History of Dakota Oyate Challenge

 

Welcome to the 2024 Dakota Oyate Challenge “DOC” Girls and Boys Basketball Tournament.

 

The term “Oyate’ is a Lakota term which means “Nation”. This is the Boys 35th annual and the Girls 30th annual Dakota Nation Challenge Basketball Tournament.

 

In 1989, Athletic Directors from Crazy Horse School, “Chuck Brewer’, Crow Creek Tribal Schools, “Kim Bierle, and Wakpala School, “Silas Blaine” planned and organized the first DOC. The three Athletic Directors decided to plan the tournament because the Lakota Nation Invitational was full.

 

The very first “Dakota Oyate Challenge” Boys basketball tournament was originally held at Crazy Horse School in Wanblee South Dakota. At that time the birth of the tournament was called the “All Indian Tournament” and was a “traveling” tournament, each year a school hosted the event. 

 

With the shortage of motel rooms and local restaurants the DOC board began looking for a city to host the annual event.

 

In 1999, the DOC board members met with Huron Chamber of Commerce and they had welcomed the tournament with open arms and hosted DOC for Boys Basketball in 1999 and later adding the Girls Basketball in 2001.

 

In the Spring of 2023 the Dakota Oyate Challenge Board of Directors met and decided to relocate the basketball tournament to a venue who could offer more motel rooms and dining establishments. The city of Mitchell South Dakota was selected as the new home for the 2024 DOC tournament.

 

The DOC Board will be expanding activities by offering Volleyball and Cross County for the 2024-2025 sports season and these events will also be held in Mitchell SD. The DOC Board will continue to seek opportunities for student/athletes to compete and display their talents.

The Dakota Oyate Challenge Board of Directors look forward to establishing a new and great working relationship with the city of Mitchell and the legendary Corn Palace.

 

Silas Blaine, Superintendent Wakpala School/DOC President