What to Watch: The Medicine Game

"There are two times of the year that stir the blood. In the fall for the hunt, and now for lacrosse." -Esteemed Elder Oren Lyons, Jr. (Onondaga/Seneca) Two brothers from the Onondaga Nation pursue their dreams of playing lacrosse for national powerhouse Syracuse University. The obstacles in their way are frequent and daunting, but their love for the game, each other, and their family's unyielding determination, propels these youth towards their dream.

This week's featured film is: The Medicine Game

As part of Vision Maker Media's "40 years, 40 films, 40 weeks" program, one archived PBS film will be re-released each week. Watch them while they are available!

Tucked away in central New York State is the Onondaga Nation, a sovereign Native American community known to produce some of the top lacrosse players in the world. Yet, reluctance of leaving their community, substance abuse, and poverty have kept far too many of these players from venturing off the “Rez” and into collegiate or professional ranks.

A film seven years in the making, The Medicine Game shares the remarkable journey of two brothers, Hiana and Jeremy Thompson, hoping to break this troubling trend. The boys are driven by a single goal: to beat the odds and play lacrosse for national powerhouse Syracuse University. The obstacles in their way are frequent and daunting, but the brothers’ love for the game and their family’s unyielding determination propel these boys closer to their dream.