The new Netflix movie "Rez Ball" highlights how deeply basketball is woven into tribal communities and showcases the strong relationship between Arizona State University and its Indigenous student population, a connection made clear when the university hosted a special screening at its MIX Center in Mesa.
Candace Hamana, ASU’s director of Tribal Relations, played a key role in securing the screening of "Rez Ball" at the newly opened Media and Immersive eXperience (MIX) Center. Her strong connection with Netflix enabled her to involve both ASU and the Navajo Nation.
“We didn’t just invite only faculty and staff, we have local and tribal leaders here,” said Hamana, who is a member of the Hopi tribe. “We want them to experience an event that demonstrates how we want our (Indigenous) students to be seen and have a sense of belonging to their culture when they come to ASU.”
Gila River Indian Community Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis, Hualapai Chairman Duane Clark, Miss Indigenous ASU Monica Yazzie and the Arizona State University women's basketball team were all in attendance at the premiere of "Rez Ball."
The movie is set in the fictional Navajo community of Chuska and was filmed in Shiprock, New Mexico. The story follows the Chuska Warriors, the high school basketball team, as they strive for the New Mexico State championship. Before the team can reach the title, they must overcome numerous personal and community challenges that cast a shadow over their journey.
The movie offers a glimpse into the immense popularity of basketball within the Navajo Nation and other tribal communities, a passion seen each year when fans fill gyms in Phoenix and New Mexico for the championship playoffs.
"Wherever you are on Indian Country, any reservation, any Indian community you will see a basketball court," said Roe. "Basketball is a sport you have the opportunity to grow up playing, whether at school, playing at a very young age, independently, or you have the opportunity to represent your tribal school, or represent your community as well."
Native community is active at ASU
Arizona State University is mentioned in connection to a character who missed the opportunity to accept a full women's basketball scholarship from ASU, instead choosing a more difficult path in life.
There have been a few notable Navajo women's basketball players who have played for ASU, and before the movie began, photos of former Lady Sun Devils were shown, including Kalene Carl, Dr. Michelle Tom, Rainy Crisp and Ryneldi Becenti , who was also the first Native American woman to play in the WNBA when she played for the Phoenix Mercury.
"We are charged with as a representative of Sun Devil athletics is to let you know how committed we are to building, growing and continuing to strengthen with the Native American community, especially our tribal youth" said ASU women's basketball head coach Natasha Adair. "We want to make sure we serve as role models and create opportunities so our tribal youth can see there are so many possibilities right here at Arizona State University."
Members of the current ASU women's basketball team not only watched the movie but also got to see their newly revealed team photo for the first time.
Yazzie, who is the 2024-2025 Miss Indigenous ASU, said it was "exciting and heartwarming" to see a film depicting the love for basketball among not only the Navajo Nation but all tribal communities. Originally from Fort Defiance, she said when visiting home she takes in a Window Rock Scouts basketball game.
"Growing Up, I didn't see Navajo, let alone Native, faces on the screen so in order for us to have that representation and for all of the work behind the scenes ... for all of it to be Indigenous, is really groundbreaking," said Yazzie, who is Navajo and Acoma Pueblo. "It's really moving."
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'Remarkable' to see young Native actors in the screen
Clark expressed excitement about seeing a film that captures a tribal community's passion for basketball. As a fan of the Hulu show "Reservation Dogs," Clark felt the timing of this movie's release was perfect and believes it serves as inspiration for youth to see these kinds of stories represented on screen.
"I was really anticipating this movie," said Clark. "It's truly remarkable for our Native youth to see Native Americans on the big and small screen telling and sharing the stories we all already know, and that's the exciting part for me."
For the Fall 2023 semester, ASU reported 3,823 American Indian or Alaska Native students enrolled. In 2022, ASU had the largest Indigenous student population.
The Media and Immersive eXperience (MIX) Center in Mesa, where the screening took place, opened in the fall of 2022 and hosts hundreds of students who will be making films, designing new virtual worlds and video games, and creating other immersive media experiences of all kinds.
Jacob Moore, associate vice president of tribal relations at ASU, commended the MIX Center for its impressive impact and highlighted the increasing number of aspiring Indigenous filmmakers in the film and television industry.
He also emphasized ASU women's basketball's efforts to engage with tribal communities, noting the 2018 Showdown on the Rez between Baylor and ASU, held at the Bee Hółdzil Fighting Scouts Events Center in Fort Defiance, featured on ESPN.
"As you know, Indian Country is obsessed with basketball in every tribal community across the country," said Moore. "You will see towns emptying out during championship time as everyone heads out to the state championship. The more we thought about this with a Netflix prescreening opportunity to showcase the MIX Center and ASU women's basketball, it was a no brainer to put on this event."
"Rez Ball" will be released on Netflix Sept. 27.
Arlyssa D. Becenti covers Indigenous affairs for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Send ideas and tips to arlyssa.becenti@arizonarepublic.com .
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: At 'Rez Ball' screening, Native leaders, students talk about representation in film
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