Looking Onward – Box Lacrosse and the Niagara 2022 Games
The return of box lacrosse to the Canada Games is an important step in the re-establishment of the sport that had been overshadowed by other more popular sports like hockey.37 For individuals like Piers McDonald, the re-inclusion of box lacrosse is exciting and builds on the work established at the 2007 Games. As he says: “The Games as an event itself is a culmination of a lot of stories and the beginning of a lot of stories.” By learning more about the sport, non-Indigenous individuals can understand the historical background lacrosse has to First Nations and to modern Canada. Indigenous lacrosse athletes can hopefully reconnect to their culture, history, and traditions through sport and feel empowered to represent their people, especially with Indigenous leaders at the forefront of programme planning. When it comes to young athletes of all nations, it should be an all-hands-on-deck approach to empower and provide them the satisfaction they deserve. "In terms of the broadcast of the Games, really hope that we could find ways to champion young people who are going to the Games whether they end up winning or not. Doesn't matter. The fact that they are trying hard to get there is all that helps, and we should hear about these people, wherever they are."
