Brock student-athlete championing Indigenous pride on the World Lacrosse stage – Brock University Athletics

Sep 27, 2024

Mackenzie Shigwadja, a student-athlete at Brock University, is breaking new ground by representing the Haudenosaunee Nation at the first-ever World Lacrosse Women’s Box Championships in Utica, New York this week.

This journey holds special significance for Shigwadja, who balances her academic life with her athletic career and the responsibilities of honouring her Indigenous roots.

Shigwadja, whose roots tie back to Wikwemikong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island, has been deeply connected to her heritage and lacrosse since a young age.

“Lacrosse has always been a part of my life,” she said. “I’ve been playing since I was four, and it’s more than a sport—it’s part of our culture and history.”