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< Back Angelo Baca Angelo Baca Diné/Hopi Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2022 Angelo Baca is a cultural activist, scholar, filmmaker and currently a doctoral student in anthropology at New York University. He is the cultural resources coordinator at Utah Diné Bikéyah, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the defense and protection of culturally significant ancestral lands. The National Parks Conservation Association recently designated him as one of “10 Under 40” dynamic cultural activists who make up the association’s Next Generation Advisory Council. He has published a widely read op-ed in the New York Times. Shash Jaa’: Bears Ears is Angelo Baca’s latest award-winning film about the five tribes of the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition that worked together to protect 1.9 million acres of Utah wilderness through a national monument designation. His work reflects a long-standing dedication to both Western and Indigenous knowledge. Baca is also the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Champion in Cross Country and on the outdoor track in the 3000 meters steeplechase and 5000 meters in 2002-03. He also is a seven-time NJCAA All American in Cross Country, Track and the Half Marathon. Currently, he is training for trail races and long distances runs across Indigenous landscapes in Navajo country. <Back

< Back Eden Wilson Eden Wilson Métis Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2026 Eden Wilson is a Canadian bobsleigh athlete from mixed ethnic parentage, of Black, European and Indigenous ancestry. Although born in Manitoba, Eden grew up in Calgary, Alberta, where she attended Mount Royal University and received a bachelor’s degree in Sport and Recreation Management in 2019. Eden earned her spot on the Canadian National Bobsleigh Team in 2020 and has competed in both the pilot and brakeman positions. Over the past six years, Eden has competed in numerous race circuits each year including North American Cups, (a 4x Gold Medalist, 6x Silver and 6x Bronze Medalist), Pan-American Cup Championship (Silver Medalist), the Europe Cup in Germany and Austria and the World Cup in Lillehammer. Eden continues to race on the World Cup Competition circuit again in the 2025/26 season in Italy, Austria, Germany, Norway and Latvia, as she accelerates towards her goal of representing Canada at the 2026 Olympic Games in Cortina, Italy. Off the ice, Eden combines her passion for athletic excellence with a deep commitment to community empowerment. She actively supports youth development through her full-time work with the non-profit organization, KidSport, helping to remove financial barriers enabling children to experience the benefits of organized sport. As a Classroom Champions mentor, Eden shares her journey and life lessons with students across Canada, encouraging them to set goals, stay active and believe in their potential. Since 2021, as an RBC Olympian Ambassador, Eden’s travels throughout Canada attending speaking engagements as keynote, motivational and guest speaker where she advocates for inclusive and fair opportunity in Sport for Indigenous Athletes. In addition, she also visits remote communities throughout Canada including Alberta, BC, northern Manitoba and the NWTs through RBC Training Ground to find athletic potential in young individuals who would otherwise not have the same access to participate. Driven by her heritage and the power of sport to unite and uplift, Eden continues to be a role model for Indigenous youth and a champion for inclusive opportunities in athletics. <Back

Kyle Ḵaayák’w Worl Category Athlete Tribe Tlingit, Deg Hit’an Athabascan and Yup'ik Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 3/16/1991 Kyle Ḵaayák’w Worl is an award-winning Arctic Sports athlete and coach currently residing in Juneau, Alaska. Worl is Tlingit of the Lukaax̱.ádi clan, Deg Hit’an Athabascan and Yup'ik. Over his 13 year career in the sport he has won over 100 medals, traveling through Alaska, Canada and Greenland to participate in various competitions. He is credited for spurring a renaissance in Arctic Sports in southeast Alaska as the first coach for Juneau in over 25 years to bring a team to the Native Youth Olympics in 2018. Along with training and coaching year-round in Alaska, Worl travels across the world to share Arctic Sports, including the Riddu Riddu Festival in Norway, Orenda Art International Gallery in Paris, and Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. Currently, Worl works with the Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska as the Wellness Coordinator, overseeing a region-wide Traditional Games program. A few of his accolades include being featured in October 2019 Men’s Health Magazine; 2018 & 2019 NYO Games Alaska Healthy Coach Award; 2021, 2018, 2017 & 2016 World Eskimo Indian Olympics Outstanding Athlete Award. Arctic Sports are a collection of Indigenous games based on hunting and survival skills of the north. The games trained both physical and mental abilities that allowed the indigenous people of Alaska, Canada, Greenland and Chukotka to thrive in the Arctic for millennia. Today athletes from across the Arctic and beyond carry on the tradition of the games in events such as Native Youth Olympics, World Eskimo-Indian Olympic, and Arctic Winter Games. Photos: Nobu Koch, Sealaska Heritage and Greg Lincoln, Delta Discovery. Home 2026 Banquet About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

