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Kimball Union Magazine Spring/Summer 2023
Power of the Game
Indigenous lacrosse teammates share the gift of their culture.
Bleyton Hopps-Thompson ’25 can’t recall a day when he didn’t have a lacrosse stick in his hands. Birth, he believes, was his introduction to the game.
“That’s just how it is back home,” he says. “Everyone starts playing lacrosse at a young age.”
Home for Hopps-Thompson is the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation, or Akwesasne. Located in northern New York and southeastern Ontario, Canada, it is home to the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe. Hopps-Thompson arrived at KUA as a freshman, following in the footsteps of his father, Evan Thompson ’96, who also played ice hockey and lacrosse for the Wildcats.
Lacrosse is one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States, but with its meteoric rise it has also developed a reputation as a game for the privileged East Coast elite. However, lacrosse is rooted in Native American tradition and today Indigenous communities are trying to change the narrative by reclaiming their culture, educating the public on the sport’s origins, and competing on the world stage.
“I’m happy [our message] is spreading to different people,” says KUA teammate Joiise John ’23.
“More people playing is more competition and more enjoyment.”
Last fall, Hopps-Thompson and John qualified for the Brogden Cup; part of the USA Fall Classic hosted by USA Lacrosse in Maryland. Each played for development teams under the Haudenosaunee Nationals men’s team—John with the U18 team and Hopps-Thompson with the U16 team—taking on the U.S. and Canadian teams. Last spring, Hopps-Thompson was also selected to play in the Heritage Cup for the U15 team.
The Haudenosaunee Nationals team, formerly the Iroquois Nationals, represents the six nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy: Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora. The men’s and women’s teams are seeking entrance into the International Olympic Committee to compete as a nation when lacrosse returns to the Olympics in 2028.
“We are a sovereign nation, but we don’t have our own sovereign land,” said John, a member of the Seneca Nation. “We’re a separate nation, and I think about it as playing for a people, not a set of lands.”
Lacrosse holds profound significance for all the athletes playing for the Haudenosaunee teams. “It’s considered medicine and it’s good for your spirit. This is a game we play for the Creator,” John explains. “Obviously, it’s a game and I do want to win, but it has a deeper meaning. You’re supposed to feel good practicing and playing it.”
Lacrosse as medicine is why Hopps-Thompson and his family gathered for a game of lacrosse after his grandmother’s death last year. “It helps everyone come together and be thankful for the time you had. It was one final game she could see.” He also points to the power of the game after an exhausting day in class. “I’ll walk up to the field, and as soon as I pick up my lacrosse stick I have so much energy and excitement.”
At KUA, John and Hopps-Thompson also see the practical side of their talents. While both are excited by the idea of one day securing a spot on the men’s national team, their immediate goals are to leverage lacrosse for opportunities in college. John, who graduated in May, heads to Cornell University where he hopes to pursue his dream of becoming a dermatologist.
“Bleyton and Joiise’s contributions to the team go way beyond their lacrosse skills,” says Nick Antol, KUA varsity boys lacrosse head coach. “They have been culture-changers. I assume most American youth players are aware of the sport’s history but don’t do a great job of honoring its past. Bleyton and Joiise play the game the right way; they’re passionate, tough, and remarkably unselfish. They lead by example, and our guys want to emulate that.”
As for the work of changing the lacrosse narrative, athletes such as John and Hopps-Thompson still find ignorance and resistance along the way.
In a game with KUA last year, members of an opposing team taunted Hopps-Thompson for his long hair, a symbol of strength and power to Indigenous people. Hopps-Thompson took to social media to reflect on the experience and help others understand his heritage. “This game was a gift to my people, Hotinonshòn:ni, from our creator, Shonkwai’tison, and our gift to the world—so we must treat it as one. Honor it. Play with good intentions, play hard, and most importantly, play with respect.” K
