The Wave Foundation is helping to build sports courts in ten Native American communities across the Pacific Northwest. Last September, the first one got a visit from the Portland Trail Blazers. Celilo Village (population 85), an unincorporated community in the Columbia River gorge, filled with the sound of bouncing basketballs as players ran a coaching session with children and their families, a moment made possible by the existence of a court that had been completed the year before.
This court, built in Celilo Village with help and input from The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Gorge Native American Collaboration, can be used as a soccer field, basketball court, and even volleyball or street hockey, making it versatile for local youth. “Getting youth and community members involved in sports leads to health, wellness, and helps support thriving, sustainable communities,” said Justin Zeulner, president of The Wave Foundation.
Before the court was built, children in Celilo Village only had a play structure. The area is a largely Native American community on the Columbia River near the historic Celilo Falls fishing site which disappeared after the Dalles Dam was built. Youth regularly participated in school sports but couldn’t access facilities during the summer or during breaks. The nearest basketball court was 10 miles away. Now kids can often be seen—in groups or solo—shooting hoops or kicking soccer balls around.
In the past, The Wave Foundation has mostly worked with Tribes through their work in food systems where they promote sustainable food production and provide meals and food to people in need. As Zeulner spent more time in local Tribal communities, residents identified other gaps in infrastructure that weren’t directly related to food. This led to a plan to build sports courts with help from MUSCO, known for sports lighting. “The health of thriving communities requires the health of its people,” Zeulner said.
A grant from the Roundhouse Foundation has supported this project and will help build the next court in Simnasho for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. The Wave Foundation is still fundraising for remaining courts. “We could easily get all ten courts in the ground,” Zeulner said, but for now they’re rolling them out one at a time.
