The Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team suffered injury as well as insult when they were prohibited from traveling to Great Britain recently for the World Lacrosse Championship because of their Haudenosaunee Confederacy passports.

The team incurred a lot of costs while awaiting the (non)resolution to the dilemma.

Yesterday, the Seneca Nation stepped up with a $10,000 check to help them defray expenses.

“The one thing that we did not want to compromise on was our passport,” said Ansley Jemison, general manager of the lacrosse squad, tells the Buffalo News, here. “We did this for all Native People, not just the Iroquois Confederacy.”

As the News’ Steve Brachmann writes:

Percy Abrams, executive director for the Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse team, shows his Iroquois Nation Haudenosaunee passport. (AP/Bebeto Matthews


Jemison was on hand with Percy Abrams, executive director of the team, and Emmett Printup IV, a member of the team and the Tuscarora Nation, to accept a check presented by Seneca Nation of Indians President Barry E. Snyder Sr.

Snyder said he had heard of the team’s delay in New York City but decided to offer the support after he was contacted by Jemison. Snyder said he felt an obligation as a member of the Seneca Nation to offer support to the team.

“I don’t practice, I don’t run with them, but I know that being on a lacrosse team is hard work,” Snyder said.

Snyder also had harsh words for the British, who refused to recognize the team’s Haudenosaunee passports and blocked it from the competition.

“United Kingdom, shame on you,” said Snyder, who added that whatever the reasons were for not allowing the Haudenosaunee passports, the players should have been allowed to play the game, which was originated by Native Americans.

Brachmann writes that the team lost nearly $60,000 in the debacle.

Gwen Florio

Tags: Barry E. Snyder Sr., buffalo post, Emett Printup IV, Haudenosaunee Confederacy, Iroquois Confederacy, Iroquois Nationals, Lacrosse, Native American news, Native American sovereignty, Percy Abrams, Seneca Nation, Tuscarora Nation, World Lacrosse Championships