | Kent Lyons | Goalie | Mohawk / Wolf | |
| 2 | Travis Solomon | Goalie | Onondaga / Eel | Syracuse |
| 3 | Jim Bissel Jr. | Midfield | Tuscarora / Turtle | |
| 4 | Emmet Printup | Attack | Tuscarora / Turtle | Syracuse |
| 5 | Doug Smoke | Midfield | Mohawk / Wolf | Plattsburg |
| 6 | Steve Miller | Defense | Mohawk / Turtle | |
| 9 | Kerwin Huff | Attack | Seneca / Bear | |
| 11 | Dave White | Midfield | Mohawk / Bear | Brown |
| 12 | Ron Henry | Attack | Tuscarora / Bear | |
| 13 | Sidney Hill | Defense | Onondaga / Eel | |
| 14 | Mike Smith | Midfield | Seneca / Turtle | |
| 15 | Rex Lyons | Attack | Onondaga / Eel | |
| 16 | Tyler Sunday | Midfield | Mohawk / Wolf | |
| 17 | Mark Burnham | Midfield | Mohawk | Syracuse |
| 18 | Mikko Red Arrow | Midfield | Lenapa / Cherokee | Hofstra |
| 19 | Greg Tarbell | Attack | Mohawk / Eel | Syracuse |
| 21 | Brant Davis | Attack | Mohawk / Bear | |
| 22 | Louie Mitchell | Midfield | Mohawk / Wolf | |
| 24 | Peter Hill | Defense | Cayuga / Heron | |
| 25 | Dave Bray | Midfield | Seneca / Wolf | Cornell |
| 26 | Kevin Martin | Defense | Onondaga / Eel | Hobart |
| 27 | Barry Powless | Midfield | Onondaga / Eel | |
| 28 | Randy Crysler | Defense | Tuscarora / Turtle | |
| | Kimball Paterson | General Manager | Tuscarora / Turtle | |
| | Jim Bissell | Team manager | | |
| | Sid Jamieson | Coach | Seneca | Cortland / Bucknell |
| | Ron Doctor | Coach | Mohawk | Onondaga Indian School |

### 2010s

2010 Hawaii Invitational roster :
| Name | Position |
| Marty Ward | Goalie |
| Spencer Lyons | Goalie |
| Marshall Abrams | Defense |
| Sid Smith | Defense |
| Charles Jacobs | Defense |
| Isaiah Kicknosway | Defense |
| Ron Cogan | Defense |
| Alex Kedoh Hill | Defense |
| Brett Bucktooth | Midfield |
| James Cathers | Midfield |
| Mike Lazore | Midfield |
| Aaron Printup | Midfield |
| Mike White | Midfield |
| Craig Point | Midfield |
| Matt Alexander | Midfield |
| Cody Jamieson | Attack |
| Gewas Schindler | Attack |
| Drew Bucktooth | Attack |
| Emmett Printup | Attack |
| Jim Barnes | |
| Casey Swamp | |
| Brandon Swamp | |
| Justin Gill | |
| Grant Bucktooth | |
| Cam Bomberry | Coach |
| Ross Bucktooth | Coach |
| Ed Shenandoah | Coach |
| Ansley Jemison | Coach |
| Mark Burnam | Coach |
| Jerome Thompson | Coach |

### 2020s

2021 Super Sixes roster :
| Name | Position |
| Lyle Thompson | - |
| Jeremy Thompson | - |
| Ty Thompson | - |
| Brendan Bomberry | - |
| Kyle Jackson | - |
| Tehoka Nanticoke | - |
| Jake Fox | - |
| Ron John | - |
| Mike Lazore | - |
| Shonwahnonkon Thompson | - |
| Larson Sundown | - |
| Koleton Marquis | - |
| Trey Deere | - |
| Ty Armstrong | - |
| Marshall Powless | - |
| Jakob Patterson | - |
| Kedoh Hill | - |
| Leroy Halftown | - |
| Oakley Thomas | - |
| Kason Tarbell | - |
| Vern Hill | - |
| Warren Hill | Goalie |
| Jack Vanvalkenburgh | Goalie |
| Peter Milliman | Head coach |
| Jim Barnes | Assistant coach |
| Nick Edinger | Equipment Manager |
| Sonny Shenandoah | Trainer |
| Roger Chrysler | General Manager |
| Darcy Powless | Assistant General Manager |
| Brian Wong | Lacrosse Operations |
| Jason Johnson | Advisor |
| Mayan Adams | Advisor |
| Charlie Ragusa | Communications |