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:
The Muckleshoot Keta Creek Family Fishing Derby in honor of Leeroy Courville Sr. held on Aug. 15 was an opportunity for families to come together, share stories, and pass on traditions to the next generation.
Wellness-Fitness professionals and Tribal leaders gathered August 4–5 at the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe for Native Fitness, a two-day event focused on health, movement, culture and community wellness.
This year’s Back to School Bash in partnership with the Youth Health Fair on Aug. 27 was the perfect sendoff to summer – and our community showed up ready to celebrate.
More than five decades after Larry Gossett came to the Muckleshoot Reservation looking for Native students to recruit to the University of Washington, the longtime civil rights leader returned to the Muckleshoot Tribal Council Chambers.
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