Travis “Tionatakwente” Gabriel is from Kanesatake, west of Montreal, part of the Mohawk Nation, and a noted maker of wooden lacrosse sticks. In fact, Travis was one of a small select group of handmade stick makers that included Alf Jaques, Preston Jacobs and Richard Big Kettle, who created sticks for period re-enactment games held to mark the 150th anniversary of the sport by the Canadian Lacrosse Foundation in 2017.
As a collector of wooden sticks I can safely say that Travis makes a fine looking stick. I actually own 3 sticks made by Travis, all very different in their appearance but all 3 are masterpieces. The first stick I got from Travis blew me away and to this day is still one of my favorite sticks in my collection.
Q
As a self-taught stick maker, how did you learn the craft with nobody to assist you?
A
Being self taught came with its own challenges, having never done anything like that before. But I did have a "rough" knowledge of steam bending from working part time in a cabinet making shop years earlier. The forming and bending was the easy part. Learning the process of how long to let the wood sit before attempting a stick was the journey. (Moisture content, grain selection). These are things that in my process I learned by "feel" and instinct, developing an awareness as I went along. It's important to note that although there has been some new carvers in the last few years, when I started there were very few still actively carving. The Mitchell Bros. were pretty much the only source in Mohawk territory for a stick, And of course everyone wanted an Alfie Jacques. Ritchie Big-Kettle over in Seneca territory, Preston had been a high school carpentry teacher and on occasion would make a stick, we are if I'm not mistaken distantly related Preston and I, ( so I knew him but never for sticks). I hadn't yet met my friends Alfie or Ritchie yet. I started in 2008 as a personal test with a small tree that needed to come down, that one step of curiosity is what got me started.
Q
How many sticks did you make before you felt happy with the process?
A
I feel like I'm always refining my sticks ..I'm always happy but at the same time always developing...and just when I think I've made a nice stick...the next one is nicer...but certainly in the beginning I made at least 2 dozen "nasty" looking things ..and for the next couple dozen it was hit or miss...then a groove started.
Q
What did your family think then you said you wanted to make a lacrosse stick?
A
I'm not really sure what the family thought when I started...but I know they're proud of me now. My community of kanesatake was more mixed response. They wanted the old feel and look of the Matthew Etienne sticks (M. Etienne also of Kanesatake). But honestly that was his thing, I never wanted to duplicate. I still feel the comparison by many to this day. It can be a bit overwhelming and overshadowing at times.
Q
What's your first memory of lacrosse?
A
My first memory of lacrosse, buying my first stick with my Father at our cousin Matthew Etienne's factory.
Q
If you could capture 3 lacrosse moments in a highlight reel what would they be?
A
3 moments I'd capture in a reel. 1-My first goal ( on a personal level). 2- at a time when a young indigenous boy got bullied and had his braid cut off ...and the Thompson's emerging as stars of the game.. t-shirts generated with their name and a braid as an image. That moment in time should be captured. 3- the world indoor championships being held in the heart of Iroquois territory in 2015. It gave time for our story and connection to the game to be told like never before. ....
Q
You must have made some incredible friendships through stick making?
A
I met fellow stick maker Ritchie Big Kettle in about 2012(?)? When our two communities did a stick exchange when the junior b Seneca warchiefs played the junior b kanesatake warriors. I've visited with Ritchie a few times, and in addition to our connection to lacrosse we also share a love for our winter sport of snow Snake. And I met Alfie at the 2015 world indoor championships in Onondaga. A friend of mine at the time was quoted as saying " it must've been like meeting Yoda" ... Referring to the years of experience and knowledge that Alfie carries. (My friend and I are big star wars nerds and it showed). But we genuinely got along right away and connected over a love for the medicine sticks, i do my best to keep in touch with my friend. And oddly enough when we speak I'm not hounding him for info, we don't really talk about carving even....we just truly share the love of the stick and our journeys in finding "treasured relics" at yard sales, flea markets and odd chance finds. And sadly we talk about how many of our precious trees are becoming ill with invasive bugs. I'm grateful for knowing these two fellow stick makers. At the same time I owe a dept of gratitude to hall of famer Jim Calder, the work he did for the 2017 Canadian lacrosse association 150th ensured that we remained in contact as stick makers...was a true honor to have been part of that with these men.
