Iroquois Nationals Staff Writers
Contact: info@IroquoisNationals.org
August 3, 2018, Haudenosaunee Territory – The Iroquois Nationals arrive in Netanya, Israel to participate in the Federation of International Lacrosse World Championships.
The road to the lacrosse world games had a few bumps and spins for the Haudenosaunee’s national sport team this year but they landed on their feet physically and spiritually.
The Iroquois Nationals’ air flight to Israel departed from Toronto, Canada on Wednesday, July 11th, a two-day delay from the originally flight scheduled for Monday July 9th. The July 9th delay opened international discussions around the Haudenosaunee country code “HAU”. Country codes are used by the airlines for data interfacing.
To travel by air internationally each passenger must have a passport issued by a nation declaring the holder the right to passage. All nations reserve the right to allow or not allow non-citizens to enter their country. The two established methods for nation to nation travel is either through visa documentation or diplomatic consular relations; a process secured by the embassy/consulate system.
The Haudenosaunee sport’s team, the Iroquois Nationals, travel on the Haudenosaunee passport a fundamental application of nation sovereignty. The Haudenosaunee is a nation. One of the oldest nations in the world. The Haudenosaunee Nation governs a land base since time immemorial, has six distinct languages, an economic system, a national flag, anthem, and most importantly a governmental structure with government to government treaty relationships.
“Travelling on the Haudenosaunee passports is at the core of the Iroquois Nationals program,” said Ansley Jemison, Executive Director of the Iroquois Nationals to CBC News.
The Iroquois Nationals apply for travel documentation through the visa method by submitting a request for a short term visitor sports visa. The Iroquois Nationals guarantee financial support for all athletes, confirm character, and non-immigration status. The Israeli local organizing committee worked diligently with both the Canadian and Israeli governments to encourage a travel resolution to the restrictions involving the Iroquois Nationals leaving North America.
The visas were granted
Diplomatic success. On Wednesday, July 11th the Haudenosaunee Iroquois Nationals are granted safe passage following positive discussions between Canada, Israel, and the Iroquois Nationals. The team arrived at the Israeli airport terminal on Thursday, July 12, 2018 following an 11-hour flight with an added 7-hour time change. The Iroquois Nationals travel and enter the country of Israel on their Haudenosaunee passports.
The ten-day trip to the continental region near the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea, sits Netanya, Israel which serves as the host city for the 2018 World Lacrosse Championships. It is the first time in modern history that a delegation of 25 Haudenosaunee passport holders enters the country of Israel. This trip provided the continuance of the Haudenosaunee game of Dehontshigwaehs as a relevant diplomatic and cultural share for the FIL-World Lacrosse games and the 45 world countries in attendance.
The Iroquois Nationals 2018’s twenty-three-man roster of Haudenosaunee, Ojibwe, and Metis to the 39th World Lacrosse Championships:
| Gia:ji/Name | Nation | Community |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin Staats | Mohawk | Six Nations |
| 2 | Lyle Thompson | Onondaga | Onondaga |
| 3 | Ty Thompson | Mohawk | Akwesasne |
| 4 | Tehoka Nanticoke | Mohawk | Six Nations |
| 5 | Randy Staats | Mohawk | Six Nations |
| 6 | Miles Thompson | Onondaga | Onondaga |
| 7 | Kyle Jackson | A= amjiwnaang Ojibwe | Aamjiwnaang |
| 8 | Brendan Bomberry | Mohawk | Six Nations |
| 9 | Hiana Thompson | Onondaga | Onondaga |
| 10 | Ron John | Seneca | Cattaraugus |
| 11 | Chase Scanlan | Seneca | Cattaraugus |
| 12 | Jeremy Thompson | Onondaga | Onondaga |
| 13 | Frankie Brown | Seneca | Allegheny |
| 14 | Mike Lazore | Mohawk | Carthage |
| 15 | Tyson Bomberry | Oneida | Six Nations |
| 16 | Liam Anderson | Tuscarora | Tuscarora |
| 17 | Jerry Staats | Oneida | Six Nations |
| 18 | Jake Fox | Woodland Metis | Nova Scotia |
| 19 | Johnson Jimerson | Seneca | Cattaraugus |
| 20 | Tayler Smoke | Mohawk | Akwesasne |
| 21 | Warren Hill | Mohawk | Six Nations |
| 22 | Oran Horn | Mohawk | Kanewake |
| 23 | Tyler Armstrong | Mohawk | Akwesasne |
The Haudenosaunee’s lacrosse team is in Netanya, Israel to participate in the 2018 Mens World Field Lacrosse Championships. The coaching staff is led by Mark Burnam, Haudenosaunee Mohawk (IMG Academy Coach), Brett Bucktooth, Haudenosaunee Oneida (NLL/MLL
Professional Lacrosse Player), Lars Tiffany (University of Virginia Head Coach), and Scott Marr (University of Albany Head Coach). The ten-day tournament began on July 12th, the same day the Iroquois Nationals arrived in Tel Aviv with only a few hours to spare before their first match during the WLC’s opening ceremonies at Netanya Stadium.
