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‘Medicine Ball’ Explores How Basketball Became a Symbol of Resilience, Identity, and Pride in Native Communities

SPORTS

11/3/20263 min read

Two high school basketball players in maroon and gold uniforms sitting back-to-back on a gym floor with a basketball.

Photo credit: Jaida Grey Eagle.

Sports documentaries often focus on competition, championships, and athletic achievement. But the new PBS documentary Medicine Ball takes a different approach, exploring how basketball became a powerful force for healing, identity, and cultural connection within Native communities. Through the stories of two Native college athletes, the film examines the intersection of sport, history, and resilience while shedding light on a complicated chapter of Indigenous experience in America.

Directed by acclaimed Dakota/Diné filmmaker Leya Hale, the documentary premieres during Native American Heritage Month and follows the journeys of Lexus Redthunder and LeRoy Staples-Fairbanks IV as they navigate college life and athletics at the University of Minnesota Morris, a campus located on the site of a former Native boarding school.

A Story About More Than Basketball

At its core, Medicine Ball is not simply a sports documentary. It is a story about identity, belonging, and the ways Native young people carry their history while forging their own futures. According to director Leya Hale, the film examines both the challenges and the strength that exist within Native communities.

The documentary reveals how basketball evolved into an important cultural symbol. What began as a sport introduced into Native boarding schools ultimately became something much more meaningful: a source of hope, pride, community, and resilience.

By exploring both historical and personal narratives, the film demonstrates how Native communities transformed the game into a vehicle for preserving culture and building connections across generations.

Following Two Inspiring Student-Athletes

The documentary centers on two Native student-athletes whose experiences provide a deeply personal lens into the broader story.

Lexus Redthunder, a member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Morris and a former standout player for the Cougars women’s basketball team. Beyond athletics, she is recognized for her leadership, advocacy work, and commitment to supporting Native youth. Her connection to the story is particularly personal, as her great-grandmother attended the former Morris Industrial School for Indians located on the same campus.

LeRoy Staples-Fairbanks IV, from the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, is a student-athlete who competes in both basketball and golf while pursuing a degree in sport management. The film highlights his pride in his Ojibwe heritage and his desire to encourage young people from reservation communities to pursue both education and athletics.

Confronting a Complex History

One of the documentary’s most compelling themes is its examination of Native boarding school history. The University of Minnesota Morris sits on land once associated with a Native boarding school, creating a powerful backdrop for the athletes’ journeys.

The film explores how basketball was historically introduced to Native youth within boarding schools. Despite those difficult origins, Native communities reclaimed the sport and transformed it into something empowering and uniquely their own.

Guided in part by Dakota historian Syd Beane, the documentary connects past and present, illustrating how sport can serve as both a reminder of historical challenges and a source of cultural strength.

A Celebrated Native Storyteller Behind the Camera

The documentary is directed by Leya Hale, an award-winning filmmaker and producer for Minnesota PBS. Hale, a recipient of the 2026 Minnesota Filmmaker Award, is known for creating films that explore Native resilience, survival, and community experiences. Her previous projects include The People’s Protectors, Bring Her Home, and The Electric Indian.

Her storytelling approach brings authenticity and emotional depth to a documentary that balances historical reflection with hope and empowerment.

Celebration of Culture, Community, and Perseverance

Medicine Ball offers audiences more than a look at basketball. It presents a thoughtful exploration of Native American history, cultural identity, and the enduring strength of Indigenous communities. Through the experiences of two student-athletes, viewers are invited to see how a game can become a source of healing, connection, and pride.

As the documentary premieres during Native American Heritage Month, it serves as a powerful reminder that sports often carry stories far larger than the final score. For many Native communities, basketball is not just a game. It is a living expression of resilience, belonging, and cultural continuity.

Medicine Ball airs on November 9 at 8 pm CST. To learn more about the documentary, visit MinnesotaPBS.org/medicine-ball-film.

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