Mini-pitch court unites Tribal youth through sports, culture

“Historically underserved communities have limited access to sports, physical activity, and healthier lifestyles,” said Wave Foundation President Justin Zeulner. “Tribal communities in the Pacific Northwest region are some of the most economically and socially disadvantaged areas in our nation.”

The Wave Foundation’s mission is to serve Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) rural communities by supplying them with “healthy, sustainable, and culturally relevant foods.” The Portland-based foundation began serving rural BIPOC communities in 2020. They have since served more than 6 million meals in total. Many of those meals served have been on reservations in the Pacific Northwest.

Their main focus is on food security, but in the Indigenous communities they serve, the organization leaders realized there are many other areas of needs. Zeulner said they felt compelled to fulfill a much-needed service by creating spaces for healthy activity and community connection. “The court offers kids and families a place to gather, play, and strengthen their ties to both culture and community,” said Zeulner.

Zeulner hopes this court is more than a recreational space — he hopes it will be a symbol of equity and opportunity, built with input from the people it serves.

Getting tribal input and buy-in was key to the success of the project and ensured that it aligned with the community’s priorities. In addition to the village residents and tribes, the project team involved the Gorge Native American Collaboration, a tribally-led group addressing key needs of Native families in the Columbia River Gorge.

Until now, Celilo Village children only had a small play structure to occupy their time. Most of the youth participate in sports, but during the off season and summer, they lack access to their favorite place: The court. If they wanted to play a game or practice their skills, they’d need to get a ride to the nearest basketball court 10 miles downriver in The Dalles.

Basketball and modern Native culture

Basketball has long been cherished as a relative or dear friend of people in Native communities. Access to a place to play can be a lifeline for kids growing up on reservations and, in the case of this area, the tribal fishing access sites that line the Columbia River from Bonneville to McNary dams.

Concerns regarding substance abuse and the dangers of idle time were ongoing concerns shared by speakers at the unveiling ceremony. According to Yakama Nation Tribal Council elected official Terry Heemsah Sr., providing children with positive outlets for physical exercise and safe recreation activities is essential to safeguarding their futures and those of their Tribes.

Heemsah was one of the keynote speakers during the unveiling ceremony held in Celilo. He spoke of the instructions of his elders — to always protect the children. The need for safe healthy spaces to play and exercise was one of the main focal points for all the speakers at the event.

Karen Jim, Celilo Village elder, expressed her gratitude for the community’s support of the youth and their strong involvement in physical activity. “Out of every five students, four are in sports year-round,” she said.

She praised the children for being active in sports, as well as cultural practices like singing, dancing, fishing, hunting, and food gathering. Jim believes that the new facilities will provide an important outlet for the youth, keeping them engaged in healthy, positive activities.

She also acknowledged the supportive role of parents, who are committed to attending their children’s games. She expressed her gratitude to everyone who helped make the project a reality, believing it will play a key role in shaping the future of Celilo’s next generation.

Introducing the world’s most popular sport

During the ceremony Zeulner, Jim, and Heemsah repeatedly spoke of basketball; however, basketball is only one part of the mini-pitch. The other half of the opportunity of this court is soccer.

This aspect is one BIA Director Bryan Mercier (Grand Ronde) is most excited about on a personal level.

A lifelong soccer player, Mercier spent 1996-2003 playing semi-professionally in Germany and Spain, where he gained an appreciation for how sports can connect people across cultures. His love of the game mixed with his commitment to use his position to improve the quality of life for those on the river have made this project especially important to him.

Mercier is well-acquainted with the youth of the Columbia River fishing site communities. Before becoming the BIA director in September 2024, he served as the Pacific Northwest Director since 2019. Over those years, he has spent time taking a closer look at the conditions along the river and became determined to do what he could to improve them.

Mercier hopes access to soccer and basketball will expand opportunities for youth, foster connection, provide healthy activity, and encourage personal growth by learning a new sport.

“Native youth will always have basketball as their first love,” said Mercier, “but I hope soccer will become a close second.”

To help introduce village youth to the sport, Whitman College soccer players drove more than two hours from Walla Walla to participate in the unveiling ceremony. Youth from the village were able to have one-on-one time with the soccer players and get an introduction to a new way to play.

Many of the youth had played soccer in the past, but most had not had extensive experience beyond P.E., and many had never joined a team. One of the youth speakers and residents, Alma Compo, 14, said she is excited to have a field of their own.

“This court means a lot to me because I play basketball at my school and now I can practice at home,” she said. “It’s also really important to my family because we can all do activities together. I am also glad that we have a soccer court too and can play multiple sports. I’m thankful it brought our community together from Wishram and Celilo.”

While the court is considered condensed, there is still room for families and the community to play together. Measuring 50 feet by 104 feet, the modular mini-pitch features durable acrylic surfacing, LED lighting, galvanized steel fencing, built-in goals, ADA-compliant access, and lockable storage.

Maintenance costs for the court have been addressed, with a 10-year warranty covering all the court, the lighting system, and structural elements. This ensures that no additional expenses will burden the community for upkeep during this period.

The lighting system features state-of-the-art LED technology, keeping even light distribution while minimizing glare and preserving the surrounding night environment. Lighting will be automatically scheduled annually for evening hours, making the space accessible year-round for activities and gatherings.

The condensed size of the soccer field also introduces a fast-paced style of play that differs from traditional large fields. A key collaborator in the project, Kirby Van Der Camp, said, “This smaller pitch helps kids learn the principles of street soccer. It’s quicker, it’s more dynamic, and it allows them to focus on their technique and decision-making in a way that larger fields don’t offer.”

Van Der Kamp serves as a Soccer Market Representative for Musco Sports Lighting, a Clackamas, Oregon-based company specializing in sports and field lighting. In partnership with the BIA and The Wave Foundation, Musco contributed to the lighting and construction of the mini-pitch field. Although Van Der Kamp and the partners are new to collaborating with Tribes, the company aims for this to be the first of many such partnerships. Representatives at the unveiling expressed hope that this innovative project aligns with their mission to create new athletic opportunities for youth.

The mini-pitch is decorated with reproductions of Columbia River petroglyphs. CRITFC Communications Director Jeremy FiveCrows said, “The petroglyphs along the Columbia River are such powerful reminders that people have lived here for thousands of years. The designs connect us with these ancestors and so it felt like a good fit to include them on the new field where the next generation can see them every time they use it. And I like to think that those ancient ancestors are happy seeing their descendants laughing and playing like children have since time immemorial.”

Looking ahead, The Wave Foundation is working with the BIA to expand this initiative, with plans to build ten courts in Native communities throughout the Pacific Northwest. The next mini-pitch is slated for Simnasho on the Warm Springs Reservation, with installation planned for spring or summer 2025, pending funding. Each court will follow the Celilo model, combining basketball and soccer to offer multi-sport opportunities while fostering connections to culture and community.

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This story originally ran Dec. 24 on the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission website (critfc.org) and was reprinted in Columbia Gorge News with permission.