Introduction
The study of Canadian sport history provides a unique lens through which to examine broader societal trends, cultural identity, and national anxieties. Lacrosse, often heralded as Canada’s national game, occupies a central place in this narrative, embodying both cultural unity and historical tensions. This essay critically analyses a primary source, the article titled “Lacrosse Holds a Firm Place as Canada’s National Game,” published in The Globe on April 26, 1927. Through a detailed exploration of this artifact, the essay examines how lacrosse was portrayed as a symbol of Canadian nationalism while addressing the marginalization of its Indigenous origins. Furthermore, it uncovers latent anxieties surrounding the sport’s decline due to professionalism and continentalism, reflecting wider cultural and social shifts in early 20th-century Canada. By situating the article within its historical context, this analysis aims to illuminate the complex interplay between sport, identity, and power, ultimately highlighting the enduring value of primary sources in constructing historical narratives.
Lacrosse as a Beacon of Canadian Nationalism
The 1927 article in The Globe, a widely circulated and influential Canadian newspaper, emphatically positions lacrosse as a cornerstone of national identity. Describing it repeatedly as “Canada’s national game,” the piece reflects a deliberate effort to reinforce the sport’s cultural significance during a period of post-war transformation (The Globe, 1927). At a time when Canada was distancing itself from British imperial influence, lacrosse emerged as a unifying symbol, distinct from the imperial sporting traditions of cricket or rugby. The article’s emphasis on youth participation and its integration into public schools further underscores this nationalist agenda, portraying the sport as a tool for social betterment and the creation of “better Canadians” (The Globe, 1927). This aligns with historical accounts that suggest lacrosse was seen as a means to instill discipline and keep young people “off the streets” during a period of rapid urbanization (Morrow and Wamsley, 2013).
Moreover, the choice of The Globe as the platform for this narrative is significant. As one of Canada’s leading newspapers in 1927, with a substantial readership, it wielded considerable influence in shaping public discourse on cultural matters (Poulter, 2009). The anonymity of the author lends the piece an air of institutional authority, enhancing its impact. The title itself, with its confident assertion that lacrosse “holds a firm place,” serves as a rallying cry, arguably designed to reassure readers of the sport’s enduring relevance amid growing uncertainties about its future. Accessible today through archival platforms like Western Libraries and ProQuest, this article remains a critical resource for understanding how media constructed national narratives through sport in the early 20th century.
Marginalization of Indigenous Origins
Despite its celebration of lacrosse as a national symbol, the 1927 article reveals a troubling omission by marginalizing the sport’s Indigenous roots. While it briefly acknowledges that lacrosse predates European settlement and was originally played by Indigenous peoples—dubbed “La Crosse” by French settlers—it swiftly pivots to a Eurocentric perspective (The Globe, 1927). The piece credits “the white man” with innovations such as the introduction of a goal net, framing these changes as improvements rather than appropriations. This rhetoric effectively erases the cultural significance of the game to Indigenous communities, repackaging it as a settler achievement (Howell, 2001).
Such framing is emblematic of broader settler-colonial narratives that dominated Canadian society at the time. As noted in academic discussions, the appropriation of lacrosse stripped it of its Indigenous identity, transforming it into a symbol of settler nationalism while suppressing the contributions of its originators (Forsyth and Wamsley, 2006). This selective historical memory not only marginalizes Indigenous heritage but also highlights the power dynamics embedded in sport history. By promoting lacrosse as a unifying Canadian symbol at the expense of its cultural foundations, the article reinforces a colonial worldview, underscoring the tensions between national identity and historical truth.
Professionalism and the Decline of Lacrosse’s Ideals
By 1927, lacrosse faced significant challenges that threatened its status as Canada’s national sport, with the rise of professionalism standing as a primary concern. The article’s frequent references to lacrosse’s inclusion in the Olympic program for 1928 indicate a shift towards organized, competitive structures that often prioritized victory over recreational ideals (The Globe, 1927). Historically, lacrosse was associated with amateurism and social betterment, values that clashed with the growing emphasis on professional competition (Morrow and Wamsley, 2013). The assertion that lacrosse “holds a firm place” thus feels somewhat discordant when viewed against this backdrop, suggesting an attempt to mask underlying misalignments with nationalist rhetoric.
Indeed, the push towards professionalism eroded the communal and moral foundations that lacrosse once represented. While the article seeks to reassure readers of the sport’s vitality, it inadvertently exposes anxieties about its relevance in a changing sporting landscape. This tension reflects broader societal shifts in the interwar period, as Canada grappled with modernization and the commodification of leisure activities (Howell, 2001). The nationalist framing of lacrosse, therefore, can be seen as a defensive response to these internal pressures, striving to preserve a sense of cultural continuity amid transformation.
Continentalism and the Threat of American Influence
Equally significant were the external pressures of continentalism, driven by the growing influence of American sporting culture. The rise of baseball and other American sports in Canada during the early 20th century posed a direct challenge to lacrosse’s prominence, reflecting broader cultural shifts towards U.S. models of competition and professionalism (Poulter, 2009). The Globe article counters this trend by asserting that “today lacrosse is stronger than it ever was before,” a claim that appears overly optimistic when contextualized against historical evidence of declining participation (The Globe, 1927).
Moreover, the repeated references to the 1928 Olympics suggest an effort to elevate lacrosse on an international stage, positioning it as a counterweight to American cultural encroachment. This reflects a deeper anxiety about maintaining a distinct Canadian identity in the face of continental influences. As scholars have argued, sport often served as a battleground for cultural assertion during this period, with lacrosse embodying a uniquely Canadian ethos in contrast to American individualism (Forsyth and Wamsley, 2006). The article’s tone, therefore, emerges as a determined, if somewhat nostalgic, stand for a sport that symbolized national distinctiveness amidst globalizing pressures.
Conclusion
In sum, the 1927 The Globe article serves as a valuable primary source for understanding the ideological struggles that shaped Canadian sport history in the early 20th century. It encapsulates lacrosse’s role as a symbol of nationalism, crafted to reassure readers of its enduring vitality at a moment of significant cultural stress. However, this nationalist narrative comes at the expense of Indigenous contributions, highlighting the colonial underpinnings of Canadian identity formation. Additionally, the article reveals latent anxieties surrounding professionalism and continentalism, reflecting broader tensions between tradition and modernization, as well as national and international influences. By critically analyzing this source, we gain insight into how sport transcends mere recreation, acting as a mirror to the social, political, and cultural forces that shape participation. Ultimately, this primary source underscores the complex interplay between sport and identity, offering a nuanced window into the construction of national narratives and the historical silences that accompany them. Its preservation in archival collections ensures that such critical reflections remain possible, reminding us of the importance of interrogating the past to understand the present.
References
- Forsyth, J. and Wamsley, K.B. (2006) ‘“Native to Native … We’ll Recapture Our Spirits”: The World Indigenous Nations Games and North American Indigenous Games as Cultural Resistance’, International Journal of the History of Sport, 23(2), pp. 294-314.
- Howell, C.D. (2001) Blood, Sweat, and Cheers: Sport and the Making of Modern Canada. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
- Morrow, D. and Wamsley, K.B. (2013) Sport in Canada: A History. 3rd edn. Don Mills: Oxford University Press.
- Poulter, G. (2009) Becoming Native in a Foreign Land: Sport, Visual Culture, and Identity in Montreal, 1840-85. Vancouver: UBC Press.
- The Globe (1927) ‘Lacrosse Holds a Firm Place as Canada’s National Game’, The Globe, 26 April, p. 8.
