Prairie Edge Meet and Greet: honoring the Lakota Nation Invitational partnership

RAPID CITY — In the weeks leading up to the Lakota Nation Invitational (LNI), the annual meet and greet at Prairie Edge has become a tradition in its own right. More than a social gathering, it is a ceremonial moment of recognition, a chance to honor the organizers and the Rapid City business community whose vision, resources, and commitment sustain one of Indian Country’s premier cultural and athletic events. This year’s gathering carried special weight, as founder Bryan Brewer announced that the forty-eighth tournament would be the last in its current format in Rapid City, opening the door to new partnerships and expanded opportunities in the years ahead.

Bryan Brewer, who first imagined the Invitational nearly five decades ago, welcomed the crowd with gratitude and reflection. He reminded supporters that the LNI has always been more than basketball—it is a celebration of Native excellence, resilience, and kinship. Brewer announced that this year marks the forty-eighth and final tournament in its current format in Rapid City. Beginning next year, Rapid City Central and Stevens will join, expanding the Invitational’s reach while carrying forward its spirit. His words carried both nostalgia and anticipation, acknowledging the long journey from Pine Ridge beginnings to national recognition.

Board President Chuck Wilson, a Rosebud tribal member and athletic director at Todd County High School, offered a heartfelt reflection on his journey with LNI. His involvement began not with a formal invitation but with curiosity. As an athletic director, Wilson wanted to understand how the event worked, so he started attending meetings. What began as observation soon became commitment, and nearly twenty years later, he remains one of the Invitational’s most steady leaders.

Wilson’s own life has always been shaped by athletics. As a student, he played basketball, ran track and cross country, and continued with track at the University of South Dakota. After college, he returned to classrooms and locker rooms, teaching and coaching wherever help was needed. That spirit of service carried into his work with LNI. Each year, he carefully coordinates lodging and logistics for Todd County students, often keeping them together at a local motel to ensure safety and focus. His priority has always been the youth—making sure they enjoy the experience without unnecessary worries—and the adults who guide them, ensuring they are equipped to support the students effectively.

As the tournament grew, Wilson helped manage venue changes, including using Rapid City Central for games to accommodate more teams and fans. For him, success always comes back to people. “It just takes good people for all of that to happen,” he reflected, closing with pride in belonging to LNI, which he described as a family built through championships, challenges, and collective effort. Wilson’s story is one of steady stewardship, a reminder that the Invitational thrives not only on vision but on the quiet, consistent work of those who keep its traditions alive year after year.

Board Secretary Dani Walking Eagle shared her personal history with LNI, which began long before her leadership role. As a high school student, she herself participated in the Invitational, experiencing firsthand the excitement and pride that the event brings to Native youth. Those early years gave her a deep appreciation for the opportunities LNI provides, and they shaped her determination to expand its reach once she became an educator and leader.

Her doorway into leadership came through volleyball. Walking Eagle recognized that students needed opportunities beyond basketball, and she helped establish volleyball as an official LNI event. In doing so, she gave young women a stage to compete and shine, ensuring that the Invitational reflected the full breadth of student talent. Volleyball was not just a sport—it was a statement that every student deserved a chance to be seen and celebrated.

From there, Walking Eagle’s vision expanded. She helped found the art show, championed chess tournaments, and advocated for Lakota language competitions. Each addition reflected her belief that LNI should be a space where students could shine in academics, arts, and culture—not just athletics. Through St. Francis Indian School’s early and ongoing sponsorship, she positioned the school as a cornerstone of the Invitational. “Whenever they need whatever to host, St. Francis will always be the first to pick that up,” she affirmed, underscoring the school’s readiness to rise to every opportunity.

Her philosophy has always been rooted in inclusion. “Every kid can shine at something, and we’ll find it,” she said, capturing the Invitational’s spirit of empowerment. Beyond her formal role, Walking Eagle remains deeply involved in organizing, hosting, and advocating for new programs. Her leadership demonstrates how LNI is not only a tournament but a movement of kinship and opportunity, where schools and communities rise together to celebrate Native excellence. Her journey—from student participant to board secretary—embodies the Invitational’s mission: to nurture the next generation while honoring the traditions that sustain them.

The Prairie Edge meet and greet also highlighted the essential role of the Rapid City business community. Local businesses have long partnered with LNI, providing sponsorships, venues, and resources that make the tournament possible. Hotels open their doors to host teams and families. Restaurants and shops welcome visitors, creating an atmosphere of hospitality that extends beyond the courts. Corporate sponsors contribute funding and logistical support, ensuring that events from basketball to art shows can be staged at a professional level. For many in Rapid City’s business community, supporting LNI is not only about economics—it is about investing in youth, culture, and the city’s role as host to one of the largest Native gatherings in the region.

This partnership has become a defining feature of the Invitational. The organizers bring vision, tradition, and leadership; the business community provides infrastructure, sponsorship, and hospitality. Together, they create an event that is both a celebration of Native excellence and a showcase of Rapid City’s capacity to host and support a gathering of this scale. The meet and greet at Prairie Edge is the moment where these two groups come together, recognizing that the Invitational’s success rests on collaboration.

The gathering honored the full board and staff whose collective leadership makes LNI possible, alongside the Rapid City businesses who provide sponsorships and support. The leadership team includes President Chuck Wilson, Vice President Bob Brave Heart, Treasurer Keith Fergusen, Secretary Dani Walking Eagle, Basketball Director Bryan Brewer, and board members Silias Blaine, Jesse Mendoza, John Haas, Mike Carlow, Allen Benoist, and Jay Claymore, with accountants Sandra Weaver and Janel Wright. Together, they embody the communal strength and organizational skill that has carried the Invitational forward for nearly half a century.

The 47th Annual LNI features a wide spectrum of events: boys and girl’s basketball, archery, art shows, chess, hand games, Lakota language bowls, wrestling, golf, track, oral interpretation, student council conferences, treaty law competitions, wellness summits, e sports, skateboarding, a veterans summit, cheerleading competition, a fashion show, and a Wacipi. Each reflects the Invitational’s mission to celebrate Native youth, culture, and community. While basketball remains the centerpiece, the breadth of events demonstrates that LNI is not just a tournament but a cultural gathering, a place where students can excel in every dimension of life.

The Lakota Nation Invitational traces its roots back to 1976, when the very first tournament was held in Pine Ridge on the Oglala Lakota Nation. Founded by Bryan Brewer, then a coach and educator, the event began as a small basketball invitational during a time of activism and resilience in Lakota country. Brewer’s vision was to create a space where Native youth could gather in pride, unity, and excellence. The early years were modest, but they carried immense significance, offering Native students a stage to showcase their talents and affirm their identity.

Over the decades, the Invitational grew from that single basketball tournament into a multi sport, multi event celebration. Today, it draws schools from across South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, and Wyoming, offering opportunities in athletics, academics, and cultural expression. Its expansion reflects the strength of partnerships—between Native organizers and the Rapid City business community— that make space for every student to shine. From its beginnings in Pine Ridge to its present in Rapid City, the LNI remains a living tradition, carried forward by dedication, collaboration, and the spirit of opportunity.

(Contact Ernestine Anunkasan Hopa at editor@nativesunnews.today)

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