Siċaŋġu Co Participates in One Lacrosse Gathering Celebration on the National Mall
On Saturday, September 7, 2024, Siċaŋġu Co had the honor of attending the inaugural One Lacrosse Gathering Celebration on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. This special event, hosted by the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition in partnership with the National Fitness Foundation, the National Park Service, and Councilmember Ben Jacobs (also co-owner of Tocabe), highlighted the rich traditions of Native American games, especially the origins and modern significance of lacrosse.
“Ben Jacobs, tribal member of the Osage Nation of northeast Oklahoma, takes a tasty bite of Wolakotas Tatanka jerky for the first time.”
The gathering celebrated Native culture and the inclusion of all through sport and health. As Ben Jacobs stated in the event’s press release:
"Our goal is to highlight the lasting importance of Native traditions, focusing on modern Indigenous perspectives while sharing culture, identity, and inclusion for all through sport and health."
By showcasing the roots of lacrosse and traditional stick games, this event brought together D.C. youth lacrosse groups and national organizations in a celebration of inclusivity and diversity.
The event also marked the second anniversary of the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. In alignment with the National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, traditional Native American games like lacrosse were featured as an engaging way to promote physical activity and health.
“Athletes of the Cherokee Nation engage in a competitive game of stickball that had the audience at the edge of their seats the entire game.”
We were personally invited to attend by Ben Jacobs, and it could not have come at a better time for our team at Siċaŋġu Co. This year, we embarked on an exciting new project to provide Tatanka Jerky from our Wolakota Buffalo herd to Indigenous Olympians trying out for the 2024 Olympics. We successfully reached that milestone and were thrilled to share this meaningful gift of jerky with Indigenous youth across the nation during the event.
The gift of Tatanka jerky from Siċaŋġu Makoce (Rosebud Reservation) symbolizes our strength and our power to leverage our sovereignty for economic growth, cultural revitalization, and the health of our community. This jerky is more than just food—it's a piece of our larger ecosystem and way of life. We shared this powerful symbol with Indigenous communities at the event to remind them that, like us, they can uplift their traditions and thrive by connecting to their own unique assets.
“Youth engaged in a friendly game of lacrosse during the One Lacrosse Gathering Celebration beneath the cool, grey sky.”
Throughout the day, our team at Siċaŋġu Co set up a booth, which became a popular gathering spot for attendees interested in learning more about our work in Lakota language revitalization, our immersion school, our Wolakota Buffalo project, and our ongoing economic growth. We also participated in a range of activities, including cultural demonstrations and storytelling, stickball demonstrations, and interactive youth play sessions.
“Team members of Howard Bison Lacrosse Team of Howard University proudly rockin Siċaŋġu Co merch and tasting Wolakota’s Tatanka jerky.”
“Katrina Fuller of Siċaŋġu Co delivered a powerful message to the crowd, emphasizing the significance of gifting Tatanka jerky to Indigenous youth as a symbol of strength, language revitalization, and cultural pride.”
We'd like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Ben Jacobs for inviting us to such a meaningful event. We enjoyed connecting with so many people, especially Indigenous youth, and gifting them Tatanka jerky as a reminder of the sacredness and strength they carry within. This project continues to grow, and we look forward to sharing more updates as we further our mission of using our local assets to benefit our communities.
Stay tuned for more about the expansion of our Tatanka jerky project!
“A colorful group photo of the day's attendees and participants gathered in front of the Washington Monument, celebrating the sport of Lacrosse.”
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Our Siċaŋġu Co marketing team recently participated in an engaging Ask Me Anything (AMA) session, where we shared insights into our work, vision, and the impact we strive to create for our community. It was a great opportunity to connect with our audience, answer their questions, and showcase the passion behind our efforts. Watch the video below to learn more about how our team is driving meaningful change through our marketing initiatives!