On Thursday, Oct. 29, there will be a screening of the film "Sacred Sport," presented by filmmaker Jordan Kligerman at 7 p.m. in the Geneva Room. SACRED SPORT tells the story of lacrosse. The film moves from the creation game to the games played by Native American tribes for healing and peace all the way up to the World Games of lacrosse played by the Iroquois National team. The film also focusses on the key element of lacrosse, the stick, and the artistry of Onondaga Nation stickmaker, Alf Jacques. The film, Sacred Sport, explores the history of lacrosse in the context of the traditions and current practices of the Haudenosaunee or Iroquois. The Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team represents the only indigenous confederacy in the world participating at an international level in sports. Filmmaker Jordan Kligerman will present the film and renowned Onondaga Turtle Clan artist Alf Jacques will discuss and display how he makes traditional wooden lacrosse sticks.
This event is free and open to the public.
Jordan took his passion for film and sports with him out of college to the storied film studio NFL Films. At NFL Films he got a taste for documentary storytelling and his hands dirty learning the operation of Super 16mm film cameras. From 1997 through 2003 Jordan continued with NFL Films to produce six Super Bowls and two Pro-Bowls along with a great deal of programming such as "Under the Helmet" on the Fox Network, "Inside the NFL" on HBO and "NFL Films Presents" on ESPN. In 2004 Jordan enrolled in the MFA program at the City College of New York and there completed his thesis, "Pick of the Litter," about the dumpster diving Freegan movement, which won the Public Media grant.
SACRED SPORT, is Jordan's third directing effort in documentary and brings together his passions of lacrosse and filmmaking. Jordan received a BA degree in English from the University of Delaware and an MFA degree in Media Arts in 2006 from the City College of New York.
Since the gift of the Creator's game, the Onondagas and the Haudenosaunee have long enjoyed playing this intense physical and intellectual game. But like most things, there are special abilities and talents that individuals possess that are needed even before the game can begin. One of those individuals is the Stick Maker. For over 50 years at the Onondaga Nation, that title has been held by Louis or Alfred Jacques.
Louis Jacques (Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame Inductee in 1999) began coaching and stick making for the Onondaga Athletic Club in the 1960s. His dedication and love of the game fostered championship teams and players who choose a Louis Jacques stick as their stick of choice.
After Louis passing in 1985, it was his son, Alfred or "Alf", who continued in his father's footsteps of the gift of making the sticks for the men who play Lacrosse. To craft a stick, a hickory log is split into 8-12 pieces lengthwise and then is shaped, dried, steamed, and dried again over a period of more than a year. The basket is made from rawhide and leather. Besides crafting lacrosse sticks, Mr. Jacques also coaches a lacrosse team.
Traditional Stick Making Techniques: http://www.redhawkslax.com/stickmaker.html
