The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
‘Lacrosse Stick Maker’ highlights ancient art
ROMEN, N.Y. » On Aug. 3 at 6 p.m., the Rome Historical Society will present “Lacrosse Stick Maker,” an award-winning film produced by the Oneida Indian Nation.
As part of the PACT First Fridays Series, this documentary follows Ron Patterson, an Oneida Turtle Clan member and the only remaining Oneida Indian Nation lacrosse stick maker, from his ritual of asking the Creator for help in picking the right tree in the forest to steaming and bending the wood into a traditional lacrosse stick.
The game of lacrosse dates back to the time of creation in Haudenosaunee ( Iroquois) culture. Tra- ditional lacrosse games were often major events that could last several days with as many as 1,000 men from opposing villages or tribes participating. These games were sometimes associated with festivals and often served as entertainment or to resolve disputes among tribes. Most importantly it was played for re- ligious and spiritual reasons.
Today, wooden lacrosse stick making is a sacred tradition which has been handed down from generation to generation. “The Oneidas and other Iroquois nations have used lacrosse sticks for thousands of years,” Patterson explained. “The game of lacrosse, it goes back to the creation story, where the good brother and the bad brother tried to beat each other at games. The good brother won the game of lacrosse.”
Lacrosse, as played by the Haudenosaunee, most closely resembles the modern game played today. It is a game that remains sa- cred to its people and is currently the fastest-growing sport in America.
This program is part of the PACT First Fridays Series in Downtown Rome. PACT (Parks, Arts, Culture, and Tourism) was founded in 2017 through a partnership between Rome Historical Society-Friends of the Fort and Fort Stanwix National Monument in order to encourage collaboration among community organizations with the purpose of collectively contributing to the cultural and economic vitality of Rome. PACT First Fridays provide collaborative monthly programming in the heart of downtown with partners providing experiences for visitors that include entertainment and family-friendly activities. For more information regarding First Fridays programs and PACT Partners please check out www.pactrome.org.
Other First Fridays at the Rome Historical Society include:
Sept. 7 at 5 p.m. - Kids Bike Rodeo and Presentation featuring bicycles from the RHS Collection
Oct. 5 at 6:30 p.m. - Unique Museum Flashlight Tour of the Rome Historical Society
The Rome Historical Society is located at 200 Church Street in Rome, N.Y. For more information, call 315-336-5870 or visit romehistoricalsociety.org.