The Haudenosaunee Nationals lacrosse team is dedicated to asserting their presence in the sport that their forebears originated. Both the men’s and women’s squads are currently participating in the Sixes Cup in Puerto Rico, marking their sixth foray into PALA competition. This tournament is overseen by the Pan-American Lacrosse Association, a Continental Federation under World Lacrosse. The event spans from Wednesday to Sunday.
In the previous PALA Tournament in Florida this year, the women’s team clinched a bronze medal, securing a spot in the 2026 World Lacrosse Women’s Field Championships in Tokyo. Jalyn Jimerson, a 25-year-old player representing the Haudenosaunee Nationals and a member of the Cayuga Nation in southern Ontario, highlighted the burgeoning talent within the Nationals league.
The Haudenosaunee Nationals are actively campaigning to participate in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles under their own flag when Sixes makes its Olympic debut. Collaborating with World Lacrosse, the board of directors is striving to make this aspiration a reality.
Despite the historical trauma endured by her community, Jalyn Jimerson emphasized the resilience and strength that continue to define their people and their sport. The Nationals organization has engaged in preliminary discussions with World Lacrosse and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), with hopes of eventually meeting with IOC president Kirsty Coventry.
World Lacrosse has recognized and endorsed The Haudenausee as a national team, facilitating their involvement in international competitions and advocating for their inclusion on the global athletic stage. The road to Olympic recognition poses challenges as the Haudenosaunee Confederacy lacks recognition as a sovereign nation by the United Nations and does not possess a National Olympic Committee (NOC), a prerequisite for Olympic participation under the Olympic Charter.
While the team’s Olympic eligibility remains uncertain, their affiliation with World Lacrosse allows them to enter the PALA Championships next year, serving as a qualifier for the 2027 World Sixes Championships.
Bean Minerd, a 30-year-old Nationals player and head coach for Buffalo State Women’s Lacrosse from the Onondaga Nation, shared her vision of walking through the Olympic tunnel alongside her teammates with their flag proudly waving above them, evoking a sense of pride and anticipation.
Both the U.S. and Canadian governments have voiced their support for the inclusion of Haudenosaunee in the Olympics, amplifying the team’s voice and instilling hope among the players. The sport of lacrosse is gaining global prominence, but the question of whether its creators will receive Olympic recognition looms.
Before the modern iteration of lacrosse emerged, the game held ceremonial significance within Haudenosaunee culture. Although women did not traditionally partake in ceremonial lacrosse, they embody its principles on the field for the Nationals.
Jalyn Jimerson and Minerd view their team as a tight-knit family, cherishing their bond and admiring each other’s work ethic. Despite facing numerous obstacles, the team perseveres, surpassing every challenge they encounter.
Donning the Nationals jersey empowers Jalyn Jimerson as she stands shoulder to shoulder with her teammates, honoring her ancestors who were deprived of the opportunity to play. The tournament in progress presents yet another chance for players like Minerd and Jalyn to pay homage to their culture and heritage, with hopes that Olympic recognition may be on the horizon.