The Iroquois Nationals are the national lacrosse team of the Six Nations/Iroquois and compete in international competition. The team was first admitted to the International Lacrosse Federation in 1987. It is the only First Nations team sanctioned to compete in any sport internationally and is typically ranked among the top five in world lacrosse.
History
The Iroquois Nationals took part in their first international competition at the 1990 World Lacrosse Championships, finishing fifth.
In 2008, the Iroquois Confederacy, under the name Haudenosaunee Nation, became a full member of the International Federation of Women's Lacrosse Associations (IFWLA) at that organization's final meeting. The women's organization merged with ILF to form the sport's new unified governing body, the Federation of International Lacrosse.
Nike deal
In 2006, the Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse Program signed a partnership with Nike, Inc. in which Nike will provide the Nationals with their brand uniforms, clothing, footwear, and other equipment. The company is to develop programs to "promote wellness-and-fitness activities in Native American communities throughout the region", and team members may go to speak to local groups. Team members will also assist in testing of sustainable produced sportswear for Nike's research and development of processes to use non-toxic dyes and biodegradable organic cotton.
Nike is the only Fortune 500 company to have such a relationship with a Native American organization, and the Iroquois Nationals are the only such group.
2014 World Lacrosse Championships roster
2015 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship roster
TBA after June 25-26, 2015 tryouts
Box lacrosse
World Indoor Lacrosse Championship
- 2003 - Bronze
- 2007 - Bronze
- 2011 - Bronze
- 2015 - TBD
The Iroquois Nationals have been competing in the World Indoor Lacrosse Championship since the first competition in 2003. They reached the semifinals on all three championships, losing to Canada on all three occasions.
Field lacrosse
World Lacrosse Championship
- 1998 - 4th
- 2002 - 4th
- 2006 - 4th
- 2010 - DNP (UK refused to issue visas for the Nationals with their Iroquois passports)
- 2014 - Bronze (def. Australia 16-5)
Under-19 World Lacrosse Championships
- 1999 - 4th
- 2003 - 4th
- 2008 - Bronze (def. England 19-10)
- 2012 - Bronze (def. England 18-1)
- 2016 - TBD
See also
- First Nations Lacrosse Association (FNLA)
- Iroquois Lacrosse Arena
- Native American stickball
References
External links
- Iroquois Nationals
- Ditota, Donna (2006-07-13). "Iroquois Nationals fitted with dignity". Syracuse Post-Standard. Retrieved 2006-07-28.Â