< Back Dr. Gregory Redhouse Dr. Gregory Redhouse Diné Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete/Coach 2023 Dr. Gregory Redhouse began competing in collegiate archery tournaments in 1992 while attending Navajo Community College (renamed Diné College). He believes that archery cultivates focus and concentration; improves hand-eye coordination; increases upper body strength; enhances team-building skills; promotes self-confidence; and helps relieve stress. He also acknowledges that his collegiate archery training made him a better marksman while serving in the U.S. Marines. During his first year as Head Archery Coach at Diné College (DC), Redhouse advocated for and recruited more women archers in order to fulfill the Title IX federal compliance in collegiate sports. He also incorporated DC’s first Compound Bow Team to compliment DC’s long-running Olympic-Recurve Bow Team. Between 2001 and 2007, Redhouse produced several State champions, Western Regional Champions, Rookie of the Year honors, and All-American Collegiate Archers. In time, he departed collegiate archery in order to pursue a Ph.D. as well as garnering other teaching opportunities with Navajo Technical University (NTU), Tohono O’odham Community College (TOCC), Pima Community College (PCC), and the University of Arizona (UA). Since August of 2019, Redhouse returned to the Navajo Nation and currently serves as Assistant Professor of Economics within DC’s School of Business and Social Science. Moreover, he will instruct archery courses under DC’s Native American Studies (NAS) minor program. This NAS approach to archery, taught at a tribal college, will allow for students to engage with traditional ways of knowing – where the bow and the arrow will serve as their teachers and their lessons will be built from stories of our Indigenous ancestors. Redhouse currently focuses upon Navajo youth and the next generation of Native American archers by sponsoring the Twin Warriors Archery Club; a Junior Olympic Archery Development (JOAD) program sanctioned by USA Archery, the national governing body for the Olympic Sport of Archery. <Back

< Back Jim "Jake" Maloney Jim "Jake" Maloney Sipe’kneketik First Nation, Nova Scotia, Canada Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Jim “Jake” Maloney is a Karate Master Rank and 10th Degree Black Belt training uninterrupted for 55 years beginning in 1963. Jim is the first person in Canada to reach the rank of Black belt in Uechi Ryu Karate, in 1967, and in 1970 brought Uechi Ryu Karate to Canada. Jim grew up in Sipe’kneketik First Nation, Nova Scotia, Canada. At the young age of 16, Jim moved to Boston, Massachusetts and he soon found the Mattson Academy of Karate. The Academy was the founder of Uechi Ryu in the United States and when George Mattson took Jim in under his care, Jim found exactly what he was looking for. Jim studied alongside some of the most decorated competitors in the sport. Jim’s first instructor was Van Canna, one of the top tournament competitors in the Northeastern United States. Jim trained under George Mattson, when Mattson singled him out and provided special attention to his training. Jim began and quickly became, “one of the top kumite competitors”. Jim was an undefeated New England champion in free fighting and cement breaking competitions (1967 -1973). As an official representative to Okinawa, Japan for Canada in the Uechi Ryu Karate Association, Jim has trained more than 16,000 students internationally spanning over four decades, while developing and training hundreds of fighting champions on full contact basis. Jim Maloney has organized and operate the first independent, all Aboriginal training institute in Canada named the First Nation Tribal Justice Institute. The Institute is responsible for training hundreds of First Nation peoples across Canada. Jim Maloney is a living legend, having already been recognized, honored and inducted into the Mi’kmaq Sports Hall of Fame in 2016, the Canadian Black Belt Hall of Fame in 2018 and the East Hants Sport Hall of Fame in 2020. <Back

