PRESS RELEASE: June 22, 2011
Contacts: Teresa Mitchell, 315-646-1000 x202, Kirk Ventiquattro, school: 315-493-5020; Alfie Jacques, 315-558-9695

Lacrosse is Focus of July Programs at Great Lakes Seaway Trail Center

Sackets Harbor, NY -  The game of lacrosse, its history and its life applications are the focus of a new exhibit and two programs by two of the game’s notable proponents at the Great Lakes Seaway Trail Discovery Center in Sackets Harbor, NY, in July.

The “Tewa’a:raton lakwa’tswa:tha: Lacrosse, Our Game” exhibit created by Mohawk youth working with the Akwesasne Cultural Center Museum at Hogansburg, NY, will be at the Discovery Center July 9-17. The development of the exhibit was made possible with support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

“Lacrosse is hugely popular in the US, Canada and in many countries across the world, but many fans are unaware of the Native origins of the game. This traveling exhibit, co-curated by Mohawk youth, explores the origins of lacrosse and carries the Mohawk cultural message of ‘Think about how you play the game and how you live your life,’” says Akwesasne Museum Curator Sue Ellen Herne.

The Wall Street Journal recently reported that the number of boys and girls in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut has grown to more than 91,000, according to the US Lacrosse governing body. There has been a 40 percent increase in the number of children playing the game in the New York City area since 2006.

On July 9, at 6:30pm at the Great Lakes Seaway Trail Discovery Center, US Lacrosse Hall of Fame Coach Kirk Ventiquattro will present “Lacrosse: Origin and Application.” Ventiquattro started the lacrosse program at Carthage Central School in 1988 and has coached more than 30 players who became NCAA Division I college lacrosse players. He will present an overview of the “Baggataway” story and how he applies the game to prepare his players for life.

On July 16 at 6:30pm at the Great Lakes Seaway Trail Discovery Center, traditional handmade lacrosse stickmaker, coach and retired player Alfie Jacques of the Onondaga Nation Turtle Clan will present “The Art of Making Handmade Wooden Lacrosse Sticks.” Jacques has made box and field lacrosse sticks for more than 47 years. He is featured for his artisanship in the film “Sacred Sport” and his sticks are part of the Lacrosse Foundation Hall of Fame Museum in Baltimore, MD. He will share his personal collection of sticks at this July 16 program.

The evening program fee is $5; free with military ID.

The lacrosse exhibit and speakers are sponsored by Advanced Business Systems of Watertown, NY.
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