The Irish lacrosse team gave up a spot in the World Games so a Six Nations team from WNY could have it. The Native American team marched with them in Buffalo’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
The point was echoed beautifully by Claudia Jimerson, a Lake Shore High School All-American from the Cattaraugus territory who went on to play at SUNY Fredonia, who was later captain of the Haudenosaunee Nationals women’s team and eventually became a Nationals board member and director of women’s lacrosse operations.
She said the people of the Six Nations are passionate competitors while on the lacrosse field, but the larger and essential meaning of the game always transcends wins and losses.
“What Ireland did really sheds light on how we feel about it,” she said. “It was an honorable thing to do and we appreciate it and have a lot of respect for it that we know is reciprocal.”
At the core, Jimerson said, her people view lacrosse as a means of thanksgiving for everything provided by the Creator. A major part of that appreciation is the day-to-day expression of empathy, a lifetime discipline of truly seeing one another, meaning the Irish players reflected an understanding at the heart of the game.
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