LNI teams were escorted by local law enforcement to the Civic Center Wednesday night for a red carpet welcome from community and business leaders and citizens. Teams entered to raucous applause, high-fives and encouragement. The 41st annual LNI begins officially today at the Civic Center with numerous events.
Mayor Steve Allender, Council members Laura Armstrong, Becky Drury, Darla Drew and Lisa Modrick, along with Police Chief Karl Jegeris, Fire Chief Rod Seals and Civic Center Manager Craig Baltzer were among the greeters.
After the welcome, teams were treated to a team dinner in Rushmore C&D, followed by a proclamation by Mayor Allender, presentations by tournament and community officials and presentations to the teams of souvenirs.
Thousands of fans, supporters and participants are expected in Rapid City next week for the 41st annual Lakota Nation Invitational (LNI), which showcases individual and team competitions in basketball, wrestling and cheerleading, as well as art, archery, chess, hand games, knowledge bowl, storytelling, poetry, business plans and language bowl.
New to this year's LNI activities is the Hand Games Corporate Citizen Challenge, where 10 community teams will square off in the traditional Native American guessing game. The event will be held Friday, December 15 at 11:30 a.m. in Rushmore C&D.
Teams competing against each other include the Rapid City Fire and Police Departments, Jim Scull Construction and Robert Scull Construction, Visit Rapid City and the Rapid City Chamber of Commerce; Security First Bank and Black Hills Community Bank; and the City of Rapid City and Pennington County.
The public is welcome and encouraged to attend festivities which will conclude on Saturday.