Rezball: Basketball in Lakota Nation - VICE World of Sports
Summary
TLDRThe Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, home to the Lakota Sioux, is the poorest place in America with a history of tragedy and hardship. Despite the lack of basic amenities, the community finds solace and hope in the game of basketball, particularly through the intense rivalry between the Red Cloud Crusaders and Pine Ridge Thorpes. This sport not only unites the tribe but also serves as a beacon of hope for the younger generation, keeping them focused and providing a path forward. The video highlights the importance of preserving their culture and traditions for the future, as the Lakota people strive to overcome the challenges of their past and build a better future.
Takeaways
- 🏆 The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota is home to a vibrant basketball culture, particularly among the Lakota Sioux community.
- 📊 Despite being the poorest place in America, the reservation has a strong sense of community and tradition, with basketball serving as a unifying force.
- 🏘️ The reservation lacks basic amenities like electricity and running water in many areas, highlighting the challenges of living there.
- 🏀 The sport of basketball, specifically a style called 'reds ball,' is deeply ingrained in the culture and has been adapted by Native American tribes.
- 👕 The Red Cloud Crusaders and Pine Ridge Thorpes are the two high school teams that embody the local basketball rivalry and tradition.
- 👟 The players from both teams have been playing together since a young age, fostering a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose.
- 🏆 Basketball is not just a sport on the reservation; it represents hope and a way to stay focused amidst difficult circumstances.
- 👨👦👦 The game serves as a coping mechanism for the players, helping them deal with personal tragedies and the harsh realities of life on the reservation.
- 🌐 The language and culture of the Lakota people are endangered, but there is a strong effort to preserve and pass them on to future generations.
- 🎓 For the young players, basketball is more than a game; it's a potential pathway to education and a better future outside of the reservation.
- 👥 The community's support for the high school basketball games is immense, with games often packed with enthusiastic fans, reflecting the importance of the sport.
Q & A
Where is the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation located?
-The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is located in South Dakota.
Which tribe primarily resides on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation?
-The Lakota Sioux tribe primarily resides on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
What is the historical significance of Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation?
-Wounded Knee is the site of a massacre in 1890 where US troops killed nearly 300 men, women, and children of the Lakota tribe.
What are the living conditions like on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation?
-The reservation is home to hundreds of trailer parks without electricity or running water, and lacks basic amenities like banks or movie theaters.
How is basketball adapted in the native style on the reservation?
-Basketball is adapted into a non-stop, running gun game known as 'reds ball', which has been played that way since the beginning.
What is the significance of the rivalry between the Red Cloud Crusaders and the Pine Ridge Thorpes?
-The rivalry is significant as it represents the spirit and unity of the Lakota tribe, despite the challenges they face.
How does basketball serve as a focal point for the youth on the reservation?
-Basketball provides hope and a sense of community, keeping the youth focused and offering a positive outlet for their energy.
What impact does the sport have on the players' lives outside the court?
-Basketball helps the players cope with personal tragedies and provides a sense of purpose and direction for their future.
Why is the preservation of the Lakota language and culture important to the community?
-Preserving the Lakota language and culture is important as it represents the identity and heritage of the tribe, and is a way to honor their ancestors and pass on traditions to future generations.
What are the aspirations of the students from the reservation regarding their future?
-The students aspire to go to college, join the military, and make a difference in their community, aiming to break the cycle of poverty and despair.
How does the basketball game between Red Cloud and Pine Ridge reflect the community's values?
-The game reflects the community's values of resilience, tradition, and hope, as well as their commitment to supporting the next generation.
Outlines
🏞️ Life and Challenges on Pine Ridge Reservation
This paragraph introduces the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, a Lakota Sioux community in South Dakota. It highlights the challenges of living in such an area, including poverty, lack of basic amenities, and historical trauma like the Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890. Despite these hardships, the community has a deep connection to basketball, with local courts playing a pivotal role in the lives of residents.
🏀 Res Ball: The Heart of a Community
The paragraph shifts focus to basketball, which has been embraced by Native American tribes, including the Lakota. Known as 'Res Ball,' this fast-paced, running game holds cultural significance. A fierce rivalry between two local high schools—Red Cloud Crusaders and Pine Ridge Thorpes—has become a symbol of this tradition. Despite coming from the same tribe, this rivalry energizes the community, with both schools bringing their unique strengths to the court.
