Native American Women Athletes – Fort Shaw Basketball Team
Native American women have been traditionally under-represented in sports. But, more and more indigenous women are participating in sports in the last few decades. There have been some Olympians including skaters, skiers, swimmers, boxers, dressage riders, ice dancers, and runners. There are champions in basketball and golf.
I want to start our series with the story of Josephine Langley and the incredible Fort Shaw Basketball Team. These young women had to overcome many odds to become the champions they were. They couldn’t have done it without the vision and support of Josephine Langley.
Josephine Langley (Blackfeet, 1872-1951)
There were already physical culture classes for the boys at Fort Shaw (Montana) Indian School when Josephine Langley arrived there to teach in 1895. In the late 19th century girls were only expected to learn domestic things like housekeeping, cooking, and sewing. But Josephine knew that girls need physical activity to maintain good health. The girls themselves were delighted with the exercise that they would not otherwise have gotten, in school or at home. The head of the Indian School supported the idea. By 1897 it was the only school in Montana, Indian or Non-Indian, to offer basketball.
Basketball had only been invented a few years before this – 1891. Josephine had already witnessed how the game was played and believed that even the small budget for their school would allow them to add this sport to the curriculum. The budget was so small that Josephine had to get very creative. She borrowed a soccer ball from the boys’ classes and she taught the girls how to dribble, pass, and deflect passes while waiting for enough money to come in to get baskets. Eventually 10 girls formed a team that would go on to become world famous for their skill, tenacity, and dignity both on the court and off.
Fort Shaw Basketball Team – (Assiniboine, Lemhi Shoshone, Gros Ventre, Piegan, Chippewa Cree, Chippewa, and Shoshoe-Bannock)
This incredible world champion team was located in Fort Shaw, Montana. The girls came from seven tribes, some of which were not historically friendly with each other. But on the court tribal differences were forgotten and the girls focused on playing together and winning.
The 10 girls began practicing in 1896. They gave a demonstration at the year-end closing ceremonies in 1897. Three hundred spectators gave a rousing response to the first high school basketball program. Because the budget remained almost non-existent the girls had to be content to wait until they could play competitively. Finally in 1902 coach Josephine (Josie) Langley led them to victory in their first game against the Butte team. They lost their next game to Helena but the Montana Daily Record ran a front-page article extolling their talent. The girls played Butte again in January 1903 and lost again, but this was their final loss.
Montanans began to enthusiastically support the Fort Shaw girls. The team could not play home games at their own school so they played their home games at Luther Hall in Great Falls which could accommodate hundreds of spectators. The Fort Shaw girls defeated the reigning state champions, Helena High. The girls even went on to defeat several college teams – Missoula and Bozeman.
The girls had to put up with a lot of prejudice. News reporters would refer to them as “full bloods” or “half-breeds” or “Reds.” But the girls retained their dignity and their focus and countered the insults with their excellence on the court. Gradually, the girls won the respect they deserved.
Much more could be summarized here, but instead I think you will enjoy watching a documentary about the Fort Shaw Basketball players. The video is honest about how indigenous children were treated in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Montana PBS video aired February 15, 2009
https://www.montanapbs.org/programs/playingfortheworld/
If you like “underdog” stories like Sea Biscuit, A League of Their Own, or Boys in the Boat you will enjoy the book Full-Court Quest. It’s available at Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0806144696?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback
