MUCKLESHOOT MESSENGER

May 2024

XXV, No. 3
Muckleshoot indian reservation, wash.
May 2024

Battle of the Nations Basketball Tournament

By Nate Bisson

64 tribes from across the country competed in this year’s 5th annual Battle of the Nations basketball tournament located in Spokane, Washington. On April 4th, teams met at Spokane Casino for mandatory check-ins, followed by a grand entry ceremony and live drawing for game times. 

The grand entry started with an honoring of flags by Indigenous Veterans, followed by songs and dances as all tribes were introduced and welcomed onto the floor.

This basketball tournament is very unique in that Tribal members can only play with the tribe they are enrolled in. Tribal IDs are verified at check ins on the first day. The tournament director and creator is Spokane tribal member Jerry Ford Redbone.

On April 5th, Muckleshoot faced off against Skokomish in the first round and won by more than 20 points. Next, we battled against Blackfeet Nation and won by 20 as well.

On April 6th, we fought hard against Lapwai Nation, but came up short losing by 10. Lapwai ended up finishing 4th place in the tournament. Our final game was also on April 6th, we played a very tough Coeur d’Alene Tribal team and lost.

Out of 64 Tribal Nations, Muckleshoot finished in the top 16 teams in the country. We’re hoping to return next year and improve our ranking.

WINNERS:

  • 1st: Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, $12,000, custom Pendleton Jackets, and a Bison skull trophy.
  • 2nd: Comanche Nation, $6000, custom Pendleton gym bags, and a Bison skull trophy.
  • 3rd: Navajo Nation, $4000  and a Bison skull trophy.
  • 4th: Nimiipuu - Lapwai Nation, $2000 and a Bison skull trophy

MUCKLESHOOT TEAM ROSTER:

  • Leeroy Courville
  • Jon Hamilton
  • Kobe Courville
  • Nate Bisson
  • Devon Anderson
  • Hazen Thomas
  • Luis Esparza
  • Darius Nichols

More from This Edition

XXV, No. 3

May 2024

view pdf

More from the Messenger

July 2025 — Honoring Our Graduates
Edition

Muckleshoot Celebrates Record Number of College, Technical Education, and Vocational Certificate Graduates

In June, Muckleshoot witnessed the graduation of 42 Muckleshoot Tribal Members with college degrees and 134 Muckleshoot Tribal Members who earned their technical education and vocational certificates.

read article
July 2025 (Section I)
Edition

In Pictures: June 2025 Veterans' Powwow

Muckleshoot celebrated its Warrior traditions and veterans service with Tribes from around the region at the 2025 Veterans Powwow last month. Photos courtesy of Danielle Wilcox.

read article
July 2025 (Section I)
Edition

Councilwoman Cross Celebrates Milestone with Longtime Friend of the Tribe

Councilwoman Cross joined retired Seattle University professor Fr. Pat Twohy, S.J., to celebrate his 86th birthday and the recent publication of his latest book, syəyaʔaʔ: Coast Salish Sacred Lifeways and the Sacred Lifeways of Jesus.

read article
July 2025 (Section I)
Edition

A Message from Tribal Council About the “One Big Beautiful Bill”

The Muckleshoot Tribal Council, Muckleshoot Intergovernmental Affairs, and our D.C. team were actively engaged since the BBB’s inception in January to ensure that the Tribe’s sovereignty and treaty rights were protected in this process.

read article

About the Muckleshoot Messenger

The Muckleshoot Messenger is a Tribal publication created by the Muckleshoot Office of Media Services. Tribal community members and Tribal employees are welcome to submit items to the newspaper such as news, calendar items, photos, poems, and artwork.


Submit Feedback About the messenger