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:
MUCKLESHOOT TEAM ROSTER:
Muckleshoot Indian Tribe employees took to the field on Sept. 28 for a softball game. The GS-Cemetery department came away with the win.
"[Columbus'] very own words defending and justifying his rule of cruelty and its root economy directly based in the human trafficking of young Indigenous children and girls… even in his own time, his acts were seen as evil and heinous..."
Muckleshoot Tribal Vice Chairman John Daniels Jr. joined community members, project partners, and local leaders Oct. 15 in Seattle for the groundbreaking of Rainier Rising Early Learning Center, and the Mount Baker Redevelopment.
Tribal and state leaders from across Washington gathered Oct. 12-14 at Snoqualmie Casino & Hotel for the 37th Annual Centennial Accord Meeting, hosted by the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe.
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