The Lakota Nation Invitational  (LNI) started as a small basketball tournament 41 years ago. Today the tournament has grown to host 36 basketball teams, bringing 2500 students and their families to Rapid City for that one sport alone. Mostly all events associated with LNI are held inside the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City, SD. A powwow, cheerleading competitions, wrestling, hand games, various knowledge challenges, art, and fashion shows are part of the long list of other events and activities planned to keep the week full of options to choose from when visitors, relatives want to spend their four days at the tournament. The Oglala Sioux Tribe (OST) would like to wish all participants the best of luck as well as recognize the LNI board for organizing an event capable of bringing together so many Native Americans and NonNatives alike.