5000 Participants to Honor Fallen Iraqi War Hero
5000 athletes from 50 Various Sovereign Nations to Compete in Fountain Hills July 12-15, 2012
On July 20-22, 2012, Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation and Fountain Hills will once again host the Lori Piestewa Games, the largest Native American sports festival in the United States. In its 11th year, the national festival features baseball, basketball, cross country, softball, track and field, volleyball and wrestling.
The Town of Fountain Hills and the Fountain Hills Unified school district share park and school sports facilities, which streamlines the event. More than 5,000 participants and their friends and families are expected, representing 50 tribal groups from across the United States and Canada.
The Native American sports event is in honor of Lori Piestewa, who was the first Native American woman to die in combat for the U.S. military. The Tuba City native died in 2003 while serving in the Iraq war.
The Town of Fountain Hills and Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation are one of the only Indian community/municipal joint Visitors Bureaus in the country. Bordering Fountain Hills on the North and west, the Fort McDowell community encompasses a 4-star Radisson hotel, a casino and entertainment venue, a western adventure equestrian facility, and the WeKoPa Golf Course, which has been named one of the best public courses in the State of Arizona. ( www.fortmcdowelldestination.com ).
The relationship between the Fort McDowell community and Fountain Hills is unique in other ways. Dr. Clinton Pattea, President of the Tribal Council, is not only one of the tribal elders, but is an economist who has helped shape the economy of the Yavapai Nation. In addition to the recreational venues, the tribe has developed agricultural land, producing commercial citrus, hay and pecans, and has a thriving building materials business that serves the East Valley. We share schools and have cooperative response agreements between our fire suppression and emergency response teams. The River of Time Museum has just named its main exhibition room for Dr. Pattea for his support establishing the displays depicting native American life in our Verde River Valley.
For more informtaion about the event, check out their website.
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