Focus Area: Youth Development

Grant Amount: $10,000

Located in Minneapolis. The Indigenous Lacrosse Alliance (ILA) works alongside Indigenous peoples and organizations to revitalize lacrosse in tribal and urban Indian communities. Developed in 2022 as an outgrowth of a strategic planning committee of Native community leaders, coaches, and players, ILA’s mission is to expand access and opportunity for Indigenous communities to play lacrosse and improve the health and well-being of Indigenous youth.

Grant supports a partnership between the Fond du Lac band of Lake Superior Chippewa (in northeastern Minnesota), Homegrown Lacrosse, Anishinabe Academy, and ILA to provide after-school programming. The program is led by trained Indigenous youth leaders, coaches, and administrators who are skilled in teaching lacrosse. It focuses on youth development through culturally relevant sports, how to live a healthy and active lifestyle, and provides a safe atmosphere for learning life skills such as problem-solving, conflict management, teamwork, and other trauma-informed sports practices. New this year is the expansion to Anishinabe Academy in Minneapolis.