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Photo by: Chelsie Rich/Project Specialist
Thompson Family visits MCN
By Chelsie Rich/Project Specialist
(NDNSPORTS Note: Story reposted with the permission of Muscogee Nation News. All Rights Reserved)
OKMULGEE, Okla. — The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Family Violence Prevention Program Warriors Honor Women group and MCN Cultural Center and Archives hosted an event entitled, ‘Modern Day Warriors: Thompson Family Legacy for Indian Country’ Sept. 5, at the Mvskoke Dome building in Okmulgee.
“Us collaborating together, we thought the Thompson Family was a great representation of both those missions… remaining traditional, respecting our women; respecting our culture and then of course of that it gets into the cultural exchange of us inviting a Native nation to hear their story and of course visit our own Muscogee Nation,” CCA Director Justin Giles said.
The Thompson Family are Iroquois citizens from the Onondaga Reservation in New York.
The Thompson brothers: Jeremy, Jerome, Miles and Lyle compete in the sport of Lacrosse.
According to a MCN Public Relations press release, “Lacrosse is more than a sport to the Iroquois, it’s the centerpiece of their centuries-old culture and a way to honor the Creator. The Thompson family embodies their lacrosse culture and focuses on traditional family values that can help prepare Native youth to remain rooted in our traditions while thriving in academics and remain drug and alcohol free.”
The Thompson brothers were influenced by lacrosse at a very young age.
“Lacrosse is real important to me. It’s more than just a game to me; it’s a way of life.” Miles said. “At birth, we’re given a traditional wooden stick and when we pass away, we’re buried with that stick.”
The Thompson brothers started out by playing lacrosse in their backyard and they all went on to play lacrosse in college.
Jerome, also known as Haina, and Jeremy played for a junior college, and Jeremy went on to play for Syracuse University and was later drafted by Major League Lacrosse.
Miles and Lyle played for the University of Albany, where they both were later selected as the 2014 Tewaaraton Award winners.
Every year, the Tewaaraton Foundation recognizes excellence in the sport of lacrosse by honoring the most outstanding men and women’s college players.
The award honors the Native American history of the sport through the award’s name, and by integrating Native American traditions and culture throughout the program.
The Tewaaraton Award in lacrosse is equivalent to the Heisman Trophy in football.
“Me and my brother were honored to win that award. It’s the first time that two people won that award; actually split it. Not only that, it’s also the first time a Native American has ever won a Native American award,” Miles said.
The Thompson Family hoped to inspire others as they told their story.
“What I want to tell the youth is, ‘you know; you can learn your tradition. You can go off to school, get an education… and you can come back to your people’,” Miles said.
