Lacrosse was invented by Native American tribes in North America, with evidence of the game being played as early as the 12th century. It was originally a tribal game with significant cultural, spiritual, and ceremonial importance, often lasting several days and involving large numbers of players. The name "lacrosse" was given by a French Jesuit missionary, Jean de Brébeuf, who observed the game played by the Huron Indians in 1636 and called it "la crosse" (meaning "the stick" in French). The sport was not invented by a single person but evolved within Indigenous communities as a sacred and multifaceted tradition long before European settlers adapted it into its modern form.