It may very well be the most competitive high school basketball tournament in the country, but most people have never even heard of the Lakota Nation Invitational, or LNI as it’s more commonly called.

Originally started in Pine Ridge, as strictly a ball tournament for American Indian high school boys, LNI is now in its 33rd year and has expanded to include much more than just the hardwood competition.

Before I began writing for the Black Hills Travel Blog, I used to work very closely with many of the Native American high schools in South Dakota and had the privilege of attending LNI several years in a row. To those who have never attended – it’s tough to understand just what LNI is. Let’s rewind to the early 1970’s.

It was a painful time on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The 1973 occupation of Wounded Knee and the violent acts that followed had instilled fear in many South Dakotans – particularly those high schools who would normally have played Native American high schools like Pine Ridge and Little Wound.

Bryan Brewer, who was the Pine Ridge High School boy’s basketball coach at the time, had trouble convincing schools to come to Pine Ridge to play his team. Many South Dakota high schools weren’t even interested in having the Pine Ridge boy’s squad come play in their own towns.

So Brewer, along with his friend and neighboring coach at Little Wound High School in Kyle – Dave Archambault, decided to organize their own boys basketball tournament right in Pine Ridge. They invited teams from South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas.

That first tournament in 1977 hosted eight teams and was a huge success! Fans and relatives packed the house to see some great ball games played. The Pine Ridge High School gym was busting at the seams and the local fire marshal was even threatening to shut the event down due to the overcrowding of the space.

Suffice to say, basketball is a big deal in South Dakota – especially for Native Americans. Brewer and Archambault knew they had found a positive outlet for their student athletes and worked to grow the event in the future years.

Fast forward to today – LNI has now moved to the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City and is now one of the largest American Indian cultural events of the year. In fact, it is one of the five largest events that the civic center will host all year.

The basketball tournament has expanded to include a total of 32 boys and girls high school teams. But basketball is not the sole focus anymore. LNI now features wrestling, story-telling competitions, traditional Lakota hand games, academic knowledge bowls and more.

One of the highly anticipated events is always the Friday night grand entry. Tribal elders and traditional Lakota dancers – in ceremonial dress – will lead the athletes into the arena before the semi-final games are played. It is truly a moving experience to see.

Events began this morning at 10 a.m and run through this Saturday, December 19. From its early beginnings as a basketball tournament to its present-day showcase of American Indian culture, LNI has become a time of sharing and togetherness for most involved.

From personal experience – I highly encourage you to check out the Lakota Nation Invitational this weekend. To all of you who will be participating – best wishes and good luck!