by By Dan Ninham
The Oneida Nation lacrosse program continues to develop athletes that excel today and have aspirations to play at the college level. The athletes have extended cultural reasons to play as well.
Chaske Jacobs, 17, plays lacrosse for the Oneida Nation HS and Team Wisconsin/Badger Prime lacrosse programs. He also plays basketball for ONHS.
“I’m Oneida and Oglala and a member of the turtle clan,” said Chaske.
“My Oneida name is Tehaleny^tha? And means ‘he distributes things’,” said Chaske.
“I also play basketball for Oneida Nation HS,” said Chaske.
“Since age 11, I’ve always played up an age group until last summer,” said Chaske. By playing at a higher level, many athletes achieve more. This is the case with Chaske since he has been a part of numerous lacrosse tournament championship teams. He was also named to the All-Bay Valley Lacrosse Association honorable mention team.
Tribal core values often define who you an athlete is in how they prepare to practice and compete.
“The core values that define who I am as a student-athlete are Kanolukhwasla, the compassion, caring, identity and joy of being and Twahwahtsilay^, and is all of us as family,” said Chaske. “My family has always encouraged me to be comfortable in my own skin, to be proud of who I am, to treat others with kindness and to rely on my family, extended family and community for guidance and support.”
Highly disciplined student-athletes know where they came from, where they are, and where they want to go. They set measureable and achievable goals and how long it will take to accomplish them.
“My goal is to continue my lacrosse career into the collegiate level,” said Chaske. “That has always been my goal. To be able to show all these young athletes around Oneida that anything is possible with hard work and dedication has always been my dream. I just want to make my family and community proud.”
Highly disciplined student-athletes also have mentors that guide them in their journey.
“My mentors and role models have always been my coaches, family members and administrative staff at Oneida Nation HS,’ said Chaske. “They each serve a special connection that not only has helped me on the field, court, and classroom but have shaped me into the person I am today. I will forever be grateful for the knowledge, expertise, and guidance each has bestowed onto me.”
“Curt Summers, head coach of the ONHS lacrosse team, has been one of my lacrosse coaches since I started playing the game,” said Chaske. “His guidance and support has helped me improve my skills on the field and he has been a role model that I’ve always looked up to.”
“Chaske came to us as a freshman three seasons ago,” said Curt Summers, ONHS Thunderhawks varsity coach. “As a freshman playing varsity, he didn’t really worry too much about playing against teams that were basically a few years older than himself. He held his own on the field for the most part but at the end of each game he was a beat up little freshman. Thankfully he always came back. That’s Chaske, a resilient young man, and tough as nails kind of a guy.”
“He’s the type of player that makes other players good players when he’s on the field. We’ve been fortunate this season because our team had good leadership from a number players and Chaske was one of them. He was our goal and assist leader this season and got honorable mention in our conference,” added Curt.
“Jamison King, head coach of the ONHS basketball team has helped me become a leader on the court,” said Chaske. “I may not be as vocal as some, but my work ethic speaks volumes. Coach King has not only shown me how to be a good teammate, but has also shown me how to be a good person.”
“Chaske has been model student-athlete,” said Jamison King, head coach of the ONHS basketball team. “He has displayed great skills on the court and proven to be a great student in the classroom.”
“He always puts in the time whether it be film study, individual work or team organized practices, I can always count on Chaske to be there and ready to work,” added Jamison.
“Artley Skenandore, Athletic Director and Principal of ONHS, has provided the spiritual connection that a lot of young men have not encountered,” said Chaske. “I’ve been one of the lucky ones that have been given the teachings of what it means to be a responsible young Oneida man.”
“I have had the privilege of watching Chaske grow up on the lax field and basketball court since his freshman year,” said Artley Skenandore, ONHS Athletic Director and 9-12 Principal. “Now as he begins his final year as a senior, we anticipate that he will continue to lead in the classroom and in athletic competitions.”
“He works hard in the game and yet appears effortless in his performance. One of his strong attributes is how he is able to involve others in the game and move to the team to a higher level of performance. Most importantly, Chaske has enjoyed the same success as a championship grass dancer. He has traveled across the Turtle Island and has cultivated his own positive reputation and accomplishment,” added Artley.
“If you watch this young man for a few minutes in any of these settings; athletically, academically or culturally, there is a consistency of just being a joyful young man enjoying the moment,” said Artley.
“As he enters his senior year we extend our encouragement and anticipate that he will continue on to enjoy the competitions as a college athlete as well,” added Artley.
“I’ve always admired Johnson Jimerson, former Iroquois Nationals team member, not only for his lacrosse play, but for who he is as an individual,” said Chaske. “He has taught a lot about the game and a lot about life in general in terms of my responsibilities as a young man.”
Johnson Jimerson, former Iroquois Nationals team member, lived in Oneida, WI and he and his wife and young family moved to Akwesasne, NY. He talked about Chaske: “I would like to think his passion for the game began when he first picked up a stick. When his mother asked us to get him a stick, I insisted he start with a wooden one. Some would say you build the upmost respect and make a true connection when you use the original stick. I told him it was just like anything else and you have to work with it for it to get easier. His hand and eye coordination was astounding when I went back to play catch with him. It was one of those things that just came natural.”
“To him the game is more than just a sport. We haven’t spent a lot of time together since we’ve moved away but he knows where to find me if he needs anything and vice versa. I hear how they talk about him and I can imagine exactly what it looks like. Player to player you know what each scenario looks like, and it makes me so proud to hear and see how far he has come, and I know this is just the beginning of his career. I tell him he has a lot of years ahead of him, take care of yourself so you can really enjoy it.”
Chaske Jacobs is an empowered young Oneida man that is on his journey. He is reflective of his experiences to guide him.
“No matter what obstacles you face, hard work, sacrifice and dedication can be the difference in any path you set before you,” said Chaske. “Being a Native American lacrosse player, the outside community forgets that this is our game. We have an inherent right to play this game and we play it for different reasons. It has a different meaning to us.”
“I’ll forever be grateful that the creator blessed me to be able to play this game and I will always play it for him. It truly is my medicine. I will always honor the creator when playing. I never play for myself, but always play for my family, my community, the sick, and for those who can’t play.”
“To me, this is what sets me apart from other players,” said Chaske. “I have reasons for playing.”
Photo Credit: Brandon Feliciano
