Red Carpet event welcomes 48 teams to Lakota Nation Invitational

The 2024–2025 Miss Lakota Nation Invitational Gabi Kenny, a member of the Sicangu Youth Council. She was crowned during the Lakota Nation Invitational in December 2024 and also plays on the Todd County Girls Basketball team. (Photo by Kirk Dickerson)

RAPID CITY, S.D. — The Monument roared to life as 48 girls’ and boys’ teams entered in procession on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 4 o’clock for the Red Carpet Event that kicked off the 47th Annual Lakota Nation Invitational. Teams held placards raised high, each one announced by Whitney Rencountre, serving as eyapaha as they entered the Monument.

The crowd responded with cheers that rolled through the building, turning every arrival into a celebration of pride and achievement. Many of the cheerleaders wore ribbon skirts in team colors, adding a striking visual of tradition and identity to the procession.

The Red Carpet Event is the formal opening for the entire Lakota Nation Invitational—an arena wide welcome that sets the tone for the week and anchors the tournament’s presence in Rapid City. The Rapid City Sports Commission facilitates the event and tracks the Invitational’s multi million dollar economic impact across the city. Law enforcement agencies, including the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office and local police, traditionally provide team escorts into Rapid City and for the red carpet arrival. The Monument serves as host venue and partner for the opening ceremony and the ceremonial meal, while Visit Rapid City works alongside the Sports Commission to provide data and promotional support.

Primary sponsors for the 48th Annual LNI in 2025 include Liv Hospitality, The HomeSlice Group, State Bank of Eagle Butte, Riddle’s Jewelry, and the South Dakota Department of Health. Their support underscores the Invitational’s significance as both a cultural celebration and an economic driver for the region.

For nearly five decades, the Red Carpet Event has marked the start of the Lakota Nation Invitational, transforming Rapid City into a gathering place for excellence and unity. Each announcement, each cheer, each placard raised—and the ribbon skirts in team colors—underscores the Invitational’s role as more than a tournament. It is a celebration of youth, tradition, and community.

(Contact Captain Kirk at salesmanager@nativesunnews.today)

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