by By Dan Ninham
Ernest Stevens IV will be a junior next school year at Green Bay Southwest HS in Green Bay, Wisconsin. “My Oneida name is shukwatunhetslawi and it means he gives them life,” said Ernest. “I am Wolf Clan of the Oneida Nation, also called the People of the Standing Stone.”
“I plan to finish high school on a good note, play very hard for those who can’t, and maybe play in college,” said Ernest.
“I started playing at a young age at six years old and fell in love with the game since,” said Ernest. “The game of lacrosse was made by the creator to have fun, heal, and get together as people. The sport has been played for years and years passed by generations down to the next.”
“I have a few family members who play the game and most likely had past family members who have played,” said Ernest.
“I don’t know what I will be doing in the future with lacrosse, but I will always play it and have a stick around,” said Ernest. “Lacrosse is a very meaningful sport, so it is only right for me to keep playing until I can’t physically.”
“A few people are really meaningful in my life when it comes to lacrosse,” said Ernest. “One of them is my dad, Ernest Stevens III. He’s always cared a lot about the game ever since he started playing. He has been a coach for the Oneida youth program for a number of years and even played with him as my coach at some point. He cared a lot whether it was taking me and my siblings to go play, or taking me to practice on time.”
“I have known Curt and Butch Summers for a handful of years,” said Ernest. “I started out with Butch as my coach and Curt currently during my high school years. They have always showed me tips and tricks for when I was playing and always cracking jokes back and forth between each other.”
“Ernest or ‘E’, as I like to call him, has been a big part of our offence this year at the attack position,” said Coach Curt Summers, Oneida Nation HS Thunderhawks varsity lacrosse. “He was a good inside person on the crease and an awesome attacker from the wing. With his size, he was able to make things happen for our team when we needed him. When asked, he would just about play any position on the field weather at midfield or midfield defense. He just loves to play!”
“Another thing about him is his positive attitude towards the game and his teammates. I hear him encourage his teammates quite often and that’s the type of players you want on your team,” added Curt.
“He’s one of our quiet team leaders,” said Curt. “His actions speak louder than words. You would expect these type of leaders from our upperclassmen and ‘E’ just entered his junior year in high school.”
Butch Summers, Curt’s older brother and also one of the leaders of Oneida Nation lacrosse coaching, talked about Ernest: “E4, a young man who is in touch with his surroundings, whether he’s out hunting, or doing our ceremonies as we are taught. Always helpful, and respectful.”
“He came up through the ranks of our lax program, a strong attack from the right side, and he has a knack for getting open in the middle making scoring opportunities for himself and teammates.”
“I didn’t get a chance to look at the final stats for this year’s high school season but he is either first or second in goals scored.”
“Like all our players, ‘E4’ is a big asset to our program and our high school program, he hasn’t even hit his full potential yet.”
“Aside from his sports, I believe ‘E4’ is heading into bigger things, whereever his path takes him he will be an asset.”
“My mom Stephanie Stevens would come to my games as much as she could and brought me to practice whenever she could,” said Ernest. ”She’s always supported me throughout the years and watched me develop over time. She knows how much the game of lacrosse means to me and she understands the story and meaning behind it.”
“The first time I saw the power of the Medicine Game connection was when Ernest participated in the Medicine Game for the Waters,” said mom Stephanie Stevens. “The game was held at High Cliff State Park. The Menominee have a story of that place, and the game of lacrosse.”
“Through the water walk movements, the traditional game had been revitalized in that location. It hadn’t been played there for over a century. I remember watching Ernest play barefoot, running with a traditional stick, seeing his long hair behind him. I watched the sun sparkle on the waters they were playing for. Ernest was smiling, and you could just feel how much positive energy he and his teammates were radiating. It uplifted all of us. The waters seemed to shine back that same energy. It was that day I began to see the power of the game and how it was interwoven into his DNA as an Ukwehuwene person,” added Stephanie.
