Indigenous tribes in what is now the northeastern U.S. and Canada have played lacrosse for millennia. Similar stick-and-ball games were played by tribes across the Southeast and Great Lakes region. But according to NCAA data, less than 1% of college lacrosse players are American Indian or Alaskan Native, and more than 80% are white.

Pacific Northwest Native Lacrosse is trying to change that. As reported in Willamette Week, the organization recruits Indigenous lacrosse players from across the PNW to participate in tournaments, youth camps and clinics.

We listen back to a conversation we first aired in March 2025 with JD Elquist,  the founder of PNWNL. We also spoke with Bilįį Blackhorn, who was then a senior at South Eugene High School and who has played lacrosse for 10 years, including with PNWNL. They joined us to talk about the importance of emphasizing the sport’s Indigenous roots.