The Arizona Diamondbacks are hosting Native American Recognition Day, presented by Talking Stick Resort, today/Sunday, May 29 at Chase Field. The event recognizes the Native American communities from around the state with performances from various Native American drum groups, dancers and vocalists at locations throughout the stadium and on the field. Art displays and educational exhibits will be featured on the main concourse at Sections 130-133. The pregame ceremonies will recognize Arizona’s Tribal Royalty Contingent, the Inter-Tribal Tournament team trophy presentation and coach of the year. The festivities will include the national anthem as well as the ceremonial first pitch by Martin Harvier, President, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.
Beginning at 12:00 p.m. today, a variety of entertainment performances will take place throughout the ballpark in the Sandlot/Baxter’s Den, Upper Rotunda near Sections 324-325 and La Terraza, including 100 performers from the Pee-Posh Bird Dancers, Native All-Stars, Hashan Kehk Traditional Dancers, D7 Bird Singers & Dancers, River People Traditional Singers and Dancers, Ballet Arizona Hoop Dance Class taught by Ginger Sykes Torres & Eva Bighorse, and George Pratt.
At 12:15 p.m., leaders of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Tribal Council and the 660 players and their coaches from the D-backs’ 22nd annual Inter-Tribal Youth Baseball & Softball Tournament will participate in a pregame parade around the outfield warning track.
The on-field performance begins at 12:30 p.m. and will feature 130 performers including the Blu Thunder Singers, Little Feathers, Wild Medicine Singers, Wakan Takojan, The Northern Ponies, Standing Horse Dancers and Sam Anderson.
The pregame recognition begins at 12:35 p.m. and includes the Tribal Royalty, the Inter-Tribal Tournament team trophy presentation and coach of the year award.
Tickets for Native American Recognition Day can be purchased online at dbacks.com/tickets, by calling 602-514-8400 or in person at the Chase Field Box Office.
D-backs 22nd annual Inter-Tribal Youth Baseball & Softball Tournament
The D-backs hosted their 22nd annual Inter-Tribal Youth Baseball & Softball Tournament Wednesday-last night with games played at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Salt River Recreation (McDowell east of the 101) and Salt River High School (Chaparral east of the 101). Details for this year’s tournament are below and more information is available at dbacks.com/intertribal.
• The tournament has been around since 1999 and only missed 2 years (2020-21) due to COVID.
• All participants are of Native American heritage and represent more than 20 tribes.
• Teams are from Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma and California. Many of the participants are from rural tribal communities and getting an incredibly unique opportunity to play on Major League-caliber fields.
• 44 teams and 660 baseball & softball players.
• 4 age divisions in these friendship games: 12 and under, 13-15 years, High School Baseball and High School Softball.
• All tournament participants will take part in a Closing Ceremony parade and the top 4 teams in each division will be honored during a special pregame ceremony today at Chase Field as part of Native American Recognition Day.