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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 15, 2001)
FEBRUARY 15, 2001 Smoke Signals 13 Chemawa's Lisa Young Bear S0U A Kt; Stands Out on the Court and ; ..' "S 1 miM- i in the Classroom YOUNG BEAR: Proud, shy and talented. By Chris Mercier A glazed look seeps over her eyes. Her shyly tense body is packaged into a supple frame and her hands grip the basketball deftly, as if it is a mere extension of her arm. Danc ing methodically around the baseline, almost rhythmically she sways to and fro, dribbles the ball between her legs, drives, halts, and rather mechanically lobs a spot-up jumper at the net. Swish. I now know what Lisa Young Bear was talking about only minutes be fore. -' "I block everything out," she says. "And have a fun time." Although a senior at Chemawa Indian Boarding School, and the starting point guard for the girls bas ketball team, Young Bear is im mensely shy. She appeared almost meek during the interview, clearly not used to the direct attention, nor of having to elaborate on herself. Yet put a basketball in her hands and she just melts. The reason is simple: Basketball has become, through the years, her muse. History has shown us many other examples, like Elvis Presley and his guitar, Tony Gwynn and a baseball bat. Larry Bird, though no idol of Young Bear's, once mused that he was a far dif- ferent person on the court than off. Some people, once placed in their desired ele ments, leave them selves. Add Young Bear to that list. "Whenever I worry about something or when I get home sick," she said. "I play basketball." Basketball ceased being simply a sport years ago for Young Bear. Thousrh 18 mental, social and emotional stagnation. "It's boring there," she said. "There's nothing to do." Young Bear speaks of the reservation in the same man ner that a root canal patient reflects on his or her last den tal visit. She smiled uncom fortably and occasionally winced while recounting a childhood on the reserva tion. Boredom, clearly, is an underlying theme of her life there. The residents of Pine Ridge struggle just to re main entertained. And so, she said, the people are inclined to drink, do drugs and perform many other methods of self-destruction. Ambitions are lost. "Our schools there were very low," she reminisced. Basketball became a method of escape. It entered her life at a young age, when her dad gave her a ball as a gift. He was once a talented player in his own right, but was disabled by kidney di alysis, the same ailment that kept him from working. He taught her the basics, and she absorbed them hungrily, ultimately turning to it rr ft "ll M... I "-SkillESf backfired. Lisa found the religious tone of the school not to her liking. "They made us pray and go to mass," she said. "For a school, that didn't seem right." When word of Chemawa reached her through a friend, it suddenly be- r i J f 'J . 4 i HHi'm mil rjj&j'i&i&&j rmtjmts) & 'fa turn wmm mr years of age now, her life the first 15 years is worlds away. The daughter of Mary and Lawrence Young Bear was but one of six full-blooded Oglalla children growing up in the small town of Por cupine, South Dakota. The town is nestled quietly in the folds of the Pine Ridge Reservation, a place Young Bear likened to "a poor country." South Dakota itself is reputed to be bleak, yet its barrenness is of par ticular exception on the reservation, an environment all but conducive to while she tuned reservation life out. In hindsight, those summers and afternoons spent helping Lisa refine her court skills were some of the best times he could have spent as a fa ther. While she turned to basketball for sanctuary, many of her friends, disinterested in school andor work, made the descent into alcoholism and drug abuse. Her parents, though never themselves victims of those af flictions still feared for her education and future, elected to enroll her in a Catholic school, a move that almost came a viable option. And her par ents were entirely supportive of the prospect, even though it would take her nearly 2,000 miles away from home. "My mom told me I had a much bet ter chance in the real world than on the rez," she said. Besides, too many of her friends had opted for the well-worn path. "I knew there was more opportu nity outside, away from the drugs and alcohol," she said. The transition wasn't terribly dif- RAISINGTHE ROOF Senior Point guard Lisa Young Bear leads the Chemawa Braves girl's basketball team on the court, a floor affectionately known as "Moccasin Square Garden," and sets an example for all young Native women by her accomplish ments in the classroom as well. ficult. But make no mistake, it wasn't easy either. "We didn't always see eye-to-eye when she first came out here," said Kristi Daniels, Young Bear's coach. "But she has really matured a lot." "I wouldn't have labeled her as a bad kid," she said. "But it was obvi ous she had issues to deal with. . . she was a bit of a rebel." What Daniels has been fortunate to see is the evolution of a young woman. Young Bear, who has played at the varsity level all three of her years at Chemawa, has become a campus ce lebrity; a friend and peer to everyone. "Not only is she a great basketball player," Daniels continued. "But she's an excellent student." And it is her skills on the court that have drawn attention. Chemeketa Community College is presently re cruiting her for their women's team. "She can play all positions," Daniels said. "I've even put her in at center and she does great." With that said, it should probably come as no surprise that Young Bear's favorite player is Scottie Pippen of the Portland Trailblazers. Pippen, who won six NBA champi onships with Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls during the 1990s, is considered by fans and experts alike to be one of the best all-around players ever. Young Bear adores him, admitting she loves browsing through his numerous web sites while on-line. It makes perfect sense that her game is eerily similar to his. "Honestly, not until she missed a game did I realize what she brings to this team," Daniels added. "And how much we missed that." Yet no trace of arrogance could be found when Young Bear discussed herself. "I think I average from 12 to 18 points a game," she said, and paused to think. "And I don't know how many assists I get." She is probably too busy enjoying her life to worry about stats. For the time being, Young Bear is content to hang out with friends, listen to mu sic, and still play her almost compul sory one or two hours of basketball every day. She entertains thoughts of studying law or maybe nursing. And she clearly is not alarmed by the uncertainty of her future. Fate has been good to her so far. "I made a promise to myself once," she said. "I'd go wherever basket ball would take me."
