The NG Times Newspaper

An exhibit about the history of lacrosse in Akwesasne culture is on loan to the Merrickville Blockhouse Museum from the Akwesasne Cultural Museum until Thanksgiving weekend.

The exhibit explores the unique history of lacrosse and how it is intertwined with Akwesasne and its people. The walk-through exhibit is in the shape of a traditional longhouse, and displays art and descriptive panels which provide insight into the game’s spiritual roots, and the history of the Mohawk nation.

Vice President of the Merrickville and District Historical Society, Michael Wittaker, approached the Akwesasne Cultural Centre in early 2017, when he discovered the exhibit online.

“For the celebration of Canada 150, I strongly believed the historical society should commemorate the peoples Europeans met on their arrival,” said Michael. Reaching out to the Mohawks of Akwesasne seemed the logical choice, because the Reserve straddles the international border at Cornwall and is conveniently close to Merrickville.

“The lacrosse exhibit gives insight into Mohawk culture, and fits nicely on the second floor of the Blockhouse Museum,” Michael says.

Akwesasne youth were the main developers of the travelling exhibit, which began in January, 2010. The goals were to learn about lacrosse and to develop an exhibit about the most important things they learned. The young people learned about the cultural origins of the game, its history, the process of making a wooden stick, and the game itself. The project’s advisor was Dave White, who was a lacrosse player and a coach worldwide

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