Shiyazh Pete to meet fans at Albuquerque Indigenous Peoples Day event
Former NFL lineman Shiyazh Pete will greet fans in Albuquerque during an Indigenous Peoples Day community gathering on Monday to celebrate his career.
Shiyazh Pete will greet community members during a planned appearance in Albuquerque on Monday. The former NFL rookie offensive lineman continues to connect with supporters across the region. He is currently a free agent seeking his next opportunity in professional football.
Pete signed with the Dallas Cowboys earlier this year. He became the first member of the Navajo Nation to sign with an NFL team. He played six snaps in an August preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals.
Thousands of supporters traveled from across the Navajo Nation to watch his debut. Fans waved tribal flags during the matchup. They cheered the affirmation word “yéego.”
Pete received a standing ovation as he walked back to the sideline. The Cowboys later waived him from the roster. He then returned home to thank his supporters.
He surprised students during a homecoming pep rally at Shiprock High School. That school is his alma mater. Pete also led the Northern Navajo Nation Fair Parade as grand marshal.
Native athletes set records across sports
Pete joins generations of Indigenous athletes who opened doors in national competitions. Sac and Fox Nation citizen Jim Thorpe won Olympic decathlon and pentathlon gold medals in 1912. He also competed in Major League Baseball and professional football.
Hopi runner Louis Tewanima ran alongside Thorpe at Carlisle Indian Industrial School. Tewanima took silver in the 10,000 meters at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics. That finish set an American record.
Native Hawaiian swimmer Duke Kahanamoku won Olympic medals between 1912 and 1924. He introduced ocean surfing to audiences worldwide. He later served as Honolulu sheriff from 1935 to 1961.
Narragansett runner Ellison Myers “Tarzan” Brown won the Boston Marathon in 1936 and 1939. Brown ran for the United States during the 1936 Berlin Olympics. World War II canceled the planned 1940 games.
Oglala Lakota athlete Billy Mills took Olympic gold in the 10,000 meters in 1964. His upset victory set an Olympic record. No other American runner has matched that gold medal finish.
Marathoner Patti Catalano Dillon is of Mi’kmaw heritage. She became the first American woman to break two hours and 30 minutes in a marathon. Dillon claimed second-place finishes in New York and Boston.
Players build professional basketball and golf careers
Ryneldi Becenti became the first Native American WNBA player in 1997. She played for the Phoenix Mercury. Becenti developed her skills playing basketball on the Navajo Nation.
Aaliyah Nye is a member of the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi. The Las Vegas Aces drafted her in 2025. She now plays for the Los Angeles Sparks.
Golfer Notah Begay III won four PGA Tour events between 1999 and 2000. He holds Navajo, San Felipe and Isleta ancestry. Begay established a foundation supporting youth wellness programs and works as an analyst.
Public gatherings for regional athletic figures give tribal communities opportunities to celebrate representation. Fans often gather at municipal venues to share greetings and secure autographs. Cities host these sessions to highlight regional sporting figures.
Pete will meet the public during the Monday community gathering in Albuquerque. Supporters plan to attend the city event to celebrate his achievements.
