Eastern Woodland Lacrosse

THE ORGANIZATION'S PRIMARY MISSION IS TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL BOYS, GIRLS, MEN, AND WOMEN TO PLAY TEAM SPORTS TOGETHER, WHERE THEY CAN LEARN ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND LIFE LESSONS IN WAYS THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH BEST PRACTICES IN LIFE. THERE IS HIGH PRIDE IN REPRESENTING YOUR TEAM. WE WANT TO BRING THAT TRADITION BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY.

THE ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAMS ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1.INDIGENOUS FOOD SOVERNIGHTY - FOOD SOVEREIGNTY IS THE ABILITY OF AN INDIGENOUS NATION OR COMMUNITY TO CONTROL ITS OWN FOOD SYSTEM AND FOOD- PRODUCING RESOURCES FREE OF CONTROL OR LIMITATIONS PUT ON IT BY AN OUTSIDE POWER. WE HAVE TWO INITIATIVES, YESA INDIGENOUS GARDENS AND A ELDER FOOD PROGRAM. 2.RIGHTS OF NATURE - RIGHTS OF WATER. OUR ORGANIZATION, WHICH IS COMMITTED TO ALIGNING HUMAN LAW WITH THE LAWS OF THE NATURAL WORLD THROUGH OUR WORK WITH INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES. OUR TRADITIONAL ACTIVITIES DEPEND ON WATER FOR TRANSPORTATION, DRINKING, CLEANING, PURIFICATION, AND PROVIDE HABITAT FOR THE PLANTS AND ANIMALS WE GATHER AS MEDICINES AND FOODS. 3.RE-EDUCATION FOR INDIGENOUS HISTORY - OUR PROGRAM ENSURES THAT COLLEGES/GRADE SCHOOL/HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS LEARN THE HISTORY OF ABUSE AT THOSE BOARDING SCHOOLS THAT ONCE TRIED TO ERASE INDIGENOUS CULTURE. WE ALSO FOCUS LOCALLY ON VIRGINIA AND NC, WHICH THEY ALSO LEARN ABOUT: 1 FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBE IN NC, 7 STATE RECOGNIZED AND SEVERAL UNRECOGNIZED TRIBES IN NC, TRIBAL GOVERNANCE, ECONOMIES OF EARLY CIVILIZATIONS, THE TRAIL OF TEARS, CAUSES OF THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR, AND MORE. OUR INITIATIVES INCLUDE TRUTHSGIVING, INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S DAY, SOUTHEASTERN WORKSHOP TEACH INS AND A JULY 3 DECOLONIAL BBQ. 4.CULTURAL EDUCATION - THIS PROGRAM EDUCATES TRIBAL COMMUNITIES TO LEARN HOW TO MAKE MOCCASINS, RIBBON SKIRTS, BEADED JEWELRY AND MUCH MORE. WE TEACH AT COMMUNITY CENTERS AND LIBRARIES. OUR TWO INITIATIVES ARE CULTURE CLASSES AND TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE TO ENGAGE TRIBAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS. 5.FOSSIL FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE - WE ARE EDUCATING PEOPLE IN BIPOC AND ECONOMICALLY CHALLENGED COMMUNITIES TO MOVE TO CLEANER ENERGY. PIPELINES AND EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES ARE COMING THROUGH RURAL COMMUNITIES. OUR INITIATIVES INCLUDE SACRED PLACES REMAINING OF WATER AND SACRED SITES IN NORTH CAROLINA, EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY AROUND PROPERTY RIGHTS AND PIPELINE RESISTANCE. 6.YOUTH ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS - INDIGENOUS YOUTH IN PARTICULAR CONTINUE TO FACE RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION AND ARE MARGINALIZED IN SOCIETY. WHEN THEY HAVE A SENSE OF BELONGING AND STRONG CULTURAL IDENTITY, THEY BECOME RESILIENT, POWERFUL INDIVIDUALS. THEY HAVE IMMERSED ROOTS THROUGH THEIR ANCESTRAL LINEAGE, WISDOM, AND INTELLIGENCE. THEY ARE THE FUTURE LEADERS FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES. IT IS CRITICAL TO RESTORE LEADERSHIP FROM THE EROSION OF THEIR TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE PRACTICES AND HABITAT, SO THAT THEY CAN BEGIN TO CREATE A MORE SUSTAINABLE INTERDEPENDENT SYSTEM FOR THE COMING GENERATIONS.