General

In My Own Words: Grace White, Valparaiso

Growing up I was always just this ‘rez’ kid with a crazy dream...

Growing up I was always just this ‘rez’ kid with a crazy dream — a dream to be a Division I basketball player and to one day play on TV. When I say ‘rez’ I’m talking about my home, where my entire family lives on a road which wraps around my reservation. The Red Lake Indian reservation is one of only two tribes in the United States that’s considered a “closed” reservation, as our unceded territory was never allotted. We are also the only tribe in the United States who never lost tribal control of our lands.

Being so connected to everyone back home, I know that all of them support me and have my back no matter what.

Being raised surrounded by my family, tribe, and traditions, the shift to face the “outside world” when I left for college was an insane transition for me Being so connected to everyone back home, I know that all of them support me and have my back no matter what.. I traveled to plenty of places in the States for sports, powwows, and other events, but I have never had to live without my family in a completely foreign place. My high school graduating class was only 26 students. You know everyone somehow, whether it is your friend's uncle, your sister's friend’s brother, you name it. But in the “outside world”, you may not even know the people that live on your apartment floor. Being so connected to everyone back home, I know that all of them support me and have my back no matter what.

I figured if they could do it, I could do it.

Being the first Division I basketball player from my tribe and reservation gives me a huge sense of pride, yet also a huge sense of responsibility. It has created such drive and motivation for me to continue every day. I was inspired when Shoni and Jude Schimell came to my high school to speak about their experiences. These were two Native basketball players who played in college at the University of Louisville and went on to the WNBA. I figured if they could do it, I could do it. That has been my main message to the Native youth who aspire to chase their dreams.

I know there's a little girl out there, on a rez, who needs to see herself by seeing me.

You have to see success to become successful. It’s difficult to envision yourself doing something that seems impossible, something that no one you know, no one from your area, or no one who looks like you has ever done. When the Schimmel sisters were tearing it up on TV, in the Final Four, playing D-I — I didn't see them, I saw myself. And that was the moment when I knew I could do it. I could go D-1. And that is what fuels me, what inspires me on those early chilly mornings, when my legs are so sore it hurts to walk, and I'm bruised, stiff, tired. I know there's a little girl out there, on a rez, who needs to see herself by seeing me.