HISTORY CULTURE GAMES
Onkwehonwe Games aims to build relationships and inspire respect for all indigenous peoples by sharing baseline history and culture of the Six Nations people (also called Haudenosaunee) through traditional games. We understand that everything is interconnected and use games to teach and discuss geography and land, creation stories, social systems and traditional understandings of health, lifestyle and connection to nature.
Photos courtesy of Six Nations Tourism
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Interactive and hands-on our Traditional Games program can be adjusted to fit almost any group from youth to elders. Participants learn about and get to play Lacrosse and/or other traditional games such as bone & toggle and the rope game.
In Kanyen'keha Onkwehonwe translates to ‘the original or first people’. The traditional way of many Onkwehonwe is to live in harmony with Mother Earth. Living in this good way requires a balance of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. Games were and are still used as a way to stay healthy and connected to a persons community. Our traditional games are used to enhance individual and team skills, as well as create sportsmanship, connection and laughter.
PROGRAM FACILITATORS
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DALLAS SQUIRE
Kahnyen’kehàka (Mohawk), Turtle Clan from Six Nations of the Grand River, Dallas Squire is the owner and operator of Onkwehonwe Games as well as program facilitator. A former professional Lacrosse player Dallas has been sharing culture and games for over a decade. Creating a safe and positive environment for learning Dallas encourages participants to experience the culture through traditional games. Over the past several years Onkwehonwe Games has been able to expand its reach across Ontario and beyond. As a professional lacrosse player Dallas played on what many have said is the 'Greatest team of all time in the sport of Lacrosse'. The 1994, 1995 and 1996 Six Nations Chiefs won back to back to back National Pro Championships, also known as The Mann Cup. Following his debut Championships with the Chiefs in the mid-90's, Dallas went on to play Pro Lacrosse for the next decade. From 1995 to 2005, Dallas racked up 188 goals and 187 assists for his hometown Six Nations Chiefs in Senior Pro. During this span, Dallas also played for the Rochester Nighthawks, Buffalo Bandits, New Jersey Storm and Albany Attack in the National Lacrosse League. |
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MEKWAN TULPIN
Mekwan Tulpin continues to make HERstory today in both women’s field and box style lacrosse. Tulpin was captain to the Haudenosaunee Nationals team with a roster compiled for evaluations at Utica’s 2023 LAXNAI tournament. She was the first Mushkegowuk Cree from Treaty 9 Territory to compete on the World Cup stage in lacrosse, while exploring her Belgian roots. As the daughter to Mary Jane Metatawabin and Leo Tulpin, she was born and raised mainly in Simcoe, Ontario. Living on Six Nations of the Grand River territory since 2010 has influenced her continued involvement with Lacrosse both as a player and an educator. With the Grand River Attack, Tulpin co-captained seven provincial championship titles over a 12+ year span. This includes being named to an All-Star team the past four consecutive years within Canada’s newly titled premier league, Women’s Major Series Lacrosse. Mekwan has been sought for coaching and facilitation opportunities through groups such as Turtle Concepts; Haudenosaunee/Iroquois Lacrosse Program; Anishnaabe Baggadowewin; Great Lakes Cultural Camps; Right to Play; Indigenous Sport & Wellness Ontario and Canadian Women in Sport. Mekwan has been working with Onkwehonwe Games for over a year facilitating Traditional Games programming with a focus on Lacrosse to thousands of students across Ontario. |
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