The Kansas City Chiefs will take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Monday night, but for the 11th season in a row, this particular game is about much more than just the final score.
It's the annual American Indian Heritage Month Game, and as the Chiefs take the field on Monday, three members of the Chiefs Cheer squad – each of Native backgrounds – will have an opportunity to celebrate what their culture means to them.
"As a Native woman, it is incredibly important to me that I use my platform to highlight, acknowledge, celebrate, and preserve my unique heritage," said Chiefs Cheerleader RyleeKate, a member of the Kiowa and Muscogee Creek Tribe. "Representation matters. It's about opening doors and reminding others that they, too, can make a difference while honoring their roots."
Indeed, Monday's game will feature numerous festivities and moments intended to educate the thousands of fans in attendance on the history, importance, challenges and triumphs of Native communities throughout the region. In fact, several local tribes will be on-hand for the annual event.
A few highlights include the "Blessing of the Four Directions" and the ceremonial drum "Honor Song," each of which will be conducted by local tribes prior to kickoff. Those moments will be clear celebrations of Native culture, but perhaps not so obvious – but equally important – will be the efforts of individuals such as Chiefs Cheerleader Taylor, a member of the Cherokee people, who exemplifies what it means for those of Native backgrounds to achieve their dreams.
"I hope that all young girls of Native heritage feel celebrated and empowered when they think about their ties to their culture, and I hope they feel the love and admiration that Chiefs Kingdom has for Native tribes," Taylor said. "Chasing your dream as a Native American is not easy, and so many young Native American girls face hurdles that others do not, but these obstacles can be overcome."
That sentiment in the world of sports is often remembered through the achievements of the legendary Jim Thorpe. A member of the Sac and Fox Nation in what is now Oklahoma, Thorpe's long list of achievements include multiple Olympic gold medals, enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, a career in Major League Baseball and the distinction of serving as the first President of the American Professional Football Association, which later became the NFL.
His memory is celebrated in numerous ways, including through an annual event at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium each spring. For young dancers, however, that figure is Maria Tallchief, a member of the Osage Nation and the United States' first major prima ballerina.
"I remember doing a school project about Maria Tallchief when I was a little girl," said Chiefs Cheerleader Macy, a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. "I thought it was so cool that I had something in common with such a successful dancer, and it was our Oklahoma Native American heritage. That tiny similarity gave me a little extra confidence at a very young age to chase my dream of dancing professionally, too."
Tallchief and Thorpe are some of the most well-known examples of what it means to inspire others of Native backgrounds, and on Monday, the trio of RyleeKate, Taylor and Macy will have their chance to do the same.
"My message to young girls of Native heritage would be to embrace who you are and where you come from because your heritage is your strength, so let it guide you," RyleeKate said. "Every step you take is a reflection of your culture, resilience, and the generations before you, and the world needs your voice and your dreams."
