NATIVE COLLEGE ATHLETES DISCOVER BASKETBALL MEANS MORE THAN A GAME IN NEW DOCUMENTARY "MEDICINE BALL"

SAINT PAUL, Minn., Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A compelling new documentary exploring the power of sport, cultural pride, and personal journeys of Native college athletes is set to premiere on PBS during Native American Heritage Month. Directed by Dakota/Diné filmmaker Leya Hale, Medicine Ball follows Lexus Redthunder and LeRoy Staples Fairbanks IV as they navigate college life and basketball at the University of Minnesota Morris, located on the site of a former Native boarding school. Their journeys reveal how basketball became a powerful symbol of resilience, hope, and pride – a way to carry forward culture, build community, and create joy amidst adversity.

"Medicine Ball is about more than basketball. It's about identity, belonging, and the ways Native young people carry history while creating their own paths forward," said Hale. "I hope audiences see the strength, joy, and cultural pride that live alongside the harder parts of this story."

Medicine Ball airs on November 9 at 8 pm CST. To learn more about the documentary, visit MinnesotaPBS.org/medicine-ball-film.

About The Director

Leya Hale (Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota and Diné) was named the 2026 recipient of the Minnesota Filmmaker Award at the Zeitgeist Minnesota Film Festival. The award honors Minnesota-tied filmmakers for creativity, craftsmanship, and storytelling. She is a multiple regional Emmy Award–winning producer for Minnesota PBS and is known for nationally broadcasted films The People's Protectors (PBS), Bring Her Home (PBS), and The Electric Indian (APT).

About The Players

Lexus Redthunder is an advocate and emerging leader from the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate. A graduate of the University of Minnesota Morris, she was a standout player for the Cougars women's basketball team and earned degrees in Native American and Indigenous Studies and Political Science. She is recognized for her leadership, community involvement, and commitment to uplifting Native youth. Lexus is featured in the PBS documentary Medicine Ball, which explores the experiences of Native student-athletes and the lasting impact of Indian boarding school history. Her connection to the story is deeply personal. Her great grandmother attended the Morris Industrial School for Indians, once located on the present-day UMN Morris campus.

LeRoy Staples-Fairbanks IV is a student-athlete and emerging community leader from the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. A senior at the University of Minnesota Morris, he competes on both the Cougars basketball and golf teams while pursuing a degree in Sport Management. LeRoy is proud of his Ojibwe heritage and encourages students from reservation communities to pursue higher education and athletics.

SOURCE Minnesota PBS