LOS ANGELES - July 7, 2023 - The Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) powered by Ticketmaster and PLL Assists, today announced it will celebrate and honor the rich history, culture, and contributions of Indigenous peoples to the sport of lacrosse with the league’s third annual Indigenous Heritage weekend in Minneapolis July 8 and 9. 

Games at TCO Stadium for week four of the PLL season will be dedicated to Every Child Matters. Players will wear orange chin straps to drive awareness and resources towards the atrocities committed against Native Peoples at Residential and Boarding Schools across North America. 

“A game first played by the Indigenous Peoples of North America is now played in over 90 countries worldwide. This weekend, we will celebrate the game’s origins as the first sport on our continent,” said Paul Rabil, Co-Founder and President of the Premier Lacrosse League. “As the PLL continues to grow, it’s ever important that we pause to honor and learn from the Indigenous roots of lacrosse – the Baaga'adowe and Ddehoñtjihgwa'és games.”

Jeremy Thompson, former PLL midfielder and recent World Lacrosse bronze medalist with the Haudenosaunee national team will be an on-air analyst for game broadcasts on ESPN+ and ESPN2 alongside ESPN’s Drew Carter, Quint Kessenich, and Dana Boyle. 

“Where we come from, lacrosse is much more than a sport. It’s a medicine to the individual and to the people, and as we all move into the future with joyful and passionate thought the game will continue to bring peace to the world,” said Jeremy Thompson, member of the Haudenosaunee men’s national team and former Chaos and Atlas LC midfielder. “As the Creator’s Game has evolved into a World Game, sharing our Indigenous culture and traditions core to the modern game of lacrosse has taken on new importance. I’m honored to join ESPN for their broadcasts, and take part in the PLL’s efforts to honor the game and raise awareness for Every Child Matters.” 

All teams will wear limited edition Champion jerseys designed by Patrick Hunter a 2Spirit, Ojibwe artist, graphic designer and award winning entrepreneur. Jerseys will be available for purchase at shop.premierlacrosseleague.com, and game-worn jerseys will be available for auction at the conclusion of the PLL season. Proceeds will benefit Anishinaabe Baagaadoewin, a non-profit dedicated to sharing Anishinaabe history and culture through lacrosse.

Limited edition jerseys, Indigenous Heritage weekend merchandise, and chinstraps will be available for purchase at TCO Stadium and online via LaxStraps, with proceeds to be donated to the Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition. Wooden stick and PLL keychains handcrafted by Tuscarora Woodworks, a Native-owned company from the Tuscarora Nation will also be given to the first 350 fans to arrive each day.

The PLL season’s games in Minneapolis will be streamed on ESPN+ and ESPN2. To view the rest of the PLL schedule and purchase tickets, visit premierlacrosseleague.com/schedule.

ABOUT THE PREMIER LACROSSE LEAGUE

The Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) powered by Ticketmaster is a men’s professional lacrosse league in North America, composed of eight teams rostered by the best players in the world. Co-founded by lacrosse superstar, philanthropist, and investor Paul Rabil and his brother, serial entrepreneur and investor, Mike Rabil, the PLL is backed by an investment group composed of Joe Tsai Sports, The Chernin Group, Arctos Sports Partners, Brett Jefferson Holdings, The Raine Group, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), The Kraft Group, Bolt Capital and other top investors in sports and media. The PLL is distributed through an exclusive media rights agreement with ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN+. The PLL was named 2020 Sports Breakthrough by the Sports Business Journal, and recognized as a 2021 Best Employer in Sports by  Front Office Sports. For more on the league, visit www.premierlacrosseleague.com and follow on social media: Instagram (@PLL), Twitter (@PremierLacrosse), Facebook (@PremierLacrosseLeague), YouTube (YouTube.com/PLL) and TikTok (@pll).