Whole Child Health Collaborative & Hoopfest Partnership

The Whole Child Health Collaborative (WCHC) is a workgroup within the Tribal Partners Leadership Council (TPLC) that is focused on engaging youth and families in prevention initiatives that include cultural, learning, and physical activities to nurture mind, body, and spirit.

In a new partnership with Hoopfest, BHT and WCHC partners were able to distribute 200 Hoopfest logoed basketballs on the Spokane, Colville, and Kalispel Reservations, and in Spokane through the American Indian Community Center, and The Native Project’s summer youth program. (Following all social distancing precautions, of course!) 

The canceling of Hoopfest was another disappointment that hit our Native communities just a little harder. Basketball is an important sport and recreation within many Native American communities. Here in Spokane, Hoopfest provides a memorable experience for both our Spokane Urban Natives (estimated population 15,000) and tribes across the nation. The scrappy games of Hoopfest are reminiscent of “rez ball,” and this story does an excellent job of highlighting how COVID has impacted this sport on tribal reservations.  

We are thankful for the opportunity to give our Native communities a little bit of Hoopfest, basketball, and memories.