Watch Keepers of the Game

Keepers of the Game is a documentary that tells the story of a high school girls lacrosse team - the Salmon River Shamrocks - from the Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation in Northern New York. The film chronicles the team's battle to save the sport from being banned amidst concerns of cultural appropriation. The movie is directed by Judd Ehrlich and produced by One Bowl Productions. It premiered at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in 2016 where it won the Social Justice Award.

The story begins with the Salmon River Shamrocks, a team made up of Native American girls from the Mohawk tribe, trying to keep their beloved sport - lacrosse - alive. Lacrosse has been an integral part of Native American culture for centuries and holds deep significance to the Mohawk people. However, the sport has been appropriated by the dominant white culture in North America, and its commercialization has led to a watering-down of its cultural significance.

The team's fight to keep the game alive is complicated by a sudden ban on lacrosse by the local school board, citing concerns over players' safety. The community sees this as a direct attack on their culture and seeks to overturn the decision. The girls take it upon themselves to approach the school board and present their case, but their efforts prove futile.

The plot thickens when tensions arise between some of the girls and their families. Some parents feel that the game should not be played in school, as it has not been officially recognized as a cultural activity. The movie shows how the girls' struggle to keep the sport alive brings their community together and creates a sense of pride in their cultural heritage.

Throughout the film, we get to learn more about the Mohawk culture and explore the complex relationships between the community, the school board, and the game of lacrosse. The movie is a powerful commentary on the cultural appropriation of Native American traditions and the struggle of indigenous people to preserve their cultural heritage.

The cast of the movie is made up of real-life members of the Salmon River Shamrocks team, including Tsiotenhariio Herne, Jacelyn Lazore, and Mimi Lazore. The girls' performances are raw and heartfelt, and it's hard not to feel invested in their story as they fight to save their sport.

The film takes us on an emotional journey, highlighting the sense of community, pride, and resilience of a people often forgotten by mainstream society. At its core, Keepers of the Game is about the power of sports to bring people together and the importance of cultural heritage in shaping our identities.

Overall, Keepers of the Game is an inspiring and thought-provoking movie that sheds light on a crucial issue - the preservation of indigenous cultures in a world that is increasingly becoming homogeneous. Despite the heartbreaking struggles faced by the Salmon River Shamrocks, the movie ultimately leaves us with a sense of hope and optimism - that culture, heritage, and community will always endure.

Keepers of the Game is a 2016 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 22 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.3.