There are more than 560 distinct Native nations within the United States, each with a unique culture; despite the diversity, rest assured that every single one of the nations speaks “basketball” fluently.
In 2003, the Native American Basketball Invitational took notice of basketball’s significance across Indian country and, in a very short period of time, made great strides toward helping Native youth utilize their incredible basketball talents for a larger purpose – school success, basketball opportunities and higher education. Now, NABI has pushed the envelope farther, not only using the universal language of basketball, but also the languages of pow wow and baseball as vehicles to get Native youth to realize their dreams.
Basketball is considered by some to be the unofficial sport of Indian country. From Montana to Oklahoma to Arizona and all points in between, there are small towns on Indian reservations (pueblos, settlements, rancherias or communities) that are beating non-Native teams.
These Native powerhouses have this same level of success annually – many of these teams are powers within their respective states every year. Still, despite such success and ability across Native nations, there was no “community” – a place where the best Native basketball players within a particular state could test their mettle, as well as communicate and compare their experiences to other Native players.
Despite the abundant talent, there was a distinct lack of opportunities for Native basketball players to push their talents on the hardwood and in the classroom past the high school level. This was a result of the unwritten rule that prevented college coaches from seeing Native players as legitimate prospects. Enter NABI – its mission is to make sure talented Native ballplayers have the same opportunity to play basketball at a post-high school level and develop a legacy of educational and experiential success in college using basketball as the vehicle.
And it’s worked. NABI has had buy-ins from the Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury, Arizona Diamondbacks, Nike, NBA and the NCAA. Most importantly, Native youth, coaches and tribes have bought into the program. It’s an amazing sight to see – in the summer, hundreds of Native basketball players from all parts of the U.S., gathered with a common purpose: to have an amazing time playing basketball in a NBA arena and learning from individuals with similar stories that live across the map. NABI has successfully done what it sought out to do with basketball; to create post high school opportunities for Native student/athletes, but also to create a nationwide community among talented Native basketball players.
Now, NABI is thinking bigger. In this struggling economy, NABI put its money on Native youth and believed that Native people will respond to a pow wow and baseball tournament that delivers the same quality product the basketball tournament delivers every year, and is focused on developing and cultivating Native youth. And why not hold the pow wow in the stadium where the NFC champion Arizona Cardinals play? And why not also have a 10k race?
The truth is these programs require tons of work to run successfully. Yet, with the vision of NABI’s board members such as Ernie Stevens Jr. and Tex Hall, in tandem with the day-to-day supervision of Gina Marie Scarpa and ex-Phoenix Sun Mark West, NABI believes the success of these programs will grow.
The most important individuals, however, are the youth, Native peoples’ most precious natural resource and the very reason NABI exists.
Gyasi Ross is a member of the Blackfeet Nation and the NABI.
It's in Navajo country, so I think that's expected. I still don't think it makes it harder for you to win. You still have to have the talent on your team to win, and if you do, you'll beat everyone, no matter where they're from.
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ross said on Thursday, Jul 23 at 2:22 PM
It seems unfair when 1 tribe can send 30 out of 63 teams to the tournament. this will keep teams from entering because their chances of winning are almost nill. Need to limit number of teams a tribe can send to level the playing field. Having the tournament in Az gives local teams more of an advantage. Need to rotate locations. Denver is more centralized.
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Dayleann Puyallup Tribe said on Wednesday, Jul 8 at 1:33 AM
We sent 2 teams from our community to NABI this year in Pheonix. This is a great opportunity for these boys to learn from other teams and creat opportunities for scholarships for many students who might otherwise be able to attend college. How many Native players are on the NBA? If they are noticed for college ball maybe the numbers of native NBA players will increase in the future. Great Program
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Edie Grijalva Borquez said on Saturday, Apr 4 at 12:26 AM
Hi! Was wondering if there are any basktball teams here in Southern California besides the Sonora Reservation.
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Old timer from Navajo Nation said on Wednesday, Mar 25 at 9:00 AM
Don't let money get in the way, If you and your teams want it... make it happen. I know because I love the game and did what it took to make tournaments Rez to Rez. Seneca Coach said it best fundraise. This will teach the our youth to work for what they want.
