A Voice in the Wilderness Archive
This I Believe: The Creator’s Game
Each year, Grade 12 students at Shawnigan Lake School take part in a program called “This I Believe,” where they write an essay about something extremely close to their heart and read it to their classmates. Alex Nelson, a member of the Snuneymuxw First Nation, wrote about the sport of lacrosse – known in some Indigenous cultures as “the Creator’s Game” and “the Medicine Game” – and what it means to her as an Indigenous person. This I Believe falls in June, which is also – appropriately for Alex’s essay – National Indigenous History Month, and June 21 is recognized as National Indigenous Peoples Day.
I believe in the Medicine Game.
I've been playing lacrosse for as long as I can remember, and it's a sport that has meant more to me than just being a game. The sport connects me with my ancestors, some of whom are no longer with us. It’s a sacred tradition that connects me to my culture; it’s the Creator’s Game that shaped me into who I am and continue to grow into.
From a young age, I was immersed in stories of how my ancestors played the Creator’s Game; it was a way to avoid going to war with another tribe. When the stick was held, it was a way for my people to honour the Creator, heal the sick, and strengthen the community and its bonds. I immediately connected to this legacy. The stick, traditionally crafted from cedar and strung with leather, is a living piece of our history.
Lacrosse instills in me the values of respect, resilience, and reciprocity. Respect for the game and others reflects our cultural emphasis on honoring the world around us. Resilience is mirrored in the perseverance required to play, much like the perseverance of our people through history. Reciprocity is seen in the teamwork and community effort essential to the game, highlighting the importance of giving back and supporting one another.
The spiritual aspect of the Creator’s Game is vibrant; it is a way I can always have a way to thank the Creator, seek healing, and celebrate unity between my teammates and myself. Before each game, I reflect on its sacredness, feeling a sense of purpose and connection to my community and culture. Lacrosse bridges generations, allowing me to bond with elders who share their wisdom and younger players to whom I pass on these teachings. This continuity keeps our cultural significance vibrant and alive. In a world often disconnected from tradition, lacrosse anchors me to my roots. It reminds me that I am part of a lineage of warriors, healers, and storytellers.
Through the Medicine Game, I honor my past, embrace my present, and carry forward my people's legacy.
This I believe.
Alex Nelson is a Grade 12 student at Shawnigan Lake School and a proud member of the Snuneymuxw First Nation. In the last year, she has won gold medals for Team BC in lacrosse at the North American Indigenous Games and ice hockey at the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships. She will be attending the University of British Columbia starting in the fall of 2024-25.
We acknowledge with respect the Coast Salish Peoples on whose traditional lands and waterways we live, learn and play. We are grateful for the opportunity to share in this beautiful region, and we aspire to healthy and respectful relationships with those who have lived on and cared for these lands for millennia.
Shawnigan Lake School is an independent co-educational boarding school for ages 13 –18 on Canada’s beautiful West Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
