by By Dan Ninham, contributing writer
Canzas HisBadHorse is a member of the Northern Cheyenne and she is a sophomore basketball player at Williston State College. She is a 2022 graduate of Colstrip High School, Montana.
“I was named a captain for Williston State this year,” said Canzas HisBadHorse. “In high school I won state in 2022 for both basketball and track for high jump. I was also named all-state and was awarded athlete of the year for KATL radio.”
“The core values I hold for myself are being humble, respectful, and determination,” said HisBadHorse. “I have worked hard for everything I have. I do not take anything for granted because not a lot of people get this opportunity to be where I am today.”
“Breaking cycles pushes me through when I think of giving up. When I practice I think of how far I have come to not give up now. I am very strong-minded and do not like to give up easily. When I step on to the court I think of all the people I am making proud, the younger kids that I am inspiring to play, and how I am not going to give up what I have worked hard for,” added HisBadHorse.
“These small but most important things push me through the hardest parts of playing basketball,” said HisBadHorse.
HisBadHorse’s high school coaches were Roxie Wilson and Kami Egan. College coaches are Bill Triplett and Laramie Schwenke.
“My very first mentors were my mom and dad, Tempe One Bear and Roger HisBadHorse,” said HisBadHorse. “These two have been my biggest supporters over the years and they got me into sports. My uncle Kenny Big Back has been there for me for my whole life and has helped me learn the game from different aspects and helped me believe in myself when I didn’t. Roxie Wilson who was my high school basketball coach and she is also my grandma. She pushed me every day in practice and helped me all throughout my middle school and high school years. She helped me become the player I am today.”
Canzas is the oldest child out of Tempe One Bear’s five children. Canzas grew up on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation and is a proud member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe.
Mom Tempe One Bear talked about her daughter and how she started playing basketball. She said, “Canzas started playing basketball at a very young age. She would attend basketball camps and tournaments locally and was a part of the Blue Waters and Unity travel basketball teams. During this time she traveled to South Dakota, North Dakota, Arizona, Washington, Nevada, Kansas, and Oklahoma. She attended the majority of her school years at Colstrip Schools since we moved back to Montana. She started playing school basketball in the sixth grade with her friends and they went on to be the 2022 State Champions.”
“Canzas is very hard-working, strong-willed, and dedicated in everything that she puts her mind to. She always has a positive attitude and is always willing to help out when needed. Canzas knows that the most important thing is education and that it is very important if she wants to be an athlete,” added One Bear.
“I would always encourage her to have a good attitude on and off the court,” said One Bear. “I would tell her that if you want to be better at something you have to want it and practice hard at it and that anything is possible when you want it bad enough. Her grandmother would always tell her you must pray before every game, and pray for protection over yourself, your team, and the opposing team.”
Kenneth Big Back is Canzas’ uncle. Uncle Big Back talked about his niece and basketball and said: “I have watched her grow since elementary when she moved back to Montana. Her and my daughter Madison played together from elementary to high school where they won state their senior year. I have encouraged her to be a student athlete meaning getting her education first. Also having pride on and off the court.”
“By her being a young woman of the Northern Cheyenne tribe, I have always taught her to be humble because there are always little ones looking up to her, especially her siblings with her being the oldest. Our family would go down on Sunday’s to help improve their game where I had given them advice from my days of playing college basketball. As she is playing her sophomore year at Williston State I am seeing her grow into the athlete she has worked hard to be,” added Uncle Big Back.
Roxie Wilson is Canzas’ grandmother on her fathers’ side. She was also her teacher and coached her in middle school and high school for basketball. Wilson said: “Canvas has the determination to be the best in all that she does. She is smart, kind and very humble.”
“Canzas has amazing leadership skills that she has developed from being the oldest of her siblings. She leads by example and offers words of encouragement to others. Canzas has always been goal orientated and does well in school. One of her goals was to be a great basketball player and she is working hard at achieving this goal. She also wanted to play ball at the next level and would like to continue playing after her time at Williston State College. Canzas loves the game of basketball and puts forth the time and effort it takes to be a student of the game,” added Grandma Wilson.
“One of my high school travel ball coach Jana Waters helped me by taking me to different tournaments and pushed me to be a better player that she knew I could be,” said HisBadHorse. “She has helped me on and off the court become a better person.”
