It has been announced that after years of promotion and international growth of the sport of lacrosse, the sport is slated to be included in the 2028 Olympic Games in the World Sixes format. As the original stewards of the game of lacrosse, or Dehoñtjihgwa'és ("They bump hips"), and because of its role in their cultural traditions, the Haudenosaunee Nation have a central role in the past, present, and future of lacrosse at the international level. Because of this, it is imperative that the Haudenosaunee People are included in the Games under their own flag. 

In July of 2022, the Haudenosaunee participated in the World Lacrosse Games. Their style, skill, and team spirit was inspirational to lacrosse fans across the world--and yet, they would not have been allowed to compete if not for Ireland vacating their berth in the Games. The reasoning at the time for the exclusion of the Haudenosaunee was the lack of representation by a National Olympic Committee, meaning by implication the Haudenosaunee are not a sovereign nation. 

This claim is flawed - the Haudenosaunee travel with their own passports and compete internationally in several competitions. To claim the Haudenosaunee do not have sufficient sovereignty to walk under their own flag in any international competition fails to recognize historical and cultural facts.

We, as members of the lacrosse community and members of our home nations, voice our support for the Haudenosaunee Nation's inclusion in the Olympic Games under their own flag. We call on the U.S. Olympic Committee, Canadian Olympic Committee, and World Lacrosse to also voice their support for the Haudenosaunee's sovereignty, and to take any and all actions to clear the way for their inclusion.

We recognize the modern world as complex, political, and divisive. We also recognize that every act of kindness, respect and understanding multiplies itself, and only through meeting and learning from others can we resolve historical injustices and replace hate with love. We worry for a future without the courage to recognize truths and act in the interest of inclusion and recognizing others' identities. 

Signing this petition is not a political statement--rather, it is the recognition of the Haudenosaunee people's place in providing us all the gift of lacrosse and the importance of including them. Thank you to those who sign this petition and share it with other members of the lacrosse community.