It’s been nearly a decade since the Iroquois Nationals have played in the World Lacrosse Championships. Now, the only indigenous lacrosse team competing internationally as a sovereign nation, is in Denver aiming to compete for the gold medal.

“This is sort of like the redemption tour for our guys,” said Marty Ward, goalie on the 27-man roster.

So far they’ve won three of their four games with a crucial contest against the USA coming Tuesday. In 2010, the Iroquois Nationals made international headlines when they were forced to forfeit the Lacrosse World Championships in England. The group was travelling on their Iroquois nation’s own passports.

Read more at CBC News | Photo by Kenny Frost