Атлетка из Уорм-Спрингс стала героиней документального фильма о наследии резервационного баскетбола

Warm Springs athlete featured in documentary Published 10:56 am Thursday, August 13, 2026 Abby Scott grew up in Warm Springs before heading to play basketball at New Mexico State University. Her style on and off the court helped her become the centerpiece of a Warm Springs-produced documentary, “Abby Scott: A Rezball Legacy,” which has been screened at film festivals throughout the country. Scott graduated from Madras High School in 2012 after a record-breaking high school career. She then went on to break more records in college, including hitting 11 three-pointers in one game. “Abby Scott: A Rezball Legacy,” was made via Native filmmaker LaRonn Katchia’s “Filming with an Indigenous Lens” documentary workshop, which Brutis Baez helped with. The Warm Springs Community Action Team, where Baez works, produced the film. “When we decided to do (the documentary) about Abby, it was kind of a no-brainer,” Baez said. “I think Abby’s story is very unique.” Baez said parts of Scott’s story resonates in the Native experience when it comes to basketball. “We were obviously put on a reservation, put into small groups,” Baez said. “A lot of our culture was taken away, and so we still wanted to experience that … I guess warriorism or some kind of endurance.” “There was never a ‘no’ in my head,” Scott said about being asked to share her story. “It’s like ‘Well of course I want to do this with you guys.’ It sounds like a good time and I’m also very proud of myself.” Baez said that Scott’s story is unique in that she returned to the reservation. “People usually stay gone when they’re successful,” Baez said. “To have somebody in our community come home and share their talent and share those successes is really helpful.” Scott said she saw her experience differently — that leaving the reservation was more difficult than returning. “The stigma of people don’t make it off the rez … I guess kind of really drove that intention pretty hard,” she said. “I was the first person out of my family to graduate.” All of the camera work and interviewing for the documentary done by the students in the film workshop. “That was pretty awesome, having their involvement in that and even having them see it towards the end when it came out,” Baez said. Baez and Scott both attended the Los Angeles Skins Film Festival, where the documentary was shown at the Chinese Theater last November. Youth involved in the workshop also attended the screening. “Seeing all of the Native talent that was on display, it was really cool,” Scott said. “Seeing the work that we all put together come to life, and then we’re at the Chinese Theater where they’ve had thousands of screenings of things. People from here don’t really get that opportunity, or even think of themselves to do that. So for me it was definitely an out-of-body experience.” Determination gave Scott the ability to be successful in the classroom and on the court. “I’m very blessed to be able to have done all of it because it’s not just for me,” Scott said, tearing up. “It’s really not just for me; it’s for our entire community, and it’s dope.” Following her graduation from New Mexico State University, Scott worked as the recreation department supervisor for the Arikara, Hidatsa and Mandan Tribal Nation in North Dakota. Then she returned to Jefferson County. “The reason why I came home was mainly just for family,” Scott said. “My brother, he was starting high school so I really wanted to come and kind of help him out with that. But also, there’s no place like home.” Scott began teaching as an educational assistant at the high school in 2019. That same year, she also started working at the Warm Springs K-8 Academy as a behavioral specialist. She was also the first female coach for the boys’ freshman basketball team. At 32, she is now passing on her basketball skills to a new generation as assistant coach for Madras High School girls’ varsity basketball team. “I didn’t want it to be a job anymore,” Scott said about switching from playing to coaching. “I just want to go out and hoop. That little kid that got me here, she needs some time.”