Ferrah Blackbird Believes In The Power Of Lacrosse

For many Indigenous people, the game of lacrosse, which was derived from a traditional game called baggataway, is medicine.

Indigenous athletes believe the game of lacrosse is both spiritual, and healing in nature.

One of Ontario’s top woman’s lacrosse players, Ferrah Blackbird believes in the power of lacrosse.

“It’s medicine,” said Blackbird, who hails from Walpole Island First Nation. “If you’re dealing with anything, lacrosse can fix that and make your worries go away.”

Blackbird played for the Wallaceburg Griffins girls team last season, and also represented Team Ontario at the National Championships, and experience she cherishes.

“It was a great experience playing with and against high skilled players that came from across the nation. It also allowed me to travel to British Columbia and make life long friends.”

For Blackbird, lacrosse is more than just a game, it’s a way to connect to her culture, and also to bring to light issues Indigenous people, specifically Indigenous women are facing in Canada.

“Playing lacrosse makes me feel determined to keep our culture and tradition alive,” she said. “Last year our Wallaceburg Intermediate Girls team dedicated our season to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.”

The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women crisis is occurring across North America, with Indigenous women facing disproportionate violence and a lack of investigation and resources to solve these cases, compared to non-Indigenous victims.

Blackbird is passionate about being an Indigenous woman, and also about playing lacrosse, which undoubtedly has helped her become the talented competitor she is.

“To me personally, being Indigenous makes me proud to be who I am.”