INUVIK
Grade 1 students at East Three Elementary partner up and take turns tossing a ball and catching it with lacrosse sticks. The traditional sport is outside the regular curriculum for the young group, but has been introduced by the Aboriginal Sports Circle.

Derek Squirrel, Aboriginal Sports Circle traditional games manager, works on throwing and catching lacrosse balls against the gym wall at East Three Elementary with a group of Grade 1 students. It is part of a new initiative to bring lacrosse to the school. - Elaine Anselmi/NNSL photo

"It's one of our five traditional games programs," said Derek Squirrel, traditional games manager. "We go over the basics of lacrosse and go over some of the history of the game."

The lacrosse program is new to the sports circle, which hosted a coaching clinic in October and will eventually be rolled out to all 33 communities across the NWT.

By the end of March, Squirrel said they will deliver the program in five communities, including Inuvik.

"I think it's going to be positive for the North that lacrosse will be introduced," said Squirrel. "The equipment will all stay here in hopes that the program will continue in the school."

The lacrosse clinic is running for four days in Inuvik, the first two days working with students at the elementary school and the latter half with students at East Three Secondary School.

The program is being conducted by Kyle Aviak, originally from Kugluktuk, who grew up playing lacrosse and went on to play Junior A level in Alberta and has played all over North America.

"I'd like to pass on some of the opportunities that I had," said Aviak.

Also helping students work on their tosses and catches, gym teacher Shane Brewster said the program was a great opportunity to bring a traditional game to the primarily aboriginal community. He noted that the climate in the North could be a reason the sport is generally played less here than down south.

"It's good to expose the kids to a game they don't necessarily play at this level," said Brewster. "It used to be the national sport of Canada."

Lacrosse was Canada's only national sport until 1994, when an act was passed making lacrosse the national summer sport, and hockey the national winter sport.

Lacrosse is one of five traditional games programs developed by the Aboriginal Sports Circle. Inuit Dene games, dog mushing, snowshoe making and canoeing are also taught in schools.

With the program still in its infancy, Squirrel said organizers have some goals for developing a stronger culture of lacrosse in the territory.

"With other programs, like the Inuit Dene Games, we have championships at the end of the year," said Squirrel. "So, we give them something to work towards."

Once lacrosse has been introduced to enough schools across the territory, he hopes to have a similar championship planned.

"Our own goal is, down the road, to have an NWT team in the North American Indigenous Games," said Squirrel, agreeing that the young class wielding lacrosse sticks in the gym could very well be a part of that.