Race Relations - South Dakota Lacrosse

Written by Kevin Hoch DeCora, Chairperson at Sinte Gleska University and Director at Creative Health.

Racism, we never really got to tell our story during the Lacrosse season!! How hard it was to play in South Dakota Premiere Lacrosse league. Unfortunately, we got to hear it all. From prairie niggers to a bunch of drunks. Ugly rules put in place to derail our teams run at a championship. Coaching Lacrosse for 5 years and told we can’t coach because we’re not US Lacrosse certified. On top of that taking wins away from our boys, on account of that rule, and making us forfeit more games in that process. Amidst all that including very ugly referees, one actually reffing his own sons game and cheering him on while reffing, even standing with that team in the huddle. We still won the varsity state championship. I watched coaches from other teams tease with a tomahawk chop and stupid mock war cries. It was sickening. One of our players was selected to the all state team but refused the honor on account of the racism and ugliness we experienced!! Nobody stuck up for us. Every team, player, and coach seemed to just turn a blind eye to what was going on!! So, this year we find out all native teams are banned from playing Lacrosse in Corey Mitchell’s Dakota Premiere Lacrosse League. Fool has the nerve to put Dakota in the name of their league. It’s not our first rodeo though, been there done that. We will still grow the game in Indian country. It’s our game anyways. Don’t want the boys coming in their league and whipping that ass again. Showing them who’s game this is. Please share, South Dakota your racist ass sucks. What hurts is our young men and young ladies are gonna have to go through this. So, to all the native young men and ladies that are gonna feel this, keep your head up, stick together, we got you. Pray about it, it’s the creators game. We’re better off not playing in that environment anyway. Lol!!! we could though, and we could win it all again. Spread the word!!