MITCHELL — The Dakota Oyate Challenge, a long-time staple in Huron, will make its debut at the Corn Palace this week. 

The DOC is a three-day event featuring Native American student-athletes competing in basketball, along with other activities. It’s the 35th annual boys tournament and 30th annual girls basketball tournament. The first Dakota Oyate Challenge boys basketball tournament was held at Crazy Horse School in 1989 and was originally called the “All Indian Tournament”. Huron began hosting the tournament DOC for boys basketball in 1999 and girls basketball in 2001.

But lack of hotel rooms to accommodate fans was the driving force behind moving it to Mitchell, said DOC President and Wakpala School Superintendent Silas Blaine. 

“It came down to the fans,” Blaine said. “We’ve always had a lot of fans that travel far distances and all the hotels are booked. We’ve heard that almost every year in Huron. We finally decided to give Mitchell a shot because we know Mitchell has more hotels than Huron.”

The DOC Board of Directors also considered Sioux Falls as an option. Blaine said “It made more sense to go to Mitchell than it did to Sioux Falls,” given the eight schools' proximity to Mitchell. 

In addition to adequate hotel space, Blaine said Mitchell’s location along Interstate 90 also factored into the move. 

The eight participating schools include Wakpala, Flandreau Indian, Lower Brule, Marty, Crazy Horse, Omaha Nation, Tiospaye Topa and Takini. 

Marty (70 miles) is the closest of the eight schools to Mitchell, while Flandreau and Lower Brule are both 100 miles away. The five remaining schools range from 185-260 miles from Mitchell, but the DOC Board of Directors are hopeful the move will drive higher attendance numbers.

“We are hoping for bigger crowds in Mitchell than what we received in Huron,” Blaine said. “Again, because no fans could travel far distances and also get a room. We are looking for a bigger crowd base.”

Blaine said DOC’s location beyond 2024 is to be determined.

“We will evaluate it right after the tournament is over,” Blaine said. “If that’s going to be our new home, then that would probably be our new home for a number of years.” 

The DOC Board of Directors will expand activities by offering volleyball and cross-country for the 2024-25 sports season and the events will also be held in Mitchell. 

In addition to basketball, the event will host traditional hand games, archery and a college fair. The other events will be held in the Corn Palace armory gym. 

“We are all excited to be playing in the Corn Palace,” Blaine said. “The atmosphere of a new place with more fans will make it more fun for our kids and more exciting. So we are looking forward to the change and the excitement and we hope to build a good relationship with the city of Mitchell and at the Corn Palace.” 

The event will be livestreamed at doc.liveticket.tv.

The boys first-round pairings:

Crazy Horse vs. Flandreau Indian, 10:30 a.m.

Omaha Nation vs. Wakpala, 7:30 p.m.

Lower Brule vs. Takini, 1:30 p.m.

Marty vs. Tiospaye Topa, 4:30 p.m.

The girls first-round pairings:

Omaha Nation vs. Takini 9 a.m.

Wakpala vs. Tiospaye Topa, 6 p.m.

Marty vs. Crazy Horse, noon

Lower Brule vs. Flandreau Indian, 3 p.m.