As the Santa Fe Indian School (SFIS) girls soccer team enters the fall season, players are carrying forward the skills, strategies and team connections they developed during a special summer trip to Washington.
With support from NB3 Foundation, the team traveled to Tacoma to participate in the Puyallup World Cup Powwow Indigenous Soccer Exhibition. The event brought together six Indigenous teams, giving athletes an opportunity to compete, connect and celebrate their shared love of the game. With the excitement of the FIFA World Cup felt throughout the region, the atmosphere made the experience even more memorable.
Organizers initially contacted NB3 Foundation about assembling a team for the exhibition. Although the NB3FIT summer schedule was already full, NB3 Foundation worked to ensure the opportunity would still reach Native youth. The organization connected with the Santa Fe Indian School athletic director and helped coordinate the team’s transportation and participation.
For the SFIS players, the trip offered more than additional time on the field. It gave them a chance to bond as teammates, compete against other Indigenous teams and develop skills they could bring into the fall season.
The experience also demonstrated the importance of creating spaces where Native youth can see themselves represented in sports. By competing alongside other Indigenous athletes, the players were able to build confidence, form relationships and become part of a larger community united through soccer.
Through partnerships like this, NB3 Foundation continues to connect Native youth with opportunities that support physical activity, youth development and cultural connections on and off the field.
NB3 Foundation wishes the SFIS girls soccer team a successful season and looks forward to seeing the players carry the experience, confidence and teamwork they gained in Tacoma onto the field.
