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Medicine Ball

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Two basketball players in maroon and gold uniforms sit back-to-back on a polished wooden floor with legs extended, holding a basketball between them; the background shows an old sepia-toned image of buildings and trees.

Where Basketball Becomes Ceremony

Medicine Ball follows Native college athletes, 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 journey reveals how basketball became a powerful symbol of resilience, hope, and cultural pride in Native communities.

Director: Leya HaleDirector of Photography: Rachel Lauren Mueller Executive Producer for Vision Maker Media: Francene J. Blythe-LewisMinnesota PBS Executive Producer: Daniel Pierce BerginExecutive Producer: Sydney Beane

Watch Trailer on YouTube

Photo credit: Jaida Grey Eagle

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Digital Shorts

Explore this collection of short stories that didn't make the final cut of Medicine Ball. Go deeper into the history of the Native experience with these short stories.

A brick building with two windows and a black door with a porch. In front of it, a black sign with gold text titled "The Dormitory at the Morris Industrial School for Indians," providing historical information. A bicycle is parked next to some green plants near the building.

Morris Industrial School for Indians

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Community Screenings

We believe this film belongs in tribal colleges, high schools, youth programs, community centers, and sports gatherings, spaces where stories can be shared, felt, and carried forward.

Request our free Community Screening Kit for schools, teams, and organizations. The kit is designed to spark dialogue, healing, and inter-generational conversation. It includes:

  • Private streaming access
  • Discussion guide + reflection questions
  • Promotional toolkit

Request Screening Kit

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A woman wearing a blue blazer and white shirt speaks at a podium labeled "THE DEPOT" with a microphone. Behind her is a large screen displaying the text "LEYA HALE MEDICINE BALL." Another person stands in the background near a decorative film reel.

Recent Awards & Recognition

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. Hale was recognized for Medicine Ball, a documentary on Native resilience, identity, and the lasting impacts of boarding school history through Native student-athletes.

Photo Courtesy: Zeitgeist Minnesota Film Festival 

WYSIWYG

Best Shorts Competition

Award of Excellence Special Mention: Native Peoples / Aboriginal Theme

Award of Excellence: Native / Aboriginal Filmmaker

Humanitarian Award of Distinction

The IndiFEST Film Awards

Award of Excellence Special Mention: Native Peoples / Aboriginal Theme

Impact DOCS Awards

Season: February 2026 “Medicine Ball” (USA) Award of Excellence: Documentary Feature

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Featured Music: Corey Medina & Brothers

The powerful music featured throughout Medicine Ball comes from Corey Medina & Brothers, a Native-led blues rock band based in northern Minnesota and fronted by Diné musician Corey Medina. Known for their raw, soulful sound and emotionally driven storytelling, the band's music explores themes of resilience, belonging, healing, and hope. Their music beautifully complements the film's exploration of Native history, community, and the enduring spirit of Native youth.

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Thank You to Our Funders

  • Minnesota State Legislature - Minnesota Legacy Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund
  • Corporation for Public Broadcasting
  • Lorraine R. Hart

Medicine Ball is produced by Minnesota PBS and presented by Vision Maker Media, with major funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Logos of three organizations: Corporation for Public Broadcasting (blue square with white "cpb"), Vision Maker Media (orange stylized bird with a blue triangle background), and Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment (multicolored graphic with text).
Minnesota PBS – Discover