Full Description
For over 150 years the Lakota have tenaciously defended their culture and land against white miners, settlers, missionaries, and the U.S. Army, and paid the price. Their economy is in shambles and they face serious social issues, but their culture and outlook remain vibrant. Basketball has a role to play in the way that people on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation configure their hopes for a better future, and for pride in their community.
In Lakota Hoops, anthropologist Alan Klein trains his experienced eye on the ways that Lakota traditions find a seamless expression in the sport. In a variety of way such as weaving time-honored religious practices into the game or extending the warrior spirit of Crazy Horse to the players on the court, basketball has become a preferred way of finding continuity with the past. But the game is also well suited to the present and has become the largest regular gathering for all Lakota, promoting national pride as well as a venue for the community to creatively and aggressively confront white bigotry when needed.
Richly researched and filled with interviews with Pine Ridge residents, including both male and female players, Lakota Hoops offers a compelling look at the highs and lows of a community that has made basketball its own.
Contents
Preface
Chapter 1: Landmarks in Lakota Life
THE GOOD
Chapter 2: SWEATING, SMUDGING, AND SUN DANCING: Dusty LeBeau's Fusion of Basketball and Tradition
Chapter 3: THE LAKOTA NATION INVITATIONAL: Bryan Brewer's Invented Tradition
Chapter 4: "MANNING UP:" Jess Heart, Lakota Manhood and Hoops
Chapter 5: LAURA BIG CROW: Coming Back, to Pass It Forward
THE BAD
Chapter 6: PINE RIDGE - RED CLOUD RIVALRY: The Tip of a Factional Ice Berg
Chapter 7: CRABS IN A BUCKET: Lakota Factionalism and Basketball
THE UGLY
Chapter 8: ENGAGING ACRIMONY: Racism and Lakota Basketball in South Dakota
Index
