The best Native American high school football players will be showcased Sunday as part of the 2021 Indigenous Bowl. Over 60 players will be split between two teams as part of The 7g Foundation's annual event.
"The idea behind the 7g Foundation is to educate, train, and inspire Native American athletes in all sports as a way to basically further themselves and to help the community," said Michael Stopp, who serves on the 7g board and volunteers as director of media and external relations.
Stopp, who is Cherokee and Muscogee Creek from Oklahoma, says he's spent the last year working to coordinate a partnership with the NFL, the Minnesota Vikings, and the 7g Foundation.
Typically the Indigenous Bowl would take place in late June or early July, However, due to COVID-19, the game had to be delayed and wasn't given the go-ahead until October 15.
"One of our biggest concerns was that we weren't going to get a roster to play," Stopp said. "To our surprise, in a good way, we received over 300 applicants between October 15 and November 1 from Indian country. Almost all of them were qualified applicants."
Stopp says for many of the players, the Indigenous Bowl is likely their first time being on a bigger stage.
"There was a lot of honor with the first game, the Tribes were very excited. This time, it's just a whole new step given the partnership with the NFL and the Minnesota Vikings."
For many of the athletes, the game gives them an opportunity to be seen by collegiate scouts.
"There's players who are top-tier players who don't get the recognition or aren't in the system that you see the normal athletic timeline," he said. "They don't have the marketing or exposure that you would get from a bigger school in the state."
Stopp says they will have a number of players from the Blackfeet Nation in Montana, Menominee Tribe in Wisconsin, and a number of athletes from the Pine Ridge Reservation.
"So these are traditionally very poor areas of Indian country, but they still produce great athletes," he added. "The only difference is they aren't getting the kind of exposure."
While the game serves as a recruiting opportunity, it also is a way to help create leaders through sports and addressing what Stopp calls, "The invisible modern American Indian."
"There's a lot of misunderstanding out in the country about who American Indians are," Stopp said. "I did not realize that growing up in Indian Country."
Stopp said both of his parents worked in Indian Country and that it wasn't until he left to go play football for Army at West Point that he realized just how misunderstood American Indians are.
"I'm not trying to be an activist, anti-white, or anti-American," he said. "There just truly is a misunderstanding based on western films, sports mascots, and all sorts of other things. We really don't talk about American Indians unless it's in parts of U.S. history."
The game is also a way to open doors to other opportunities. With the NFL partnership, Stopp says there are other opportunities they're pursuing for other sports and athletes, with a possible Major League Baseball event on the horizon.
Athletes arrived in Minneapolis on Wednesday and began practice on Thursday. The schedule leading up to Sunday's game includes a number of guest speakers, team meals, and activities.
"We have leaders talking to them about a number of issues that maybe they haven't been exposed to before," Stopp said. "They'll talk about scholarship opportunities, personal finance, and leadership."
Saturday morning they will all travel the U.S. Bank Stadium for team photos, a tour, and then they will practice in the afternoon.
It all leads up to Sunday's game at 10 a.m. which is free to the public.
"I'm excited," added Stopp. "I'm a referee and will be white-hatting on Sunday morning along with an all Native American sports officiating crew. I'm a little intimidated to officiate on an NFL field. I'm looking forward to it, too."
Stopp adds that NFL Films will document the game and experiences for a select number of players on Sunday.
