MARQUETTE — Northern Michigan University will be hosting a traditional Anishinaabe Bagodowe — or, in English, lacrosse — game for the public on Sunday in the Superior Dome.

NMU’s Office of Diversity & Inclusion, which is putting on the event along with the Center for Native American Studies, invites the public to hear tribal representatives from the Saginaw Chippewa, Grand Traverse Band, Lac de Flambeau Band and Gun Lake Band to detail the game’s origins, its significance in Anishinaabe culture and how to play the game.

“My director, the associate vice president of diversity and inclusion, Dr. Shawnrece Butler, called me and said, ‘Well, we have to start thinking about what’s coming up for the 125th anniversary.’ And this was in June. And I said, ‘OK, since we’re both new, let’s find out….’ What does diversity look like at NMU?'” said Diversity and Inclusion assistant director Justin Schapp. “We found some really, really amazing stories (when) we met with the archives (and) the Beaumier Center. And we encountered these fascinating, amazing stories of political activism, cultural change across the campus, areas where NMU really led. We were like, ‘Well, do we want to do something that does a more educational thing or do we want something that’s interactive?’ And honestly, we were looking at (something) more presentation style. Then we came across something when we were down in the archives where they told us that one of the first women’s sports on campus was lacrosse. I played lacrosse. I know a lot about lacrosse. I’m Haudenosaunee from just east of Lake Erie, my nation is the Seneca nation.”

Touching on his own lacrosse background, Schapp explained the story of how he was inspired to continue this project by watching a Bagodowe game that was played during halftime of a game played by the Premier Lacrosse League in Minnesota.

“… (I)t was super amazing. People really got behind it and said it was super amazing…. I was like, ‘Hey, how come I didn’t know this was happening? I would have (gone) out there and just did it. ‘I showed (it) because it’s hard for me to talk about it without people seeing it. I showed that to some people and said, ‘Hey, this is what we could replicate here…’

“So they gave me the green light to move forward. I went down and met with different people and played in a game and asked them if they wouldn’t mind helping us put on an event up here (in Marquette.) They were excited because even they said ‘We don’t do this enough. We don’t play it enough.’ It’s being revitalized in these communities here, and it’s an area where I take it for granted because this is a thing that our (Indigenous) communities never really had removed from us as a practice. Every single native community is different. They’ve gone through different things and gone through different events and have different journeys.”

Even though certain aspects of Bagodowe are different from Schapp’s own version of lacrosse, and the Haudenosaunee version is what is typically played in college settings now, he highlighted the connection and soul that exists at the forefront of Indigenous lacrosse.

“Right now they’re (the Anishinaabe) in the process of revitalizing…The storytelling around lacrosse, [and] talking about how important is for their cultural reawakening or how it helps heal their communities, heal each other, in many of the same ways that we (the Haudenosaunee) talk about (it),” said Schapp. “I just love hearing it from their perspective. I’m really excited about them being able to come. We (have) people from (the) Saginaw Chippewa coming up, the Grand Traverse (Band), somebody’s supposed to be coming from Sault Ste. Marie, and then Bad River and Lac de Flambeau. They’re all super really amazing. I keep saying amazing a lot because I’m just really excited.”

In an era where Indigenous communities are actively working to revitalize their culture, the importance of hosting a Bagodowe game where Marquette exists on Anishinaabe land is just one piece of an ongoing, larger process. A few of those pieces include how hosting a game aligns with Northern’s values as a university.

“We also got some amazing support from the president’s office, who’s been absolutely enthused with everybody who’s putting 125th anniversary things together. We’re especially happy because this really allows us to showcase a few things; it allows us to show that connection to the history of NMU and the amazing, (diversity)-led cultural changes that have happened here,” Schapp explained. “Then it allows us to add to that tradition by looking at connections to communities that are in the process of doing revitalization movements (and doing) things about not just exploring their culture, but (being) willing to share their culture with everyone. Usually, our tendencies (when) going through these things is to kind of shield and say, ‘No, I don’t want to do this anymore.’ But here you have communities that are saying ‘No, I want to continue to be who we are, which is open and caring and loving and sharing…’ they’re living their values and those values directly align with the same kind of values that NMU has here, (like) community (and) inclusion.”

The event will allow community members to hear tribal representatives speak about the origins and significance of the game, while also allowing participants to play in a game if they desire. Participants who are interested in playing are asked to bring a small gift to set on a blanket as an offering for the game.

“We’re going to start out (by) talking about why we’re coming together. Then participants who want to smudge or cleanse themselves are going to be asked to do so and are given the opportunity to,” said Schapp. “And then we’re going to talk a little bit about the game itself, then the origins of it, (and) we’re going to have some storytelling. We’re going to do (an) offering, and hopefully the weather holds because we want to do all (of) this outside…part of that (offering) is we’re going to ask people who are participating to use this as a game to heal their family members, people that they care about, or portions of their community. They’re out there to play, and because the playing of the game is medicine for us, this is where we (each nation and NMU) kind of share the same kind of philosophy, which I really like. That’s why I play the game. I (go) out there and play for others who can’t play.”

Schapp also gave credit to Chris Shawa, an NMU student and member of the Gun Lake Band tribe, for helping organize and create the event.

“We have a young student, his name’s Christopher Shawa, and he’s going to be helping throughout the day. He’s from the Gun Lake Band, and he’s one of the driving factors too,” said Schapp. “I was able to meet him through this process. So part of this is when you start building something, you see who shows up (with) an interest, and he was interested right away. He came out and hopefully he has some ideas and we can help him through this. I think…it’s going to build other (projects) here (on campus.) So one thing is going to help build some other things.”

In addition to the Bagadowe game that’s being held this coming Sunday, the office for Diversity and Inclusion is also working with the Thomas Theater to bring a screening of Star Wars: A New Hope translated into Anishinaabemowin.

“We first tried to do a thing with Star Wars because the Anishinaabe language is one of the hardest languages to learn, and Disney has partnered with the University of Manitoba to do a translation of the first Star Wars movie, A New Hope, into Anishinaabemowin. I know the guy who was doing some of the language, Dr. Treuer, from Bemidji State (University.) This was when when I reached out to him and I said ‘Hey, why don’t you come out and do this?'” Schapp recalled. “He was like, ‘cool,’ and then we found out it (was) hard to get a license to do the premiere of the film because they only used local films, (so) we’re asking the Thomas Theater to host it for us.”

The Bagodowe game will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Superior Dome, and anyone is welcome to join and participate. The first hour of the event will include an educational component, and the second hour will give everyone a chance to play Bagodowe. Those looking to play Bagodowe are asked to bring a small gift to set on the blanket.

Abby LaForest can ve reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 548. Her email address is alaforest@miningjournal.net.