Spring Break
The Daily OrangeCousins Thomas, Steeprock share Native American bond on SU women's lacrosse team
By Didier Morais
Posted: 4/14/09, 11:40 PM EST Section: Sports
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But the affinity between Thomas, a senior attack, and Steeprock, a sophomore defender, extends far beyond their similar ethnicities and interests.
"We're actually related," Thomas said. "We just found out last year that we're cousins. My dad and (Steeprock's) dad were talking about our families, and finally her dad did all this research and found out we're related somehow. Before learning that we were already close friends, but now we're pretty tight."
In addition to the family tie, the cousins' relationship has been strengthened for another reason. Besides representing Syracuse lacrosse, Thomas and Steeprock have also developed into diplomats for their respective Native American communities. Thomas and No. 8 Syracuse will play their last game at the Carrier Dome this season tonight when the Orange hosts Cornell at 7 p.m.
Thomas, a member of the Cayuga Nation, and Steeprock, a member of the Mohawk tribe, are one of a handful of Native Americans participating in Division I athletics around the country. As a result of the unique opportunity, the cousins have attempted to use their athletic platform to bring awareness to their underrepresented culture.
"It's an honor to be playing on a Division I team that's so good," Steeprock said. "Not many people from my reservation even go to college. People are always telling me the little girls are always looking up to you and want to be just like you. They tell me I'm a good role model, and it makes me feel good."
The cultural ties don't end with Thomas and Steeprock. Being raised in Canada, Syracuse head coach Gary Gait was also heavily exposed to the Native American customs and rituals.
Gait's appreciation for their distinguished history was so immense that he ultimately chose to purchase his lacrosse sticks straight from the Canadian reservations. The young Gait was one of Thomas' great-grandfather's best customers.
"As a kid, I had to get my sticks from 'Hiyo's great-grandfather," Gait said. "So (the culture) has a little more tie to me too, and I truly appreciate the history they bring. Our First Nations people of North America created the game, so we should always thank them for giving us this game."
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