Who Invented It? — How North America, Sports, and Kindness Are All Connected

Many people start defining the world around them without even realizing it.
For example, ask a Canadian adult what “North America” is they’ll likely say Canada and the United States.

Ask an American adult?
They’ll probably say the United States and Canada.

It sounds small, but to some people, the order matters deeply.
These invisible lines can lead to pride, arguments, and confusion even among friends.

At Tallen Family Stories, we believe children deserve a better way to explore these ideas —
through something simple, fun, and honest: Sports.

🏀🥍🏒 Who Really Invented These Sports?

• Basketball:
  Invented by a Canadian, Dr. James Naismith, in the United States.
• Lacrosse:
  Indigenous Peoples of North America played lacrosse long before Canada or the United States existed.
• Ice Hockey:
  Both Indigenous Peoples and Canadian settlers shaped early hockey —
  The first organized indoor game was in Montreal, Canada in 1875.

🌎 A Simple Truth for Families:

When your favorite sports were first played
there was no Canada. No United States.
Just people.
Communities.
Cultures living, competing, learning, and surviving together.

No one argues about who gets to watch a hockey game.
No one stops a basketball shot mid-air and says, “Wait, which side of the border did this come from?”
The love of the game came first. The flags came later.

🧡 What We Teach Matters:

Your children will someday have favorite sports, favorite foods, favorite teams.
They will also love things you don’t understand —
and you’ll wonder, “Whose child is this?” 😄

But what matters most is what we teach them to love:

• The moments.
• The memories.
• The friendships.
• The spirit of sportsmanship — not just who’s “better.”

If we do that…
then whatever jersey they wear,
whatever team they cheer for,
they’ll always carry a bigger victory in their hearts.