A daily game data-recap of the world lacrosse series for the Iroquois Nationals.
| Game | Date | Day | Opponent | Score IN:Opponent | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7/12/18 | 20:30 | USA | 9:17 | Blue Div Loss |
| 2 | 7/14/18 | 18:45 | England | 18:7 | Blue Div Win |
| 3 | 7/15/18 | 20:15 | Australia | 16:9 | Blue Div Win |
| 4 | 7/16/18 | 21:00 | Canada | 5:10 | Blue Div Loss |
| 5 | 7/17/18 | 18:45 | Scotland | 14:7 | Blue Div Win |
| 6 | 7/18/18 | 18:00 | Puerto Rico | 14:7 | Won Cross Over |
| 7 | 7/19/18 | 18:00 | Canada | 4:15 | Lost Semi Blue |
| 8 | 7/20/18 | 20:00 | Australia | 14:12 | Won Bronze |
The Haudenosaunee Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team played 8 games, 7 games straight in a row, achieving an overall record of 5 wins; England, Australia, Puerto Rico, & Scotland while consenting 3 international matches between the Canadian and the U.S. national teams.
Saturday, July 21st the All World Team selection announced an outstanding Haudenosaunee Nationals player, Austin Staats, a Mohawk citizen from the Six Nations community for this highly revered player award.
At the tournament’s conclusion, only three countries can earn the prestigious medals of lacrosse excellence. The gold, silver, bronze accomplishments go to U.S., Canada, and the Haudenosaunee. The Iroquois Nationals wins a Bronze Medal anointing the 3rd place position amongst the nations of the world.
The medal accolades cannot overshadow the good-will ambassadorship the Iroquois National team represents to the game of lacrosse. The team willingly gave time for Six Nations tykes, lacrosse clinics for youth teams from Hehilat Tzfat, to cultural exchanges with the newest members of the world lacrosse family; Team Uganda and Team Peru.
As the world lacrosse tournament closes, the Nationals are befittingly named the “Peoples Champion.” The team took quality time to speak with players from numerous national teams, sign autographs with fans for hours, and brought an atmosphere of grassroots lacrosse excitement to the 2018 World Lacrosse Games. A lacrosse team with gold medalist charisma, the Iroquois Nationals won the hearts of their people and the peoples of the world.
The Iroquois Nationals say “Niawen – Thank You” to the Haudenosaunee, Indigenous peoples, lacrosse fans, and enthusiasts for their moral and financial support. Niawenha is respectfully extended to the Israeli Organizing Committee, the FIL, the 45 National Lacrosse Teams representing all four directions of Mother Earth, and the vast number of individuals who supported and made the Iroquois Nationals participation in the 2018 World Lacrosse Championships possible.
The Haudenosaunee lacrosse team acknowledges all efforts were the best possible as the Creator’s enjoyment transcends through the gift of Dehontshigwaehs. Done:toh.
The Iroquois Nationals 2018 extends a special Niawenha to the 2010 Iroquois Nationals Men Lacrosse Team and the 2015 Haudenosaunee Women Lacrosse Team for modeling perseverance, courage, and the strength of each individual world class athlete which bonds The Team. When You Stand Tall, We Stand Tall.
