Join the U of A Native American Student Association (NASA) this Saturday, April 26 for a day filled with culture, competition, and community at the third annual NASA Stickball Tournament! The event is free admission for all and will be located at the University Recreation fields at 486 Mitchell St.
Stickball, a traditional Indigenous sport and distant relative of modern lacrosse, has deep roots across North America with many variations amongst tribes. The NASA Stickball Tournament is an intense co-ed 15 v 15 competition representing a version of modern intertribal stickball played across Indian Country. More information on the historical context of stickball and previous events hosted by the U of A can be found here.
The NASA Stickball Tournament kicks off with the first game at 9 a.m., and will culminate in the championship game at 6:30 p.m. A short youth exhibition at 2 p.m. will mark an intermission and allow youth of all ages to try their hand at this historic game. Vendors will be selling a variety of goods, including food, drinks, and Native American beadwork. Don’t forget to bring lawn chairs and canopies for comfort as you cheer on your favorite teams during this exciting game nicknamed “Little Brother of War”!
The tournament is proudly sponsored by the Tyson Center for Faith-Friendly Workplaces, the U of A Multicultural Center, the Native American Student Association, and Native American Student Services.