PINE RIDGE — The Lakota Tech High School football team finally has a field to call its own. 

Lakota Tech, which opened in fall 2020 on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, unveiled its new artificial turf football field on Friday, Sept. 15. The multi-million dollar complex also includes grandstands, an eight-lane track and all the other track and field amenities. 

The artificial turf field pops out with the Lakota Tech logo on the 50-yard line and “TATANKA” emblazoned in red and black colors in each end zone. The grandstands will be installed in October and the rubberized track surface will be completed by early November, said Lakota Tech High School Athletic Director Francis Big Crow.

“This is going to be huge for all of our programs, and actually having a home field, a home track and having all the capabilities of being able to practice the field events,” Big Crow said. “Whereas before we never really had an area to practice things like high jump because we didn’t have the fields for it.”

Lakota Tech unveiled its new artificial turf football field on Friday, Sept. 15. (Courtesy photo)

The sparkling new turf field and track complex are light years ahead of what the school began with three years ago. 

In previous years, the Tatanka played its home football games at Red Cloud High School and Pine Ridge High School. In addition to borrowing fields, the football and track and field teams never had adequate space to practice in previous years. The new complex will also be equipped with jumping pits and throwing areas for the track and field teams. 

“The area we have been practicing on is just a field across the road from the school,” Big Crow said. “We just mowed an area and threw them out there. They have been practicing with the bare minimum, and that includes our track program. We’ve been making due with what we have out here with the road and the parking lot, marking distances, and just practicing that way and not really having a true area for our kids to practice and learn these things.”

Lakota Tech, which lost to Hill City in its home opener, exhibited Native American cultural traditions during an unveiling presentation. Prior to the afternoon kickoff, the school blessed the field during a special ceremony, featuring both tribal and school officials. It also included a drum group and grass dancers to help christen the field. 

Lakota Tech unveiled its new artificial turf football field on Friday, Sept. 15. (Courtesy photo)

The ceremony included the Lakota Tech student body, while Wolf Creek, Batesland, Rockyford and Redshirt middle school students were in attendance. The football game was free admission and it’s the first of two consecutive home contests. 

“We are going to really honor and thank everybody that had part in this — with our school board and our projects director, the construction crew and really kind of kick it off in a good way and bless the field,” Big Crow said. “And get ready for some football.” 

The athletic complex is another addition to the burgeoning school, which is five miles east of Pine Ridge and enrolls around 450 students (ninth-through-12th grade). The Career Technical Education (CTE) school is also equipped with multiple classrooms, a gymnasium and offers technical and career-oriented curriculum. 

“We are continuing to grow, and we have the space to accommodate the kids that are wanting to come here,” Big Crow said.

Lakota Tech unveiled its new artificial turf football field on Friday, Sept. 15. (Courtesy photo)