From Sacred to Sport

This episode explores the complex transformation of lacrosse from an Indigenous spiritual practice into organized European-style sport during the 19th century. Host Ollie Bennett examines how French Canadian settlers, particularly William George Beers, systematized and codified lacrosse rules in 1867, creating the foundation for modern competitive play. The episode delves into the cultural appropriation aspects of this transformation, showing how the spiritual and community elements of the original game were stripped away to create something that fit European sporting sensibilities. It traces the spread of organized lacrosse through Canadian and American elite institutions, highlighting both the preservation of the game and the loss of its deeper cultural meaning. The narrative reveals how this period established the tensions between tradition and innovation that continue to influence lacrosse today.

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