The Nanaimo Timbermen Senior A lacrosse team have secured their next head coach – one of the “best lacrosse people around,” Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) member and lacrosse giant, Tewanee Joseph.
Announced by the Western Lacrosse Association club on Tuesday (Feb. 1), Joseph’s appointment also includes taking on the vice-presidency of lacrosse operations for the Vancouver Island team.
“It feels amazing. To bring the Creator’s game to Nanaimo, and with the strong community from Snuneymuxw [First Nation] and the surrounding communities, it's gonna be an exciting summer,” Joseph said when speaking to the North Shore News.
Featured in the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame ‘Legends of Lacrosse’ series, Joseph is currently a co-founder and coach at the North Vancouver School District's Lacrosse Academy, the offensive co-ordinator for the Serbian national team, and a co-coach with Rob Williams and Yul Baker for the Arena Lacrosse League's Grizzlies LC, which is based in Langley.
This is fabulous news! Not only is the WLA’s Timberman acquiring one of the best lacrosse people around but they now have someone that wants to passionately share and grow the to it’s fullest potential. #medicinegame #Lacrosse https://t.co/Y5r4cm4sIP
— Wilson Williams (@Wilsonius19) February 2, 2022
A champion player himself, Joseph won two national box lacrosse titles with the North Shore Indians and two national field lacrosse championships with Vancouver.
Joseph is excited to bring a fast pace to the game, and “turn back the clock, but in a modern way.”
“We're taught as young people when we're growing up, from our Elders and our ancestors, to let the ball do the work for you,” Joseph said. “And you should have a free-flowing game, moving up and down the floor, and playing offense and playing defense. So it's that connection to that style of play, but also bringing it into modern context. I think that's the exciting part about what we're gonna do this year.”
Approached by Timbermen president Chris Bowman to take on the head coaching role, Joseph said he was quick to say yes to the opportunity, as his wife is from Snuneymuxw.
“I said, ‘’How did you come across to choose me?’ And he just said, ‘We follow you online, we [saw what you] did over the summer with the North Shore Indians, and seeing what you’re doing in the West League. We wanted to make this offer to you.’ And that's a powerful invitation to come from this organization, because I have a lot of respect for the people there as well,” Joseph explained.
Coaching one of the Senior A players previously, and watching the rest of the team from afar, Joseph is excited for the prospect of having a “clean slate” to work with.
“The best part about it is being able to get to know these young professional athletes from the very start. So that's what I'm really looking forward to,” he said.
While he’s always looking for success on the scoreboard, Joseph’s goals and ambitions for the team extend well beyond the box.
“The theme that we're going to work for is holding each other up, lifting each other up … having the community, and this team of people standing together, to lift these players up and lift the team up, that's going to be the theme of what we're gonna be doing this year,” he said.
With games across the Lower Mainland and on the Island, Joseph will commute to Nanaimo for the summer, but is especially looking forward to Saturday nights when he and his family can be at the home games together.
Citing his uncle Dennis Joseph (who is now the Grizzlies cultural ambassador) and lacrosse great Barry Powless as formidable influencers in his life, Joseph said the game of lacrosse has taught him many values and teachings.
“Part of it was to play for a greater purpose and a higher purpose,” he said. “And growing up on the reserve, I never knew where I would go. But I know that opening up my eyes to what the possibilities were was through the game, to be a coach, it's really beyond my wildest dreams.”
“Because, the ability for a young First Nations person coming from the First Nations reserve, for many years, it was tough. Facing many issues, like racism and other things, I didn't see myself in this role. So it really is part of a lacrosse dream for me to be up and share the game with these young professional athletes,” Joseph said.
Growing up admiring Joseph himself, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw councillor and North Shore Indians president Sxwíxwtn Wilson Williams said it’s a great time in British Columbia for lacrosse.
“It’s very exciting for Tewanee personally, and I think it’s a great place in time for lacrosse,” he said. “I grew up admiring Tewanee, but I ended up playing with him as well. We won a national championship in New Westminster back in 2001 together, but he was heavily recruiting me when I was a junior … he was sort of my role model and grew me as a player.”
Williams said Joseph’s appointment is part of a bigger vision for the Creator’s game in the province.
“I think it could be the first of its kind, for an Indigenous person to coach and be a vice-president of a WLA lacrosse team,” he said. “[The game is] in a time of transformation. We're in the spirit of reconciliation here in Canada, so doors are slowly opening or opening faster than in the past, in regards to opportunities for Indigenous peoples.”
Recalling a poignant moment between himself and Joseph, Williams said Joseph elevated his game to a new level – while he always had the pure athleticism, Joseph gave Williams “lacrosse IQ.”
“And so more meaningfully, connecting myself to the game more closely rather than using my raw talent, and my emotion. He was the one that really paved that way for me personally,” he said.
“This is the time for lacrosse in BC, and really seeing the growth and inclusion of everybody in the sport.”
The Timbermen’s first game of the season is on May 21 at the Frank Crane Arena in Nanaimo.
Charlie Carey is the North Shore News' Indigenous and civic affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
