(Photo by Matthew Casey - KJZZ)

Percy Piestewa, mother of the first Native American woman to die in combat, hugs a basketball player from Tuba City after the opening cermonies for the Lori Piestewa National Native American Games.

(Photo by Matthew Casey - KJZZ)

Terry (left) and Percy Piestewa take questions from reporters about the games named for their daughter, Lori. Terry is a Vietnam Veteran and Percy once tried out for the Olympics. They've been married for almost 50 years.

Indigenous athletes traveled to the Valley from as far away as Quebec to take part in the Lori Piestewa National Native American Games last weekend.

The event has grown so much that organizers moved opening ceremonies to a bigger venue for the fourth straight year. But it was still crowded inside the gym at Cicero Preparatory Academy in Scottsdale, where male and female athletes of all ages registered for softball, baseball, basketball, volleyball and cross country.

The games are named for Lori Piestewa, who was a multi-sport athlete and the first Native American woman to die in combat.

“Her purpose in life was to bring people together in peace and harmony,” said her mother, Percy Piestewa.

Lori’s legacy helped draw about 3,300 athletes from nearly 100 tribes. Her father said she once earned top-honors in a three-state athletic competition, but Lori didn’t like being in the spotlight.

“The recognition part was very hard for her to take,” said Terry Piestewa. “I don’t know why.”

Basketball had the most participants in this year’s games. Officials say they may add golf and archery next year.