Members of the Senate Republican Conference have urged the International Olympic Committee to include the Haudenosaunee Lacrosse team in the 2028 Olympic Games. A letter was sent to IOC President Kirsty Coventry advocating for the inclusion of the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, whose traditional territory lies within New York State.
“The genesis of lacrosse can be traced back to Native American tribes of the 12th century, and to them lacrosse was more than just a game, it held significant cultural and spiritual importance,” said Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt. He emphasized that Native American tribes should be represented as an independent nation in the Olympics.
Senator George Borrello stated, “The game of lacrosse is one of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy’s greatest gifts to the world, and their exclusion from Olympic play would be both historically and morally wrong.” Senator Joe Griffo noted that including the team would allow recognition and celebration of Native American heritage.
Senator Dan Stec added that allowing representation at the Olympics acknowledges these cultures’ roles in creating lacrosse. The letter concludes with a plea for favorable consideration of their request.