18510011
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REAHA WETSELLINE said on Sunday, Mar 22 at 4:17 AM
Wow im just overed come by this news about how we have people who do care about our indian children. Ive just learnd about NABI, and now my son can look forward in better in his education as well as to get to play baseball, which is personal love. I just wish we had more people out there un other like yourselfs that we could have this broke out more in the US, cause we have kids out there that dont know about you guys and put out there talent for colleges to see.!!
18374971
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Seneca_Coach said on Wednesday, Feb 25 at 1:11 PM
So do some fundraising, get sponsors, make it happen. I hope to coach a team this summer and take them to the NABI.
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Jackson Harris said on Friday, Feb 20 at 12:02 PM
Wow!! I have watched your program from the start and I am amazed at the progress you have made. Go Gina-Marie! Thanks for the times you booked my hubby and his band for your events. We appreciate it very much. Look forward to the upcoming events. Always a good time. We have some incredible players and they too deserve recognition. Jackson
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Reality Check said on Wednesday, Feb 18 at 11:05 AM
I have never been to the NABI but I have visited Phoenix in the past. Your article mentioned there 560 distinct native nations in the United States. Unfortunately, the majority of our native nations will never play in the NABI because the Southwest is too far away and it is expensive to travel.
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Ross said on Thursday, Apr 22 at 4:56 PM
It's in Navajo country, so I think that's expected. I still don't think it makes it harder for you to win. You still have to have the talent on your team to win, and if you do, you'll beat everyone, no matter where they're from.
41775112ross said on Thursday, Jul 23 at 2:22 PM
It seems unfair when 1 tribe can send 30 out of 63 teams to the tournament. this will keep teams from entering because their chances of winning are almost nill. Need to limit number of teams a tribe can send to level the playing field. Having the tournament in Az gives local teams more of an advantage. Need to rotate locations. Denver is more centralized.
26634534Dayleann Puyallup Tribe said on Wednesday, Jul 8 at 1:33 AM
We sent 2 teams from our community to NABI this year in Pheonix. This is a great opportunity for these boys to learn from other teams and creat opportunities for scholarships for many students who might otherwise be able to attend college. How many Native players are on the NBA? If they are noticed for college ball maybe the numbers of native NBA players will increase in the future. Great Program
25584909Edie Grijalva Borquez said on Saturday, Apr 4 at 12:26 AM
Hi! Was wondering if there are any basktball teams here in Southern California besides the Sonora Reservation.
19102537Old timer from Navajo Nation said on Wednesday, Mar 25 at 9:00 AM
Don't let money get in the way, If you and your teams want it... make it happen. I know because I love the game and did what it took to make tournaments Rez to Rez. Seneca Coach said it best fundraise. This will teach the our youth to work for what they want.
18510011REAHA WETSELLINE said on Sunday, Mar 22 at 4:17 AM
Wow im just overed come by this news about how we have people who do care about our indian children. Ive just learnd about NABI, and now my son can look forward in better in his education as well as to get to play baseball, which is personal love. I just wish we had more people out there un other like yourselfs that we could have this broke out more in the US, cause we have kids out there that dont know about you guys and put out there talent for colleges to see.!!
18374971Seneca_Coach said on Wednesday, Feb 25 at 1:11 PM
So do some fundraising, get sponsors, make it happen. I hope to coach a team this summer and take them to the NABI.
17078482Jackson Harris said on Friday, Feb 20 at 12:02 PM
Wow!! I have watched your program from the start and I am amazed at the progress you have made. Go Gina-Marie! Thanks for the times you booked my hubby and his band for your events. We appreciate it very much. Look forward to the upcoming events. Always a good time. We have some incredible players and they too deserve recognition. Jackson
16836662Reality Check said on Wednesday, Feb 18 at 11:05 AM
I have never been to the NABI but I have visited Phoenix in the past. Your article mentioned there 560 distinct native nations in the United States. Unfortunately, the majority of our native nations will never play in the NABI because the Southwest is too far away and it is expensive to travel.
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