Alleged Harassment of Native Lacrosse Player Sparks a Look into Sports Culture; The Mille Lacs Indian Museum & Trading Post Celebrates 30 Years

This week, an incident on a Minneapolis lacrosse field is raising questions about safety and respect in youth sports. And in Onamia, the Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post is marking 30 years with a community celebration.

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Producers: Dan Ninham and Chaz WagnerEditor: CJ YoungerAnchor: Marie RockMixing & mastering: Chris Harwood

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Transcript

[Music: Minnesota Native News Theme]

Marie Rock [Anchor]: You're listening to Minnesota Native News. I'm Marie Rock. This week, questions about safety and respect in youth sports. And in Onamia, the Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post is marking 30 years with a community celebration. First, allegations of homophobic and racial language at a high school lacrosse game are opening a discussion about safety and representation in the sport. Reporter Dan Ninham has the story.

Dan Ninham: During a recent Minnesota State High School League lacrosse game, a native player for Trimac alleged getting called homophobic and racial slurs from a member of the opposing team, Breck.

Luis Charging Bear: My son has longer hair, he has our medicine colors on his lacrosse stick, and he's very proud about his Lakota heritage.

Dan Ninham: Louis Charging Bear is the father of Geno Charging Bear.

Luis Charging Bear: There was a defenseman there that was saying very insensitive remarks that would be considered homophobic. The F word was used multiple times on him, making fun of him being an American Indian.

Aron Lipkin: Growing up in lacrosse and hockey, especially in the late 90s and 2000s, I think I took for granted how ubiquitous micro and macroaggressions, patriarchy, racism, homophobia; it was just kind of always there.

Dan Ninham: Aaron Lipkin is the co-founder and president of Homegrown Lacrosse, a Minneapolis nonprofit, and serves as the fiscal manager of the Indigenous Lacrosse Alliance.

Aron Lipkin: I'm one of the only openly queer male coaches within modern lacrosse in the country.

As a coach, Aaron has learned firsthand how to support athletes in these situations.

Dan Ninham: You've got to hope that the official is receptive. The tricky thing is if they don't hear it or see it, how do you address that? From the league's and school's perspective, same thing. Follow up. Make sure people feel heard. And then if it's getting reported at the then addressing it with them directly. And then looking further to say, hey, what am I doing as an institution, a school or a league, to foster a more inclusive and accepting environment?

John Hunter: I also would pose the question to the adults, coaches, referees, athletic directors, the league representatives. Are we doing our best to create safe spaces for athletes to come forward with their concerns?

Dan Ninham: John Hunter, who is Muscogee Creek, Winnebago, and White Earth Ojibwe, is the head coach of the Minneapolis Varsity Boys Lacrosse Team and the director of Twin Cities Native Lacrosse.

John Hunter: Success in fighting racism is to have zero incidents happen during a season.

Dan Ninham: For Lewis, maintaining a safe and respectful sports environment is a need for all parents.

Luis Charging Bear: We deserve our children to be safe, to not be harassed, to not be targeted, to feel like they're equal as anybody else playing these games. The game has all kinds of good medicine around it, and I think that has been our guiding light.

Dan Ninham: For Minnesota Native News, I'm Dan Ninham.

Marie Rock: Next, reporter Chaz Wagner speaks with staff from the Mille Lacs Band museum about the anniversary events.

Chaz Wagner: This year marks a special milestone for the Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post in Onamia as the museum celebrates 30 years in its current location with the community anniversary program set for Saturday, June 13th. Lily Lauer is the program supervisor at the Mille Lacs Indian Museum.

Lily Laur: Doing stuff throughout the entire year to amp up at the Anniversary. We are having Benjamin Sam come to the event, and he's going to be demoing some of his art. He is also our Artist of the Month.

Chaz Wagner: The celebration invites visitors to experience interactive exhibits, guided tours, and family activities.

Lily Laur: We'll have speeches by Nina Archibald.

Chaz Wagner: Nina Archibald is the former director of the Minnesota Historical Society, or MNHS. She oversaw the multi-year development and construction of the new museum building, which was a collaborative effort with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.

Lily Laur: We'll also be piloting walking tours this summer, starting on the June 13th event. The Trading Post experience is pretty unique, because it is still an active Trading Post. There's not a lot of those in the country. And then especially having all Native-made products, objects, and art. And it's always been about the Mille Lacs Band here. So it's always been Native-focused, Native-centered.

Chaz Wagner: The celebration runs from 11 a. m. to 5 p. m. at the Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post, just north of Onamia on Highway 169, and is free to tribal members. For details, visit MNHS dot ORG.

For Minnesota Native News, I'm Chaz Wagner.

[Music: Minnesota Native News Theme]

Marie Rock: Minnesota Native News is produced by AMPERS: Diverse Radio for Minnesota's Communities. Made possible by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.