FRISCO, Texas (January 3, 2024) – Top Native American high school football players from across the country will take the field for a free exhibition game on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at the Star in Frisco, Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys. The Ford Center at The Frisco Star opens at 6 p.m., and kickoff is at 7 p.m. The Native American Athletic Foundation (NAAF) All-Star Football Game features 50 athletes from more than 20 states and 35 tribal communities and reservations nationwide. These athletes represent a rich cross-section of Indian Country from Alaska, North Carolina, California, and even Canada. Along with their athletic abilities, each athlete brings the best of their communities and traditions in a cultural exchange with one another.
The all-star game is the highlight of a four-day camp and leadership program organized by the NAAF in partnership with the NFL and Nike. Players arrive at the Dallas Metroplex on Friday, January 3. They immediately begin receiving four days of high-quality coaching from experienced coaches, and programs on leadership and character development. The NAAF and its dedicated volunteers provide mentorship, college preparation, and leadership training, emphasizing mentorship, communication skills, and positive coping mechanisms to prepare athletes for future challenges on and off the field.
“The Native American Athletic Foundation was established to help Native American students and high school athletes better understand recruitment at the next level, both in football and baseball,” said NAAF Executive Director Michael Stopp, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. “What makes this camp different is we incorporate non-traditional exercises and activities like professional mentorship and behavioral health techniques. These practices help young people transition from what is often a very rural area to a collegiate-level environment.”
According to federal data, tribal communities suffer from the highest rates of poverty, self-harm and mental distress. At the same time, educational attainment is the lowest compared to other major racial/ethnic groups.
“I’m often asked if our programs are only about sports. Quite frankly, sports is the tool we use to engage with kids and bring people together. The organization’s underlying mission is to provide education, life skills and the inspiration to do bigger and better things. We want every student in this program to reach their full potential and take those lessons back to their communities,” Stopp said. “We encourage coaches, scouts, the media and anyone in the Dallas-Fort Worth area who enjoys sports and supporting young people to attend this free exhibition game and cheer on these incredible athletes.”
On January 6, the evening before the all-star game, the NAAF will host the Native All-Star Banquet at Frisco Hall to honor these exceptional athletes. Former Dallas Cowboy and NFL legend Raghib “Rocket” Ismail will deliver the keynote address, sharing his journey and the importance of sports in developing leadership and character. Doors at Frisco Hall open at 6:30 p.m., and the program begins at 7 p.m. The banquet is open to the public, and corporate sponsorships are available.
Game Details:
Date: Tuesday, January 7, 2025
Time: Kickoff at 7 p.m., doors open at 6 p.m.
Location: Ford Center at the Frisco Star, 9 Cowboys Way, Frisco, TX 75034 Frisco, TX
Admission: Free
All-Star Banquet featuring keynote speaker Raghib “Rocket” Ismail:
Date: Monday, January 6, 2025
Time: Dinner at 7 p.m., doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Location: Frisco Hall, 5353 Independence Pkwy, Ste 1, Frisco, Texas 75035
Admission: Tickets and sponsorships available at nativeamericanathleticfoundati
Tribal Nations and Communities represented:
- Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians
- American Samoa
- Blackfeet Nation
- Catawba Nation
- Cherokee Nation
- Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes
- Cheyenne River Sioux T
- Chickasaw Nation
- Chippewa Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy
- Choctaw Nation
- Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes
- Eastern Band Of Cherokee Indians
- Hopi Tribe
- Kainai Nation (Canada)
- Kewa Pueblo
- Laguna Pueblo
- Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians
- Muscogee (Creek) Nation
- Native Village of Barrow
- Navajo Nation
- Oglala Sioux Tribe
- Osage Nation
- Ponca Tribe of Nebraska
- Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation
- Puyallup Tribe of Indians
- Quapaw Nation
- Reno-Sparks Indian Colony
- Rosebud Sioux Tribe
- Seminole Nation
- Tlingit & Haida
- Tule River Tribe of California
- Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians
- White Earth Nation
- Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska
- Wyandotte Nation
About the Native American Athletic Foundation:
The Native American Athletic Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 dedicated to providing opportunities for Native youth to excel in sports, education, and leadership. Through camps, mentorship, and community-building initiatives, the foundation inspires young athletes to achieve their full potential and become leaders of character in their communities. Learn how to make a difference by supporting the next generation of Native athletes and leaders by visiting nativeathletes.org.