Hulk Hogan to appear at LNI

Famous wrestler to help present assistance to nonprofit organizations.

By Journal staff | Wednesday, December 19, 2007

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World famous wrestler, actor and media personality Hulk Hogan will be among the thousands of attendees at this weeks annual Lakota Nation Invitational Tournament in Rapid City.

Hogan, who rose to prominence in the 1980s as one of a cavalcade of professional wrestlers with larger than life personalities, is expected to present financial assistance to a number of local area nonprofit organizations on behalf of Dreamseekers.

Hogan co-founded the new organization with the National Indian Gaming Association chairman Ernie Stevens Jr. The foundation's goal is to create healthier communities by assisting young Native Americans in areas related to health, education and leadership development.

"American Indian children are more likely to live in poverty than any other group of children in this country," Hogan said, citing recent U.S. Census Bureau data. "It's time to change that."

Organizations receiving assistance from the National Indian Gaming Association and Dreamseekers include the Lakota Nation Invitational, Oglala Lakota College, SuAnne Big Crow Boys and Girls Club, Sicangu Child and Family Services of the Rosebud Tribe, Cheyenne River Youth Project, Sitting Bull School, Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, and the Yankton Sioux Tribe.  The presentation is expected to take place at the LNI tournament at Rushmore Plaza Civic Center between 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. Friday.

Since 2001, Stevens has helped organize an effort to conduct a charity-drive during the holiday season which provides food, toys, and emergency assistance for families and children on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Over the years, the Christmas drive has grown, and several tribes and communities throughout the Great Plains region also benefit from the event. Stevens, with the assistance from the Sycuan Band of Kumeyaay Nation of California, the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians of California, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians of California, Table Mountain Rancheria Band of Indians of California, the Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, International Gaming Technology, Rocket Games, and Video Gaming Technologies will contribute to the cause once again this year.

"I would like to personally thank Councilman Max Osceola and the Seminole Tribe of Florida for bringing Hulkamania to Rapid City, South Dakota," Stevens said. "The partnership between Indian Country working with Hulk Hogan is just the beginning. It is also a great time to inspire American Indian youth everywhere to join with Dreamseekers' effort to provide a great holiday and help make a difference in Indian Country."

The National Indian Gaming Association is a nonprofit trade association comprised of 184 American Indian Nations and other nonvoting associate members. The mission of NIGA is to advance the lives of Native American people economically, socially and politically. NIGA operates as a clearinghouse and educational, legislative and public policy resource for tribes, policymakers and the public on Indian gaming issues, sovereignty and tribal community development.