NAITA 50th anniversary brings generations together in Tulsa for national championships
The North American Indian Tennis Association will mark its 50th anniversary in May 2026 with a championship tournament at Case Tennis Center at LaFortune Park, a USTA Premier Facility in Tulsa.
Scheduled for Memorial Day weekend on May 22-25, the event draws Native American tennis players from across the U.S., ranging from youth competitors to veteran athletes.
Individuals can register for the junior national championships by clicking here and the adult national championships by clicking here. Zechariah Harjo is the tournament director with Tony Mullican helping organize as well.
Organizers said Tulsa was selected in part because Oklahoma tournaments typically attract strong participation and large player fields. The 2025 event featured over 100 players representing more than 20 Native American tribes.
Founded in the mid-1970s, NAITA has grown into a national organization dedicated to promoting tennis within Native American communities while fostering cultural connection and community engagement.
The annual junior and adult national championships have become a multigenerational gathering, with participants traveling from across the country.
“The tournament has really grown over the years,” said Jerry Bales, who has attended since 1991 and missed only one year when his son was about to be born.
Bales recalled how the event has evolved, noting that in 1993 a tournament dinner in Fresno, Calif., was held on the grass. In contrast, this year’s banquet will be a formal sit-down event at the River Spirit Casino Resort.
A youth clinic is one of the several ways generations connect at the North American Indian Tennis Association National Championships.
The 50th anniversary of the North American Indian Tennis Association National Championships is slated for May 22-25 at Case Tennis Center at LaFortune Park in Tulsa.
The opening ceremony is one of the marquee moments of the North American Indian Tennis Association National Championships, and it includes a prayer before match play begins.
- A youth clinic is one of the several ways generations connect at the North American Indian Tennis Association National Championships.
- The 50th anniversary of the North American Indian Tennis Association National Championships is slated for May 22-25 at Case Tennis Center at LaFortune Park in Tulsa.
- The opening ceremony is one of the marquee moments of the North American Indian Tennis Association National Championships, and it includes a prayer before match play begins.
Festivities begin May 22, with a meet-and-greet scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. Tournament activities resume May 23 with check-in at 8 a.m., followed by an opening ceremony at 8:30 a.m. The opening ceremony includes a prayer, reflecting the cultural traditions that remain central to the event. Match play will begin afterward with the youth clinic scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The day concludes with a banquet and raffle at 6 p.m. at River Spirit Casino Resort. The banquet also includes a prayer and traditional drumming. Tournament play continues May 24, beginning at 9 a.m. Play will roll into May 25 if necessary.
Organizers said one of this year’s tournament events will honor the memory of Fred Johnson, a longtime supporter whose efforts were instrumental in bringing USTA involvement to the tournament. Johnson worked as the USTA diversity manager prior to his passing in 2015. The annual Fred Johnson ALL Stars event for adaptive tennis players is named in his honor.
The NAITA Championships allow Native players to partner with non-Native spouses. The tournament includes singles, doubles and mixed doubles competition across multiple divisions.
In addition to match play, NAITA events traditionally feature youth clinics and outreach programs aimed at introducing the sport to younger players and expanding access within Native communities.
The 2027 NAITA Championships are scheduled to be held in Reno, Nev.
Learn more about the 2026 NAITA Junior Championships here and the Adult Championships here.
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