Coming up, Twin Cities Native Lacrosse is recruiting new players and getting the word out about the sport.
And, a food sovereignty initiative, grounded in community, strives to increase both food independence… and accessibility to Native foods.
Transcript
Marie: This is Minnesota Native News, I’m Marie Rock.
Headlines: Coming up, Twin Cities Native Lacrosse is recruiting new players and getting the word out about the sport.
And, a food sovereignty initiative… grounded in community… strives to increase both food independence… and accessibility to Native foods.
Here’s Leah Lemm with these stories.
STORY #1 - TWIN CITIES NATIVE LACROSSE
Leah: 2019 marks the fifth year of existence for Twin Cities Native Lacrosse.
John Hunter: Twin Cities Native Lacrosse is an organization that promotes healthy wellbeing to native families through this sport of Lacrosse.
Leah: John Hunter is the founder and director of the lacrosse club.
John Hunter: It was a gift from creator. And the responsibility that comes with that game has been carried on and passed on through hundreds of years. Each tribe has its own origin stories and um, specific protocols and meanings to the game.
The essence of and the honor value of the game, that's the shared by all and it's been passed on teen care for so long is that this is a game that's meant to bring, uh, the community, the, the nations together. It's meant to be rigorous and, and inspiring and it's meant to heal.
Leah: While in high school, a mentor encouraged John to start a team, and with help from friends, he did. And he continued to play in college.
Then in 2014… John heard about a grant opportunity through the Tiwahe Foundation, so with guidance from community members and elders … John applied for and received a grant to start a Lacrosse team.
John Hunter: I bought a, I think 20 sticks and made some goalposts and got two friends to help coach. And we set out just through Facebook and social media and ask the community to come and check out the game. And, uh, and that's how we got started.
Leah: Now,… John wants to encourage youth, families and community members to get involved. With the emphasis that everyone is welcome and that there is a place for all.
There are lots of opportunities, including skills clinics, community games, and more.
John Hunter: We're doing tons of traditional hands in May we also have some things coming up in the summer, some possible tournaments. And then in fall, fall season is our big season for some modern stick youth leagues for boys and girls. So that starts right after the August, beginning of September.
We're also also looking for folks that may be interested in participating in North American indigenous games. Um, next summer. That's the summer of 2020. That is in Canada. We are starting to talk about possibly how we can get a team to represent the state of Minnesota, those games.
Leah: Twin Cities Native Lacrosse can be found on Facebook and is available by email tc.native.lacrosse@gmail.com.
STORY #2 - OGEMA ORGANICS
Leah: Next, I talk with leaders of Ogema Organics. I met JoDan Rousu and Bridget Guiza at the 16th Annual Indigenous Farming Conference in Callaway, MN.
JoDan Rousu: Ogema Organics. We founded it in 2017 2016. What Ogema organics is, is a food sovereignty initiative for White Earth Yeah.
Leah: JoDan Rousu is the COO and founder of Ogema Organics which is working to create food sovereignty and access to more local fresh food.
JoDan Rousu: Food is medicine. It was traditionally during our feasts and celebrations when, when it's time to feast the, the younger people would dish up the elders and bring them a plate.
The youth are watching us. If they see us bringing a plate to the elders, they learn that, but they're watching what we put on the plate.
Leah: Community is the foundation of the organization’s operation. Bridget Guiza is the CEO of Ogema Organics.
Bridget Guiza: We've also intentionally been transparent with the community about our approach and our intentions and the vision that created it. But it's guided by the community. And so we do meet up informally and formally with various community members and just mentioned what we're doing and get their feedback in that way.
That's one thing I want to be very clear about is that yeah, we're Ogema organics, but it's much bigger than that.
Leah: For Minnesota Native News, I’m Leah Lemm.