It is smoother streaming for broadcasts of Haskell Indian Nations University sports thanks to a few Seminoles.

When Jason Billie, who lives on the Hollywood Reservation, heard that the athletics department at Haskell was struggling with the streaming of its games, he didn’t hesitate to help his alma mater halfway across the country.
“Haskell is a big part of my life. I’ve met so many friends,” said Billie, who first attended Haskell in the 1990s and then returned to continue his studies in 2016 after his children were grown.

Throughout the past several decades, Haskell, located in Lawrence, Kansas, has featured some of the best athletes from the Seminole Tribe, such as Paul Bowers Sr., Moses Jumper Jr., Peter Hahn, Duelle Gore and others.

The athletics department was in need of an upgrade to the technology they use to broadcast games over the internet. Equipment errors had interrupted broadcasts in the past, including last winter for basketball games. (Haskell has yet to resume sports due to the pandemic).

After contacting Haskell Sports Information Director Aja McCormick, Billie reached out to the Hollywood Council office, and soon after, a donation came from Councilman Chris Osceola and assistance from executive assistant Thomasine Motlow that allowed Haskell to purchase the equipment it needed in order to successfully stream games and create other media content.

Haskell posted an article on its website Jan. 5 to express gratitude for the help it received from the Seminoles. Its statement read:

“Haskell Athletics would like to take the time to thank Haskell Alumni and Seminole Tribe of Florida member Jason Billie, Seminole Tribe of Florida Council Representative Christopher Osceola, and Executive Assistant to Councilman Christopher Osceola, Thomasine Motlow for their support of our athletics department.

“Through their support and the councilman’s donation our Sports Information Department was given the opportunity to purchase a new laptop to be utilized for web streaming and media purposes. With the new addition of the HP – Spectre x360 2-in-1 15.6” 4K UHD Touch-Screen Laptop, Haskell Athletics will be able to provide an enhanced view of our home competitions without interruptions due to equipment errors like we have seen in the past. We cannot thank Jason Billie, Thomasine Motlow and the councilman, Christopher Osceola, enough for their kind gesture and we hope to continue to develop this relationship.”

Billie said he was glad to help out a school that has meant a lot to him in his life.

“Haskell is another home for me,” he said.