“Canzas has been a consistent one,” said Jana Waters. “Consistently being there, consistently working, consistently being competitive, and consistently growing.”
“Right before she started high school, I began coaching a travel ball team, Blue Waters, for the off-season tourneys. She began coming to our workouts before she even started high school. We have workouts early Sunday mornings. So, it takes dedication on the part of the student-athlete and their families to get them to the workouts on Sunday mornings when many want to sleep in. She was there! Sometimes with sleepy eyes and bed head, but she was there. Ready to put in work, work on skills for upcoming season or games. I watched her mature before my eyes. When she was a freshman, she played so outstanding at the All West Native American basketball tourney in Denver. She came away with the MVP of the silver bracket division,” added Coach Waters.
“George Hill and Tati McClain taught me a lot about the game of basketball and I am grateful for the support they have shown me,” said HisBadHorse.
George Hill III is a basketball coach and skills trainer from Suquamish, Washington. He was Canzas’ trainer and also her mentor. “I am honored to be considered a mentor by Canzas,” said George Hill III. “During Canzas’ high school years I was fortunate enough to work with her and a number of other top native athletes such as Maleighya Estes, Ivy Fox, and Josie Hill at my offseason skills academy. I also had the opportunity to coach Canzas during summer basketball and have maintained a strong relationship throughout her time at Williston State College.”
“Due to the distance between Canzas and I geographically, I have been unable to train her consistently in person, so oftentimes we communicate what she wants and needs to work on and I do my best to assist her in her training. I consider Canzas to be family and have enjoyed seeing her develop into the player she is today. I believe Canzas has incredible untapped potential still,” added Hill III.
“Canzas is a 6’ versatile forward who can move and shoot like a guard,” said Hill III. “She makes her teammates better through her unselfishness and versatility on both ends of the court. It’s not often you see a girl over 6 feet with Canzas’ mobility, let alone her shot blocking combined with such a smooth three-point shot. She is a great teammate who is a star in her role, and she is still capable of much more on the basketball court.”
“Off the court, Canzas is a role model for Native American youth and has consistently displayed maturity and a positive attitude to overcome adversity,” added Hill III.
Tatianna McClain has only known Canzas for about two years. However, their relationship is growing as McClain has been influential in Canzas’ development on and off the court. “I was one of the coaches on our team that played in NABI 2022 and also one of our players that trains with The Giveback Projects,” said McClain. “Canzas has been a very skilled athlete especially being 6’0” and can shoot the ball greatly. She went from playing a couple minutes her freshman season last year where I was able to watch a few game to (recently) being a Mon-Dak Player of the Week. Seeing her continue to play and push through any obstacles has been incredible.”
“Canzas is one my family and I would consider us family. She’s a great a role model for anyone to look up to,” added McClain.
Bill Triplett is the head women’s basketball coach at Williston State College. The Cougars coaching staff recruited Canzas during Colstrip’s run in winning the state title her senior year.
“Our assistant coach Laramie Schwenke went to watch her play and she gave Canzas a glowing recommendation so we offerred her a scholarship,” said Coach Bill Triplett. “She was mainly a post player in high school but she has worked hard on her perimeter game and has become a great all-around player.”
“Canzas is a quiet leader. She is a co-captain and leads by example. She is currently tackling 21 credits and is a very good student. She is a great example of what a student-athlete should be and an excellent representative of our program and school,” added Coach Triplett.
“Debbie and Joni Kay Charrette have been my off and on the court mentors and they helped me with more than just basketball,” said HisBadHorse. “They have been there for most of my high school and college career and I could not be more thankful for all they have done for me.”
Debbie Charette, Northern Cheyenne Tribe Council Representative for the Muddy District also talked about influencing Canzas who is constantly improving. She said: “I have known Canzas since she was shorter than me and that’s saying a lot since I am only five feet tall. I always pray for our kids, that they be taller than me and she was blessed to be much taller than me.”
“My sister put together a travel team, Blue Waters basketball. I helped fundraise and transport the team. Canzas became our post, and we started on the trail of tournaments. She didn’t know how tough she was until we took Team Blue Waters to the All West All Indian tourney in Denver. She was our post, she found out she could handle the ball, pass, post up and make some shots by being strong,” added Charette.
Photos: Tommy Robinson and John Geyerman
