Tahnee Robinson is the first Native drafted to the Women’s National Basketball Association.
Tahnee Robinson Rez Ball Camp
First Native drafted to the Women’s National Basketball Association
By Cinnamon Spear
Native Sun News Correspondent LAME DEER, Mont. - Before the Schimmel sisters captivated the country by bringing rez ball to the national stage, there was a sole extraordinaire who helped carve the path: Tahnee Robinson a Northern Cheyenne tribal member who recently hosted a camp at Lame Deer High School. Raised on the Wind River Reservation, Tahnee was the first Native American drafted to the WNBA, and is currently a Nike N7 ambassador who continues to serve as a role model for Indian country. Tahnee who grew up in Fort Washakie, Wyoming like many Native athletes learned to play ball on dirt courts with cousins and friends on the reservation. In high school, she led her Class 3A team to the state title and received both McDonald’s and Gatorade All-American honors. In college she continued achieving All-American honors. In the 2008-2009 seasons she led the nation in scoring with 29.8 PPG, securing the Region IX championship for Sheridan College. After two successful seasons, she transferred to the Division I University of Nevada where she quickly became a star for the Wolf Pack. In 2010, she was the nation’s eighth-best scorer with 22.7 PPG and fifteenth in the country for three-pointers at 3.1 per game. Robinson was the 10th player in Nevada school history to score 1,000 career points- doing it in just two seasons. In 2011, the superstar guard made history by being the first Native American to be drafted to the WNBA. As the 31st overall pick, Robinson was drafted to the Phoenix Mercury and later traded to the Connecticut Sun. Tahnee was the second Native female athlete to play at the WNBA level, only following Ryneldi Becenti (Navajo) who signed as a free agent to the Phoenix Mercury in 1997. With a mother who is Pawnee and Eastern Shoshone and father who is Northern Cheyenne and Sioux, Tahnee says it is her family and people who have been her driving force. “My motivation has been my family and being a good role model for the Native American community,” she said. For the last three years, she has hosted basketball camps on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming. This summer will be the first time Tahnee hosted a camp on a reservation away from her home community. The Rez Ball Camp that took place in Lame Deer, Montana from July 30 to August 1 was a hit and saw dozens of girls from ages ranging from 12-17 participate. This basketball clinic went beyond the ordinary by including a uniquely motivational presentation called “My Personal Journey.” One hour each day, Tahnee spoke with the campers about issues that are affecting the lives of the reservation’s youth including domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse, and teenage pregnancy- all of which Tahnee has personal experience with. Robinson shares, “It’s not about where you come from, or that you’re Native American that decides how successful you are. Determination, hard work, perseverance, and a good attitude will take you where you want to go. I tell the kids about my own mistakes and downfalls I went through in my life. I want to be honest with them and let them know everyone messes up, but it's how you bounce back that truly matters.” Lucy Simpson (Navajo), Executive Director of National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center states, “To stop the epidemic of violence against Native women, I believe we must return respect and honor to the unique role of Native women in our societies. This requires the direct involvement of Native women leaders, whether clan mothers, ceremonial women, elders, advocates, tribal leaders, or sports heroes like Tahnee Robinson. She is more than just a basketball star; she has struggled with what a lot of our youth struggle with. Her story is one of resilience, strength, determination, and hope- both on the court and in her personal life. This is what I wanted to share with our young Cheyenne girls.” The camp was sponsored by Blackhorse Pride, a non-profit dedicated to offering development opportunities to Cheyenne youth and supported by NIWRC, Northern Cheyenne Youth Commission, Healing Hearts, and Honor Your Life. In the coming year, Tahnee will return to play ball overseas but ensures that she will continue hosting basketball camps. “Hopefully I can reach more kids and reservations, every year.” In anticipation for the camp in Lame Deer, Tahnee says, “I can't wait to see all the campers that come out. I promise it will be a good time!” Copyright permission by Native Sun News
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