Film "Keepers of the Game" Premieres at Tribeca Film Festival in NYC

On Tuesday April 19 2016, a group of Akwesasne lacrosse teammates, parents and community supporters traveled to NYC to attend the Tribeca Film Festival's premier "Keeper of the Game"; a 90-minute feature documentary. The documentary feature's the 40 lacrosse teammates and their parents as they struggle with a classic and old as time dilemma of whether girls should play lacrosse.

As the girl's lacrosse season plays outs, parents, Clanmothers and the players themselves struggle for answers on playing a "men's" game; a game originally played for medicine and to settle major battles and disagreements. Lacrosse was given to us by the Creator when we were given the four sacred ceremonies; Great Feather Dance, Atonwa; Men's Chant, Drum Dance and the Peach Bowl Game. The game was given to the men and the lacrosse stick is considered part of their medicine. When a lacrosse stick is made, the finished stick is considered still "alive" as it was taken from a live tree. And by no means should be touched by a woman, especially a woman during her "time". With the advent of the plastic lacrosse stick, this practically, if not entirely, allows females to play the sport of lacrosse.

Each nation struggles with this dilemma, Onondaga doesn't allow females to play the sport in an organized team with or without plastic lacrosse sticks, Six Nations does.

In the contemporary world we all struggle to live in, the Salmon River Girls Lacrosse team has handled this issue with respect, just as the filmmakers of "Keepers of the Game has produced a film with respect to the game, the girls and our national sport.

"Lacrosse was born in Akwesasne Mohawk Territory as a sacred game, traditionally reserved for men. Just off the reservation at Salmon River High in Fort Covington, NY an all-Native girls lacrosse team comes together, seeking to be the first Native women's team to bring home a Section Championship. But first, they will have to overcome their crosstown rivals, Massena High. As the season comes to a head, the team is faced with increasing ambivalence in their own community and the girls must prove that the game of lacrosse is their rightful inheritance. With more than just the championship on the line, the girls fight to blaze a new path for the next generation of Native women, while still honoring their people's tradition in a changing world", Cara Cusumano, Dick's Sporting Goods Promotion.

The film is directed by Judd Ehrlich, produced by Judd Ehrlich and Adian Tumas, edited by Chris Iverson and David Lieberman and the cinematographer was Peter Eliot Buntaine.

ABC network television will air "Keepers of the Game" on Saturday, April 23, 2016, at 3:30pm. This documentary and promotion there of was made possible by the Dicks Sporting Goods' foundation Sports Matters Campaign.