NCAA Women’s Final Four to spotlight Native American athletes

The NCAA Women’s Final Four in Minneapolis is about two weeks away, but before tip-off there’s a group using this as an opportunity to advance athletics for Native American youth.

A group of native leaders formed the Indigenous Athletics Advancement Council, and they hope to use the Final Four to shine a spotlight on the underutilization of Native Americans in sports.

Jessie Stomski Seim is a member of the Women’s Final Four Local Organizing Committee.

“I was being called or given the opportunity to address an issue that’s been an issue for a long time,” said Jessie Stomski Seim, General Counsel of the Prairie Island Indian Community.

Stomski Seim is a basketball star who grew up in Oakdale, played collegiately for the Wisconsin Badgers and then competed at the professional level. But she’s also a proud citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation of Oklahoma.

“Native athletes are not being seen for many reasons,” Stomski Seim said.

Stomski Seim says less than 1 percent of NCAA athletes are Native American.

“It’s always been on my heart and spirit to do my part to try and address it,” Stomski Seim said. “The issue is those sports being played in tribal communities are not materializing into the opportunities to play sports at the highest level so our goal is to strengthen that pipeline.”

“I’m really excited that we’re engaging the community on the ground here in Minneapolis,” said Marisa Cummings, CEO of the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center.

Marisa Cummings is the CEO of the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center, and applauds this initiative.

“Our mission is to serve native women and their families,” Cummings said.

As a mother Cummings said she’s excited to create more opportunities for kids.

“That gives our kids the ability to dream big,” Cummings said.

This Final Four will include a halftime show featuring Minnesota tribal communities plus hundreds of young native youth have tickets to the games. Stomski Seim believes this is just the start.

“If you can see it you can dream it and that’s our hope,” Stomski Seim said.

The 2022 Women’s Final Four is April 1st through the 3rd. For more information on events happening around town, visit here.

To learn more about the mission of the Indigenous Athletics Advancement Council, visit their website.