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By Kolby KickingWoman, ICT
Dedicating his career to Native education and bringing Indigenous games into physical education, Dan Ninham is being recognized for his contributions to the game of lacrosse in Minnesota.
Ninham, Oneida, was selected to the newly established Minnesota Lacrosse Hall of Fame Foundation as one of 12 Hall of Fame inductees for the first-ever class, along with two individuals receiving an Unsung Hero award.
“These distinguished individuals—comprising players, coaches, officials, and administrators—exemplify excellence and leadership in Minnesota’s lacrosse community,” stated in a news release announcing the inaugural class.
Ninham is the only Indigenous citizen of the group. He said it feels good to be honored as an inductee and shares in the recognition.
“Even though I was recognized, I think there’s so many other people involved with it as well. All the way from the young kid that were playing the game of lacrosse, the wooden stick game, the traditional game, as well as the modern stick game,” Ninham said. “I often reference we, and there’s a number of people involved that I believe are the part of me representing them. And it’s pretty deep. I think of even the ones who have come before us, and the ones that have been playing this game and that we’re all a part of this, it’s nice to have that recognition.”
Ninham is also a regular contributor to ICT.
Established in June of this year, President and Founder of the Minnesota Lacrosse Hall of Fame Foundation Mark Hellenack had a simple motivation to do so.
“It’s time for Minnesota to have a Hall of Fame of its own to honor our best men’s and women’s players, coaches, referees and most impactful growers of the sport,” Hellenack said in the press release.
At one point in the early 2000s, lacrosse was one of the fastest growing sports in the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on participation yet Ninham hopes youth continue to take up the game and learn about its history as well.
He added there are many interconnections in lacrosse for Indigenous people.
“The spiritual connection of the Creator’s game, the Creator gave us the game to play for his amusement,” Ninham said. “It’s a medicine game, the way it’s taught to me is that with the medicine, and is that when everybody plays in a good way, and they have a strong exertion of all the effort and skills with the game, I think that’s the medicine.”
Looking ahead to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, Ninham is hopeful that the Haudenosaunee Nationals lacrosse team will be allowed to compete under their flag during the games.
He noted both men’s and women’s teams already play in international tournaments and representation in the Olympics would be “so significant.”
Additionally, Ninham added Indigenous players and coaches have been involved in the sport across all levels for quite some time.
“It’s been going on for about almost 45 years. I think they started with the Iroquois Nationals, and Indigenous people played prior to that as well,” he said. “But to be playing at the international level is the elite of the representation mode.”
The honorees will be recognized at a Premier Lacrosse League playoff game on Aug. 23 and the formal induction ceremony will be held on Sept. 14 in Minneapolis.
English (US) ·