The revised edition of Native Athletes in Action adds two new and exciting young basketball players to the roster of outstanding Native athletes already included in the book. Shoni Schimmel, a tribal member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in eastern Oregon, has earned the nicknames The Umatilla Thrilla and Showtime in the world of women's basketball. To people in Indian Country, Shoni is an absolute hero. Kenny Dobbs, aka The Dunk Inventor, is a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and has toured the globe with the National Basketball Association as a celebrity dunker for sold-out shows. The biographies of all thirteen athletes describe the hard work, determination and education it took to accomplish their dreams and become the champions they are. From the Olympics to national and minor leaguer teams, here are the stories of some of the many Native athletes who have excelled in the field of sports. These stories highlight the lives and achievements of 13 outstanding athletes, both men and women, who followed their hearts and through hard work became champions. The Native Trailblazer Series shines a spotlight on the contributions of Native Americans and First Nation Canadians who provide inspirational role models for young readers.
