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PHOENIX – Above the court at the Footprint Center, the scoreboard flashes some unique homegrown encouragement for the hometown Phoenix Suns basketball team: SKODEN.
The scoreboard shout — a popular Native slang term for “Let’s Go Then” — was one of many Indigenous elements on display Thursday, as the Suns honored 22 tribal communities in Arizona during their game against the Dallas Mavericks . According to the team, this isn’t the first time the group has showcased Arizona’s Native heritage this season, and it won’t be the last.
Thursday’s game was the sixth of the season at the Trail Center in downtown Phoenix. Organizers planned an evening show featuring Indigenous culture, music, food, dance and community leaders throughout the race. Music from Navajo jockey Mike Sixkiller and a display of all the flags of all 22 of Arizona’s tribal states greeted Thursday’s race participants at the arena’s main entrance.
“We want Native people to feel comfortable in this space,” Shawn Martinez, senior director of live presentations for the Phoenix Suns (NBA) and Phoenix Mercury (WNBA), told Native News Online. “No one in live entertainment celebrates native culture the way we do in Phoenix.”
This commitment to celebrating Native culture is happening, at least in part, because of Martinez, a Navajo citizen who grew up in Window Rock, Arizona. He has over 20 years in professional sports, including 12 years with the Denver Nuggets and six years with the Detroit Pistons. Martinez was hired by the Suns in 2020, his third season, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He is likely the only registered tribal citizen and also serves as the director of entertainment for a professional sports organization.
it shows.
From banners touting Skoden and Stoodis to no soap Intertribal song by tribal citizen Brooke Simpson and the Wild Medicine Drum Group to the Gila River Basket Dancers on the field as the group rolls out the red carpet Allow attendees to learn about local Aboriginal communities and cultures.
“It’s because I’m from Rez,” said Martinez, who was also instrumental in his partnership with the Suns Nike Urban Edition Uniform and Cahokia SocialTech + ArtSpacea home-grown creative collaboration based in Phoenix’s Roosevelt Street Arts District.
Made over the years, the uniforms feature a turquoise base, the name of each tribal nation in Arizona, the colors of the medicine wheel (white, black, yellow, and red), and more.
“We want Native people to feel comfortable in this space,” said Shawn Martinez, senior director of live entertainment for the Phoenix Suns and a Navajo Nation citizen. Photo by Roshan, a Navajo Nation photographer living in Phoenix, Arizona.
In addition to the many collaborations Martinez was able to forge, he was also responsible for the live entertainment during games. Thursday’s competition featured music from world champion drum group Northern Cree, Crow music sensation Christian.Suparman“Parrish picked up his gun, hallucination (widely known as the “Red Tribe”), and many others.
“In one evening, contestants were introduced to the amazing talent that our people possess,” Martinez said of his musical choices. He’s also been a DJ for 25 years, known for DJ Tribal Touch, most recently performing at the grand opening of the Smithsonian’s National Native American Veterans Memorial in Washington DC last November.
During the 2022-2023 season, there will be 10 ORIGINATIV events — the term the Suns use to describe their homegrown-themed entertainment. The remaining games are scheduled for February 24 (vs. Oklahoma City Thunder), March 14 (vs. Milwaukee Bucks), March 16 (vs. Orlando Magic) and April 4 (vs. San Antonio Spurs Team).
Each evening features a different Native performer from an Arizona tribe, and they will also include food vendors (outside the stadium), music, dance, and other recognition of Arizona Native community leaders.
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