Oklahoma City Thunder celebrates native communities with special events

The Oklahoma City Thunder is celebrating Native American Heritage Month with events and more planned through the end of November, including a voucher for two complimentary Thunder tickets when visiting the city’s First Americans Museum. 

“The Thunder is proud to celebrate the rich history of Native American people and culture in Oklahoma,” Natasha Stamper, vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion said in a press release. 

U.S. Army veteran and Comanche and Chickasaw/Choctaw artist Timothy Tate Nevaquaya will conduct a live painting during Friday night’s Thunder game at Paycom Center as a partnership presentation with Red Earth, a local nonprofit that champions Native American art. Nevaquaya’s art has been displayed in places such as the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, Oklahoma State Capitol, Southern Plains Museum and more. 

Oklahoma City Thunder Guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander modeling City Edition uniform.

That night, the Thunder team will sport its newly unveiled City Edition uniforms. Created in partnership with Nike, the uniforms incorporate elements inspired by the land once known as Indian Territory, connecting today’s inhabitants through its seamless design. 

“The City Edition uniform honors Oklahomans at their core,” Brian Byrnes, the Thunder’s senior vice president of sales and marketing, said in a press release. 

“The colors and design of this uniform are a tribute to our foundation, the ground we all walk on and the qualities we all share, including selfless service to our community and fellow citizens," Byrnes said. 

On Nov. 15, the Thunder will join Oklahoma City Public Schools’ Coolidge Elementary for a Reading Time-out, presenting “Fry Bread, A Native American Family Story” to students. The novel written by Kevin Noble Maillard is a Sibert Award-winning book, which recognizes distinguished informational books published in English each year. 

The Choctaw Wellness Center in Durant, Okla., will welcome Thunder Youth Basketball on Nov. 22 for its basketball clinic for children ages six to 14 and members of the Choctaw Nation. Each camp participant will receive a gift courtesy of Nike N7 and Hibbett.  

Back in Oklahoma City, the Thunder will host Indian Education Student Day, coinciding with Native American Heritage Night at Paycom Center Nov. 30. Students across Oklahoma can participate in educational activities throughout the day, then attend the Thunder game that night. 

That same night, cast and crew members of the Oklahoma-produced FX on Hulu series “Reservation Dogs” will be in attendance. Props and artwork crafted by local Native American artists will be displayed throughout the arena, highlighting contemporary Indigenous communities. Native artists will also provide in-game entertainment. 

“We want to continually teach, honor and build relationships with those around us not just during this special month, but all year long. It’s more than just the understanding of how historic events have shaped our landscape; it’s about how we can continue to honor the traditions and find ways for those traditions [to] be present in the next generation to come,” Stamper said. 

You can stay up to date with everything the Oklahoma City Thunder has planned by visiting www.nba.com/thunder.