Last week the entire lacrosse community lost a key figure with the passing of Iroquois stickmaker Alfred Jacques. Reading the news of his death, I immediately remembered what an honor it was to talk with him about his craft and the cultural significance of the creator’s game.

It was during my time at The National Geographic Channel in the early 2000s that I was afforded the opportunity to explore in my work one of my long time passions, the sport of lacrosse. I played on the suburban athletic fields of Long Island, but was always aware of the game’s native origins.

Our short production sent camera-operator Chuck Walter and I to the Onondaga Nation for a few days to film games and collect interviews with young players and elders alike. We learned about the game’s long history and its continued importance to the indigenous community — largely thanks to people like Alf who carried on long held traditions.

In the years that followed I often bumped into Alf when the lacrosse convention traveled to Baltimore. He was there talk about the game and sell finely crafted artwork — his hand carved hickory lacrosse sticks.

Thank you for your passion and dedication to the old ways.