Title of documentary: I Am Yup’ik
Directors: Daniele Anastasion and Nathan Golon
Year of production: 2016
Length (duration): 17 minutes
Keywords: Basketball; Sport; Alaska; Toksook; Bethel; Indigenous; Youth; Yup’ik; Tournament; Islanders
Links to watch the film: Available on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/273912854 and ESPN: https://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=14832535
Link to trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJgWg_H4qik
Film review by: Connor Baldwin
Ever wonder what it is like to watch basketball in a small remote town in Alaska? I Am Yup’ik, part of ESPN’s 30 for 30 shorts series, a collection of short sports films produced and aired on the ESPN network, takes place in the small town of Bethel, Alaska and follows high school basketball player Byron Nicholai. Byron plays for the Nelson Island Islanders and is explaining his story and passion for basketball as his team prepares for the Coastal Conference basketball tournament. The beginning of the film explains how basketball gathered interest in the small town of Toksook Bay (population about 600) around 70 years ago when a priest took a stake from the ground during a day of bad weather and set up a hoop, knowing little about the rules of the game. Several elders explain their experience growing up with the game of basketball, and how basketball was always a part of community in terms of coming together to enjoy the game. The elders also touch upon how the experience for them cheering on their children and grandsons at basketball games now is like an old traditional part of their culture where they would gather together to dance and share their stories with each other.
Leading up to the important annual basketball tournament, Byron Nicholai’s story of how basketball came into his life is explored. Byron explains how basketball was a part of his life ever since a young age. I admire his passion for the game as I have shared his feelings for the sports I played growing up. As much as he loves the game, Byron uses basketball as a distraction from his father’s sudden “departure” from his family when Byron was 14. Byron explains how not having his father with him while growing up impacted his well-being. He is unsure of his identity and is often disappointed that his father did not give him the chance to learn about traditional activities such as hunting. A lot of the “what-ifs” that Byron tries not to question while playing basketball reminds him of all the “what-ifs” around his father not being there with him.
With the tournament rapidly approaching, Byron’s coach (Simeon Lincoln) of the Nelson Island Islanders prepares his team for the eight-team tournament that brings together the small communities who share the goal of bringing home the championship. During the games the camera is very busy, often jumping from player to fan and back to player in the intense moments of the game. Between games there are moments where tradition Yup’ik life is shown and the players are compared to the hunters in terms of having the ability to make their community proud through victory. Following three straight victories the Nelson Island Islanders take home the district championship but would lose in their first game of the state tournament in Anchorage.
The two major lessons that the audience takes away from this film are how basketball unifies the community and how it serves as a distraction from the struggles of everyday life. The Yup’ik culture is an indigenous culture related to that of the Inuit and it is in danger of being lost as its youth are being torn between the Yup’ik traditions and what’s considered as being part of “modern society”. Youth are given a purpose and are united by the game of basketball. The tournament is a time for friends and family to get together to cheer on the teams representing their communities. The love for basketball that each player has creates a “togetherness” of being able to represent their community while enjoying the game itself. None of the players are thinking about being recruited to the high-level colleges or playing in the pros but instead they are focused on the pride felt in their hometown and how it is reflected in the families that travel together to watch them play. Byron summarizes his journey after this tournament by explaining that playing basketball allows him to have the feeling of being alive while being able to forget about other problems.
Overall, this film captures how in every corner of the world there are ways for the community to come together over sports. Basketball is much more than just a game for these small communities. A powerful quote from Byron at the end of the film that captures this idea is when he says “Basketball is not just a game, you do it for the community, for the others, and for the ancestors”. Basketball is a way of uniting families and communities together by participating in the event as either a supporter or player. Whether a team wins or loses, the game of basketball serves as a distraction from everyday struggles such as the inclement Alaskan weather, high rates of suicidal thoughts and alcoholism among Alaskan youth, family issues or just any negative thoughts that are going on inside a participant’s mind. I enjoyed how the film captures all of these important elements within the story while exhibiting all the players enjoying this memorable life experience.
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