“Recently, Ernest’s best friend, Nelson VanDeHei, was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer,” said Stephanie. “Nelson found out right after his 16th birthday. We all took the news really hard. Nelson and Ernest were born only a few days apart, and have been close since they were young. They call each other ‘day one brothers.’ Nelson is also Ernest’s lacrosse teammate, and they play together for Oneida.”
“Nelson was in the hospital receiving treatments, so was not able to physically attend their last game of the season,” said Stephanie. “The game was between Oneida and Notre Dame. Ernest knew he was going to play for Nelson, the whole team was. Before the game, Coach Curt Summers spoke, he acknowledged the game of lacrosse culturally, what it means to the people, and the understandings of the game.”
“Curt talked about how they came together as two different teams, but together as one to honor one of their fellow players, Nelson. Curt explained Nelson just had his 16th birthday and was diagnosed that same week with cancer,” added Stephanie.
“Curt went on to explain the Creator gave the game for the people to play for him. He said the Creator gave the young men the responsibility to carry on the game, because they are the ones that have the medicine. He talked about how each of the players hold a medicine. They play for a reason other than themselves. They play for the people and for others who can’t play the game.
They also play to uplift the spirits of the people,” added Stephanie.
“Curt told the players it was their responsibility to uplift Nelson’s spirit and his family’s spirits,” said Stephanie. “Nelson’s parents weren’t there, but his grandparents were and they stood together, holding hands. It was an emotional game, without Nelson there physically. But we all felt his spirit was there.”
“The community was still in shock by the news, there was a somber feeling, but the game generated hope,” said Stephanie. “Ernest understood the power in the game and in himself. The boys are always taught to play with a good mind and a good heart.”
“That evening, Ernest played harder than I had ever seen him play, but seemed he played almost effortlessly,” said Stephanie. “He ran with ease, and took each shot with clear purpose. It was in the golden hour, the entire field seemed so warm and lit up. As they played, it was almost a rhythmic dance on that field. The boys all played hard for their teammate, and Oneida won that game. Half of the team’s goals were scored by Ernest. He knew he had a responsibility that went above and beyond himself. It was so much more than a game, it was a ceremony.”
“Ernest is currently out in the woods as part of his fourth and final year of Tetwatunhatenyehse ‘We are changing our lives’ rites of passage,” said Stephanie. “Ernest built his own lodge and will stay there fasting for four days and four nights.”
“Tetwatunhatenyehse is designed to re-establish traditional teachings to help prepare young Ukwehuwe men and women for their transition into adulthood. It’s a huge commitment mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Ernest is out by himself, and will not have food or water for those four days. He was only allowed to bring the bare minimum in his pack basket: a knife, flint rock and steel, essential oils to keep the mosquitos away, and he always brings his traditional lacrosse stick with him,” added Stephanie.
“His stick is an extension of who he is as a person. That stick is made of hickory and carries the spirit of that tree, and keeps him connected to Mother Earth. Ernest has a #NELSONSTRONG bracelet tied onto his traditional stick. So as he finds himself through prayer and connection with his natural surroundings, I know Ernest will heal. Nelson will continue to heal. The community heals with this movement of cultural revitalization,” added Stephanie.
“Ernest will be the first faster to complete Tetwatunhatenyehse, then he will become a mentor to other young men,” said Stephanie. “Even when he’s not playing lacrosse, his stick is always right there with him. He carries that stick through the different stages of his life, it’s an extension of who he is. The game is interwoven into his DNA. The one positive attribute that is the most powerful are his cultural connections to the game.”
Ernest Stevens IV provides words of wisdom to other lacrosse players just starting out: “Even if you have no experience or even if you haven’t picked up a stick in years and would like to play, go for it. My mind was blown by some of the skills I’ve seen of first-time players and it made me feel really good. To be honest, you couldn’t even tell it was their first year because of how experienced they looked. If you want to play even as a first timer, just go for it.”
“You never know how good you really are until you actually try,” said Ernest.
Photo Credit: Ernest Stevens III and Jeremy VanDeHei