💔 Resilience Amidst Tragedy
This section dives into the personal lives of the players. It highlights the difficulties faced by the youth, particularly suicide and grief. One player's story stands out as he recounts the loss of his father to suicide and how basketball provided a source of focus and purpose during that difficult time. Despite the dark circumstances, the sport offers hope and resilience to those affected.
🎓 Looking Beyond the Court
Here, the narrative shifts to the future aspirations of the senior players. As they approach the end of their high school careers, they are faced with life-changing decisions that will impact not just themselves, but their entire community. Plans for college, the military, and breaking free from the struggles of life on the reservation are discussed, revealing the weight of responsibility they carry as Lakota youth.
💭 Dreams for a Better Future
This part reflects on the dreams and hopes the young people have for a brighter future, both for themselves and their community. While the struggles on the reservation are apparent, there’s a strong desire among the youth to make better choices, escape the cycle of hardship, and contribute positively to the tribe. Their motivations stem from wanting to honor their heritage while also creating new opportunities.
🏆 A Packed Gym: Red Cloud vs. Pine Ridge
In this paragraph, the scene is set for a high-stakes basketball game between Red Cloud and Pine Ridge. The gym is packed with passionate fans, and the fast-paced nature of 'Res Ball' is emphasized, with possessions moving quickly and no need for a shot clock. The rivalry between the two teams captivates the community, showing how basketball holds deeper meaning beyond just the game.
🔥 A Game That Carries the Tribe's Hopes
This paragraph details how basketball on the Pine Ridge Reservation represents more than just a sport. It carries cultural and emotional weight, symbolizing hope for the future. As the community faces numerous challenges, the young players are seen as 'the tip of the spear' in a larger fight for survival and progress. The tradition of basketball intertwines with the tribe's desire to keep their culture and sovereignty alive.
🌅 Restoring a Culture for Future Generations
The final paragraph shifts focus from basketball to a broader cultural perspective. It reflects on the Lakota elders' belief that it took seven generations for their culture to reach the brink of extinction. However, the current conversation is centered on the future—on the seven generations it will take to rebuild and restore the Lakota heritage. The paragraph ends on a hopeful note, envisioning a cultural revival for future generations.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
💡Lakota Sioux
💡Red Cloud Crusaders
💡Pine Ridge Thorpes
💡Res Ball
💡Hope
💡Suicide
💡Oglala Lakota
💡Basketball as a focal point
💡Seven Generations
💡Cultural Preservation
Highlights
The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota is home to the Lakota Sioux people and faces significant challenges.
Despite being the poorest place in America, the community has a rich cultural heritage and a strong basketball tradition.
The game of 'reds ball' is a unique, fast-paced version of basketball played by the native community.
The rivalry between the Red Cloud Crusaders and the Pine Ridge Thorpes is intense and deeply rooted in the community.
Basketball serves as a unifying force and a source of hope for the youth on the reservation.
The students face personal struggles, including the impact of suicide within their community.
Basketball is not just a sport; it's a way to cope with loss and maintain focus on a positive future.
The importance of preserving the Lakota language and cultural traditions is emphasized by the community.
The basketball games are a focal point for the community, drawing large crowds and symbolizing unity.
The style of basketball played, known as 'res ball', is characterized by its non-stop, fast-paced nature.
The students see basketball as a way to escape the challenges of life on the reservation and pursue higher education.
The community's hope for the future is tied to the success and aspirations of the young basketball players.
The concept of thinking seven generations ahead is central to the Lakota people's approach to culture and education.
The basketball games are more than just sports; they represent the ongoing fight for cultural preservation.
The transcript highlights the resilience and determination of the Lakota people to maintain their culture and traditions.
The future of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is seen through the lens of hope and the potential of its youth.
