I am watching a documentary about a high school basketball player, Shoni Schimmel. Shoni is a member of the Umatilla Tribe outside of Portland, Oregon. It documents her attempt to gain a basketball scholarship. She is rated 8th in the country after her Junior year.
But Her family deals with financial hardships to keep Shoni and their family in Portland in order for her to go to a specific high school, which will allow her to be viewed by college scouts. Shoni finds it difficult to pick a college, as it will mean she will eventually have to leave her family. At the playoffs, Native Americans from allover the Northwest come and watch. They all want to see her succeed. They eventually are out after the first round of the quarterfinals.
Shoni does ends up deciding on the University of Louisville.
Within my own experience on the Navajo Nation, basketball is seen as an opportunity to get off the rez and to experience upward mobility. But it is rare that they actually get the coveted scholarships.
This film makes me think about opportunity and access. It brings up the same questions of opportunity that I had when I was working on the rez.
interesting post, mollie. the themes of the story don't seem to be especially unique, a talented youth looking for a way to a better life by utilizing a unique talent. however, the setting and culture are not what i would have expected.
ReplyDeletedo you think the film helped bring some awareness to the difficulties these families on reservations face? is it more effective by focusing on a story that say an inner-city youth also seeking a basketball scholarship might connect with? just some wonderings.