by By Dan Ninham, contributing writer
Autumn Powless is a tribal member of the Oneida Nation of the Thames. He will be in the ninth grade in the fall of 2023 at Saunders Secondary School. He competes in lacrosse for the London Blue Devils U15 Box and Field, Jr. NLL Rochester Knighthawks, Turtle Island Elite Lacrosse and club teams with Nationals.
Powless played on teams that were 2022 and 2019 Ontario Lacrosse Association (OLA) champions
“We won our past two tournaments this year with the London Blue Devils at Peterborough Lakers Classic in May and the Barry Bunham Shootout in June,” said Autumn Powless. “We have won various tournaments for box and field tournaments in the US and Ontario.”
Athletes’ indigenous core values define how they practice and compete. Powless talked about his connection to these core values. He said, “I play the medicine game of lax because that is what is for me. It’s a medicine that has been passed on down since the beginning of our creation story. I have friendships and a brotherhood with my lacrosse buddies, like no other. To be able to still play the game is an honour, especially since I know I can play for those who are no longer here and those who can no longer play.”
Powless is preparing to compete and getting to be at a high performance level. “I am working at finishing in the top six in the OLA with London Blue Devils U15 and bring home some hardware with the boys. I am getting ready for showcases and summer/fall lacrosse with my club teams and getting ready for some club lacrosse this fall and winter to get ready for U17 next spring.”
Powless has mentors that help guide him to be the best he can be on and off the field. “I have several people that I look up to have helped guide me including Randy Staats and Brendan Bomberry.”
Brendan Bomberry, a Mohawk from Six Nations of the Grand River, directs Turtle Island Elite, a lacrosse program in Six Nations that focuses on developing field lacrosse players for the next level. Autumn was a part of the program last year and has always been an avid participant in any programming or camps.
“Autumn is a great kid, very quiet and often keeps to himself but you would never think that watching him on the field,” said Brendan Bomberry. “Last year he was playing up a couple age groups, often playing against players two years older than him. Being a little smaller and younger never bothered him at all, he was great for us and got better every single practice and game.”
“One game in particular that I recall is when we were playing his older brother Blaine in the Championship in the Ithaca Turkey Shoot tournament,” said Bomberry. “Autumn wanted to win bad and you could see the extra step he had in that game. He was covering some of the best Haudenosaunee kids two years older than him! We won the game, and Autumn and the entire defence were outstanding! He was smiling ear to ear knowing he has just beat his older brother.”
Randy Staats was not available for comment.
“I have known Autumn since he started lacrosse at a young age,” said Tyler Turner. “I saw how he came out of Covid and put in the extra work off the floor and field to really take things to the next level.”
Nev Carson, head coach of the London Blue Devils, has coached Powless since he was four years old. Coach Carson said, “Autumn is a very dedicated hard working young man. He is definitely a team first player and is always one of the first to arrive to the arena. Has really worked hard on his game over the last few years and it shows every time he steps on the floor.”
