Premier basketball tournament empowers youth through sports, academics, and culture

RAPID CITY – December is a busy month as one of the largest annual events in the state comes to Rapid City. The 47th Lakota Nation Invitational (LNI) will kick off on December 17 and continue through December 21, 2024, at The Monument in Rapid City. LNI holds events year-round, but this is the big one.

The LNI board members hosted an open house at Prairie Edge just before the Thanksgiving holiday to give a preview of this year’s tournament and begin the countdown to the tournament. What began as an all-Indian tournament is now this year open to all students nationally who wish to attend. Basketball Director Bryan Brewer thanked Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun and former mayors for attending. “Every mayor we have ever had has given us so much support.”

There was resounding applause when Brewer announced that Rapid City native and now WNBA coach for the Las Vegas Aces Becky Hammon will be at the tournament.

Board members said there are many ways people can support the LNI, and they are always looking to partner with people. “You can support LNI with advertising, sponsorships, and partnerships. Showing up is always greatly appreciated also,” said staff member Janel Wright, “especially during the red carpet event.” LNI teams get the red carpet treatment when they arrive. With an escort from law enforcement, throngs of local fans from the community and business sectors give the teams a lively welcome. “Come and cheer on the kids,” encouraged Wright. Brewer said there will be a flyover as well from Ellsworth Airforce Base, “That’s something new and we would like to thank Ellsworth for that.”

Brewer said LNI is much more than a basketball tournament. Other sports competitions include archery, cheer, skateboarding, wrestling and more. There are hand games which is a Lakota guessing game of chance and strategy. Hand games, or stick games as they are sometimes called, are often played at social gatherings and are seen as a test of mental agility and observation skills.

The LNI also features an art show. “This is the largest high school art show in South Dakota,” said Brewer. “We started the art show before the state did.”

Students will compete in the Lakota Language, Academic and Knowledge Bowls. “We are trying to get away from competing and have students show more of their knowledge.”

When it started in 1976, there were 8 teams participating. Today, there are 40 different schools. The tournament brings in thousands of participants and fans from around the region.

Brewer said that he and Dave Archambault started the tournament out of necessity because non-Indian teams wouldn’t play the Indian teams. It became popular instantly. “By the second year we seated about 1200 people, and it was packed the first day. After two years it couldn’t be held in Pine Ridge anymore. The fire marshal was getting concerned. It was a small gym, and it was standing room only. So, we had to move it. At that time, the Civic Center, now The Monument, was brand new. We decided to move the all-Indian basketball tournament to Rapid City.” Brewer said the first LNI basketball games were the first basketball games ever played at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.

Relationships have improved in South Dakota since those first years. Brewer said that when the tournament finally came to Rapid City, they decided to change the name of the tournament to the Lakota Nation Invitational “so we could invite non-Indian teams to participate. This was when Tim Giago and Governor Mickelson were working together for peace and reconciliation.”

While the days of open racism have diminished, racial inequality in South Dakota and the United States persists. “We realize we can’t change the minds of some people,” said Brewer. “But we hope with our younger generation that both the Indian and non-Indian students realize that we are more alike than we are different.”

LNI’s nearly fifty-year commitment to youth empowerment through sports, academics and culture earned them the 2024 Good Relatives Collaborative Bush Prize from the Bush Foundation which recognized their commitment. Brewer said, “We’re so proud to receive this recognition and are honored to continue building the future for our youth.”

(Contact Marnie Cook at cookm8715@gmail.com)

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