Transcripts
[Applause]
we are on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
in South Dakota it is a community that
is primarily made up of the Lakota Sioux
people now it's been well-documented
that there are challenges to living in
an area like this but we're gonna tell
the story through a different lens
[Music]
there's not a lot happening here on the
rez crossing 3500 square miles and three
County lines the Pine Ridge Indian
Reservation is statistically the poorest
place in America it's the site of the
Wounded Knee Massacre where in 1890 US
troops killed nearly 300 men women and
children of the Lakota tribe today it's
home to hundreds of trailer parks
without electricity or running water
there isn't a bank or a movie theater
the Pine Ridge but there are basketball
courts
[Applause]
[Music]
this isn't basketball
it's reds ball because the native style
this game is played one way
it's been that way since the beginning
for decades Indian tribes everywhere
have co-opted basketball into a non-stop
running gun game and today on Pineridge
this tradition flows through one rivalry
between only two high schools in town in
spite of their namesake the Red Cloud
Crusaders wear the blue jerseys with
pride and they've got a roster of
seniors who've been playing together
their entire lives but standing in their
way is stiff competition from the
younger Pineridge thorpes as in Jim Thor
one of the greatest athletes of all time
and while the students from both teams
all come from the same tribe the rivalry
splits the resin - every year we've been
playing together since like yes
everything you built like a mini like
got like built like man I just dislike
sixth grade people see their raises like
dangerous hostile and all that nonsense
play we're just friendly
I know basketball has kept you guys
focused but you're not on the court all
the time how do you guys a void those
opportunities to you know make a bad
decision for a night I mean just being
together very much
it's cuz the res it's in bad shape
there's a bunch of suicides
last hope I lost my dad to suicide three
years ago so I was pretty big at the
time when he killed himself we had a
game you went out and played after you
found out as soon as I go on that court
it's like my main focus was to get the
win and actually I went straight to his
wake
I stayed there for like two days
straight
I was just I wouldn't wish that on
anybody that feeling just served man
what would you say basketball means to a
kid growing up here it's like hope Oh
why there's a park down here called the
Oh Park every night of the summer
there's games going on every night and
my kids can turn to it so it's like the
main focal point in there is for
centuries this land has been home to a
sub tribe of the Lakota people known as
the Oklahoma translated from the
traditional dialect Oglala means they
who scattered their own and while traces
of the Oglala heritage are still visible
around the rez that name has never been
more relevant than it is today the
language itself is endangered but the
Lakota people aren't ready to give up on
it yet
the seniors who line up on either side
of the ball tonight they have a lot on
their mind because they're not just kids
playing in a high school rivalry they're
Lakota kids and what they do or where
they go next
that's a choice that affects the entire
tribe it's reality you know I don't go
on forever
I'm a man clergyman in the Medical
College this is your last year you guys
live in this life that you've always
lived together how do you see life after
basketball at Red Cloud I plan on going
to college for two years
get my associate and go into the
military afterwards
so it's pretty pretty intense kind of
scary to think about
he's our hero
[Music]
what's it gonna be like for you when he
does get to go off and go to college be
some miso broth and make a family not to
see you know I hope he has to go home to
go so I'm happy is gone no sin my uncles
and people around here like what they go
through when they don't take back the
right right choices like I don't want to
have it I want I want to be somewhere
out there is I'm on my own family and
just seeing the struggles within raised
within my family
like I want to be different like I want
to single myself out and be different
and help them at the same time
[Music]
kela hina-chan
[Music]
key lady glue ha no
[Music]
in the hallway of the Red Cloud
gymnasium right now inside that gym a
thousand fans packed strong they've
locked the doors and said no more people
can come in
I have read Bob
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
the one thing that stands out to me
about this style of basketball that they
call res ball is that they don't need a
shot clock basically you get 35 seconds
I haven't seen the clock run off more
than five to eight seconds
possession back and forth
back and forth even the reps are getting
worn out
this year's matchup between Red Cloud
and Pine Ridge was an old-fashioned
blowout it was the kind of game that
almost no sports fan would care about
but the Oglala Lakota tribe on Pine
Ridge Indian Reservation
they came round here high school hoops
means something because the kids playing
it are now the tip of the spear for
another fight you talked earlier about
basketball being hope what are you your
hope for this place for your home it's
kind of like a really big part of us for
like a sovereign nation
you know we stick together the people we
got to keep our traditions alive in our
culture and we got to learn so we can
keep teaching into the younger
generations and then we can just even
build on each other's back
seven generations that's how long the
Kota elders say it took for their
culture to come to the brink of
extinction but the conversation here is
not about the past it's about the future
about the seven generations it'll take
to get it back
you
you
[Music]
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