Yellowknife, March12-The Canadian Lacrosse Foundation has taken further steps towards implementing the N60 Lacrosse Program in the Far North. This program introduces grass roots lacrosse to communities in the Far North,building upon the success of the Grizzlies Athletic Program in Kugluktuk, Nunavut.
Lacrosse has been identified by all levels of government as a valuable tool on the path towards “Truth and Reconciliation”. The game has always created bridges between Indigenous and other communities in Canada. N60 Lacrosse represents a tangible pathway that can be utilized in the healing process.
Kyle Kugler - N60 Committee member and Executive Director of Hockey NWT- facilitated the visit by Kevin Sandy - Six Nations and Haudenosaunee Lacrosse Representative -to Yellowknife, NWT from January 29 - February 3, 2025. Sandy delivered youth clinics to students at Mildred Hall School,and local boys and girls youth hockey players.
Sandy said this,” The youth, were very respectful and listened well. Overall, we saw close to 250 participants over the three days and exposed more parents, grandparents and community members to the sport.”
The activities that were taught consisted of the following:
1] Haudenosaunee Origins of the Game - Creator’s Game v Sport of Lacrosse
2] Relationship of Lacrosse and Hockey - fun facts and why we play both games
3] Basic Skills Development - Hand positioning, scooping, cradling, passing, catching and shooting……
4] Functional Movement Skills
5) Small Area Games - play in 4 v 4 type situations…introducing mobility and hand-eye coordination
The long- term goal is to have lacrosse played in Indigenous communities in the Yukon, N.W.T. and Nunavut. Short term plans include upcoming clinics in Hay River, Norman Wells and Yukon Territory. A lacrosse jamboree is being considered in Yellowknife for the National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, 2025.
The N60 Project is the undertaking of the Canadian Lacrosse Foundation (CLF), a charitable organization established to administer endowment funds and develop charitable activities within the lacrosse community. A key mandate of the Foundation is to work toward improving the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and troubled youth.
The N60 Lacrosse project was developed to build upon the work done in Kugluktuk from 1999-2005, using lacrosse as a motivator and a healing game with northern youth to reach their potential. The power and success of the original program in Kugluktuk has been featured on ESPN, CBC, and more recently made in a Hollywood movie “The Grizzlies.”
For More Information on the N60 Program, please contact Russ Sheppard - russ@sprucelegal.ca .
About Lacrosse Canada
Founded in 1867, Lacrosse Canada is the governing body responsible for all aspects of lacrosse in Canada. Our organization is comprised of 10 Member Associations representing nearly 60,000 individual participants, including coaches, officials, and athletes of all ages and abilities. Lacrosse Canada’s mission is to honour the sport of lacrosse and its unique nation-building heritage, by engaging our members, leading our partners, and providing opportunities for all Canadians to participate. Lacrosse Canada oversees the delivery of numerous national championships and the participation of Team Canada at all international events sanctioned by World Lacrosse. Lacrosse Canada is proud to be affiliated with partners that share the same vision and values, including our corporate partners - Nike, CoachThem, Gait, Cascade, Normatec, Zoll, Boddam, Signature Lacrosse, and Baron Rings - as well as our funding partners the Government of Canada, the Coaching Association of Canada, and the Canadian Lacrosse Foundation.
For more information, please contact:
Kealan Pilon
Communications Coordinator
Lacrosse Canada
Email: kealan@lacrosse.ca