RED LAKE 鈥� When Grace White was in high school, she found stardom on the basketball court. But more than that, she found an outlet.
鈥淏asketball saved my life,鈥� said White, a 2017 Red Lake graduate. 鈥淲hen I look around and come back, I see friends or people suffer from drugs or alcohol. I see where some of my friends I grew up with ended up. There鈥檚 a lot that we鈥檝e lost. Basketball pulled me out of that.鈥�
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White blazed a trail for herself that she鈥檚 developed into a promising future, and now she鈥檚 giving back to the community that raised her. White, who finished her collegiate career at Valparaiso University this year, is holding a free youth basketball camp in Red Lake this week.
鈥淏asketball teaches you so many different things: how to be a team, how to work together, how to listen, how to be patient, how to follow instructions,鈥� White said. 鈥淚鈥檓 glad I could help teach the kids some of those life lessons, as well.鈥�
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White鈥檚 presence is contagious. A total of 128 kids from ages 7-17 signed up for the clinic, and White even brought three of her college teammates to help run it.
She spoke with a tender authority, a voice that showed a care for the children yet an expectation of respect. Having fun and teaching skills had worth, but instilling strong values was the primary objective.
Much like in basketball, she's a natural at it.
鈥淪he鈥檚 loved, she鈥檚 idolized and she鈥檚 a good role model here for every kid here in Red Lake,鈥� said Randy Holthusen, a volunteer at the camp and White鈥檚 high school basketball coach. 鈥淎nd not only Red Lake, but all the Indian communities around Minnesota and hopefully the United States.鈥�
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While playing for the Ogichidaag -- that鈥檚 鈥淲arriors鈥� in Ojibwe -- White elevated the program to unprecedented heights. She scored over 2,400 points at Red Lake and led the program to its first-ever section championship in 2017.
White also became the first Red Lake athlete, male or female, to play Division I basketball when she played at Denver for two seasons. She transferred to Valpo in 2019 and played three more years, scoring 747 points for the Beacons and 1,024 total in her collegiate career.
鈥淪he鈥檚 one of a kind,鈥� Holthusen said. 鈥淭he things that she鈥檚 doing, the goals are right in front of all of these kids. She鈥檚 up here telling them that you鈥檝e got to reach for your goals. It鈥檚 not impossible to do it. It鈥檚 a lot of hard work, but it can be achievable.鈥�
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White grew up with a key to the Red Lake Humanities Center, so she always had a hoop. Now holding her camp in the same building, White鈥檚 journey has come full circle as the newest wave of hoopsters grow up.
鈥淚 think it means the world to our whole community,鈥� White said of the camp. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a beacon of hope for these kids. It鈥檚 something they really get excited for. Me being gone all these years and finally getting to come back, (it鈥檚 special) to show that I鈥檓 from here and that this is the gym I grew up in.鈥�
A massive Red Lake Nation flag covers one of the walls, and a banner reading 鈥淏oozhoo鈥� -- meaning 鈥淗ello鈥� or "Greetings" in Ojibwe -- hangs prominently on another. It was a fitting juxtaposition of pride for one鈥檚 reservation and a warm attitude toward anyone and everyone who wished to join in on the fun.
And at the center of the gym, blowing a whistle and running drills, was a hometown girl who understood the bigger picture.
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鈥淓verything that she brought to Red Lake -- that she still brings to Red Lake -- that鈥檚 why you see all of these kids here,鈥� Holthusen said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why it鈥檚 such a big turnout.鈥�
White has already received her bachelor鈥檚 degree in psychology and is working to finish her master鈥檚 in business administration. In April, at the women鈥檚 Final Four in Minneapolis, she also partnered with the Indigenous Athletics Advancement Council to 鈥淚ndigenize the Game鈥� and bring recognition and representation to Native athletes.
Then came the clinic in Red Lake, meant to foster positive change in the reservation鈥檚 youth and beyond.
鈥淛ust yesterday, after the camp I went and sat in the car,鈥� White said. 鈥淚 just felt so grateful to have this opportunity to work with these kids. You don鈥檛 even know how much you make their day when you compliment something.鈥�
Although White is the first of her kind, her camp is designed to make her story a common occurrence in Red Lake.
鈥淭his is the next generation,鈥� White said. 鈥淗opefully we bring up some more Grace Whites, bring up some more Division I athletes and have them chase their dreams.鈥�
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