National Lacrosse League Expands Indigenous Community Support With 'Every Child Matters'

January 27, 2023

The National Lacrosse League (NLL) has expanded its league-wide "Every Child Matters" initiative focused on raising awareness of the generational impacts on Indigenous people arising from past Canadian and US government practices of the forcible placement of Indigenous children in residential schools. It was created in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation / Orange Shirt Day marked annually on September 30.

Indigneous peoples created lacrosse thousands of years ago, and the largest lacrosse league in the world has extended its campaign to fund organizations dedicated to creating a path toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, along with team activations.

Starting in the 19th century, the Canadian and US governments established residential and boarding schools to assimilate Indigenous children which had devastating effectss on Indigenous peoples, their languages and cultures. In 1920 in Canada, it became compulsory for every Indigenous child to attend a boarding school and unlawful for them to attend any other educational institution.

These children were forcibly removed from their families, communities and culture and subjected to physical, sexual and emotional abuse on top of cultural genocide. From 1831 to 1996, around 150,000 Indigenous children went to over 130 boarding schools in Canada. Thousands of Indigenous children died, while countless others still bear the physical and emotional scars from that period. The slogan and message on Orange Shirt Day, ‘Every Child Matters’, recognizes the survivors, families and communities who continue to be impacted by the atrocities committed by the school system.

The Every Child Matters initiative is a continuation of the league’s dedication to the support of Indigenous communities as part of its pillars: Heritage, Inclusion and Service. The NLL recognizes the history of lacrosse for Indigenous peoples who founded the game in the 1100s and is committed to engaging with leaders and organizations from Indigenous communities to listen and learn.

“Our continued work with Indigenous athletes and communities is a major priority for the NLL, and the Every Child Matters education process and activations is key components of that platform,” said Brett Frood, NLL Commissioner. “This program presents an opportunity to facilitate meaningful conversations about the atrocities perpetrated by the residential and boarding school systems, continue the journey toward reconciliation, and honor survivors and their families.”

All 15 teams are participating in the campaign’s second year, part one of which kicked off on January 23 and will run through  January 29. The second part will run from February 6 to 12 and, for the remainder, of the 2022-23 season, players will sport the Every Child Matters slogan on custom shirts and helmets, alongside a team activation. The initiative's logo, designed by Justin Gilbert, who was raised on the Southern Ute Reservation, contains the silhouette of an Indigenous child wearing a ribbon shirt and holding a wooden lacrosse trick, similarly used by players during the years the schools were established. 

Fans will be able to purchase shirts through the league’s online stores and for every one sold, the NLL will donate the proceeds to the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund in Canada and The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition in the United States.

Several NLL teams played games and conducted youth programs on Indigenous reservations earlier this season. Additionally, a mini tournament took place in the Akwesasne territory that straddles Canada and the US – the first of more events set to take place.