Presented by Miami Nation of Indians of Indiana
The Indianapolis Indians welcome the Miami Nation of Indians of Indiana to Victory Field for a night of recognition. This special event promises to be an enlightening and memorable celebration of the rich cultural heritage of Native American tribes, with a focus on the Miami Nation of Indians of Indiana.
Friday, May 17
vs. St. Paul Saints
About Native American Heritage Night 2024
Smudging Ceremony / Drum Songs
The evening will begin with a brief smudging ceremony by the Miami Nation of Indians of Indiana, where the drum and drummers will be cleansed with sage to invoke a meaningful and harmonious start to the event. Following the smudging ceremony, fans will be welcomed to the ballpark to the scents of burnt sage and sounds of Miami Nation drummers playing traditional songs until 6:30 PM.
To learn more about the Miami Nation smudging and drum ceremony we talked to Drum Carrier Shane Fox. Click here to learn more about the smudging and drum ceremony.
Pregame Ceremonies
Starting around 6:45 PM, the Indians will host a number of pregame ceremonies honoring Miami Nation, including the reading of the Victory Field land acknowledgment. The Indians will present a $2,000 scholarship to a member of Miami Nation, Allison Burns, who is attending Huntington College and pursing a bachelor's degree in nursing. Finally, Miami Nation Tribal Secretary Sarah Bitzel will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Educational Booths and Boards
We are delighted to feature the Miami Nation of Indians of Indiana at its own booth, offering insights into its rich heritage and traditions. This will take place on the concourse behind section 109. To educate our fans about the history of the Miami Nation, we will display educational facts on the video board between innings. This will shed light on its legacy and highlight the partnership between the Indianapolis Indians and the Miami Nation.
Veteran Recognition
A large percentage of Miami Nation of Indiana's members are veterans of the US Armed Forces. As a result, Indiana National Guard Major General R. Dale Lyles will say a few words honoring all veterans, and in particular, the veterans of Miami Nation. This will lead into a Color Guard presented by Indiana National Guard. The night will conclude with a rendition of "America The Beautiful" sang by Miami Nation's own Alaina Marks. This will lead into our postgame fireworks show.