Spectators at the Lakota Nation Invitational. Photo from Facebook
Leaders of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, are asking the Lakota Nation Invitational to move the popular event out of Rapid City, South Dakota. Tribal leaders are upset by an incident in which 57 students from the American Horse School on the reservation were subjected to racial slurs and had beer poured on them during a Rapid City Rush hockey game last month. They also believe city authorities have not handled the situation well, which resulted in just one misdemeanor charge against one person. Bryan Brewer, a former president of the tribe, founded the LNI in 1977. He still sits on the board of directors and believes leaving Rapid City isn't the right response to the controversy. But current leaders say they will encourage the tribe to boycott LNI if it takes place in Rapid City this December. The tournament, which injects $5 million to $6 million into the city's economy, is held at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, the venue where the children were victimized. Get the Story:
Pine Ridge Leaders Call For LNI Boycott Unless Tournament Leaves Rapid City (NewsCenter1 2/25)
Former Oglala Sioux Tribe president says keep LNI in Rapid City (KOTA 2/25)
Fate of the Lakota Nation Invitational (KOTA 2/25)
Future of LNI in Rapid City up for questioning (KEVIN 2/25)
Oglala tribal leaders want LNI moved out of Rapid City (KOTA 2/25)
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