< Back Maurice “Mo” Smith Maurice “Mo” Smith Navajo Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2022 Maurice “Mo” Smith is the Executive Director for the Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake (UICSL). Mo is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who grew up in an urban Indian community in Denver, CO. He has been a “friend” to Indian Country for many years, better known for his work and accomplishments while serving as the Executive Director for the Native American Sports Council, a member-organization of the United States Olympic Committee. His passion and inspiration for his work today stems from his identity of a friend to Indian Country, better known for his work with the Native American Sports Council in the area of Sports and Wellness; hosting the largest sports and cultural celebration of North America, the 2006 North American Indigenous Games (7,000+ athletes). Maurice “Mo” Smith is the first documented enrolled tribal member to break the sub-four minute mile with a personal best of 3:55. Mo is from the Navajo Nation and grew up in an urban Indian community in Denver, CO. Mo is a five-time NAIA National Champion in Track & Field (800 & 1,500 Meters) while attending Adams State College in Alamosa, Colorado. Competed in 1988, 1992 and 1996 Olympic Track & Field Trials. Responsible for hosting and administrating the 2006 North American Indigenous Games in Denver, Colorado. Completed five Marathons including the 2021 Boston Marathon in October during Indigenous Peoples Day. Mr. Smith obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Adams State College and a Masters of Arts with a concentration in Non-Profit Management from Regis University. Originally from Colorado, Mr. Smith has lived and worked in various parts of the country including New Mexico, Montana, Arizona, Washington, no residing in Washington DC. His past employment experiences include serving as the Executive Director of the American Indian Business Leaders, the Director of Programs and Government Contracts for the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, Inc., the Executive Director of the Native American Sports Council, the Program Manager for the United States Olympic Committee and the Development Director of Wings of America. Mountain trail running, play in charity golf tournaments, and spending time with his two children and four grandchildren are a few of his past times. <Back

Officials Michael Thomas St. Croix Ojibwe

< Back James Francis Thorpe James Francis Thorpe Sac and Fox Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 James Francis Thorpe was born near Prague, Oklahoma. He was born to Hiram Thorpe, a farmer, and Charlotte Vieux, a Pottawatomie Indian and descendant of the last great Sauk and Fox chief Black Hawk, a noted warrior and athlete. Jim was actually born a twin, but his brother Charlie died at the age of nine. His Indian name, Wa-Tho-Huk, translated to “Bright Path.” In 1904, Thorpe started school at Carlisle Industrial Indian School in Pennsylvania. Thorpe began his athletic career at Carlisle, both playing football and running track. He was selected as a third-team All-American in 1908, and in 1909 and 1910 he made the first team. Football legend Glenn “Pop” Warner coached Thorpe at Carlisle. Thorpe competed in the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm, Sweden. He won the pentathlon and the decathlon and set records that would stand for decades. Thorpe’s glorious Olympic wins were jeopardized in 1913 when it surfaced that he had played two semi-professional seasons of baseball. Ultimately, it was decided that his baseball experience adversely affected his amateur status in the track and field events. His name was removed from the record books and his gold medals were taken away. Thorpe moved on after the Olympic ordeal and signed to play baseball for the New York Giants. He played outfield with New York for three seasons before playing with the Cincinnati Reds in 1917. He played 77 games with the Reds before finally returning to the Giants for an additional 26 games. In 1919, he played his final season in major league baseball, ending on the Boston Braves team. During much of his baseball years, Thorpe also played professional football for the Canton (Ohio) Bulldogs from 1915 until 1920 and with the Cleveland Indians in 1921. In the years following, he organized, coached and played with the Oorang Indians, a professional football team comprised of American Indians. Additionally, he was instrumental in forming the American Professional Football Association, and eventually became the president of the group. Through the years, the association evolved into today’s NFL. In all, Thorpe played with six different teams during his career in pro football, ending with a stint with the Chicago Cardinals in 1929. Two monumental honors were bestowed unto Thorpe in 1950 when he was named “the greatest American football player” and the “greatest overall male athlete” by the Associated Press. Thorpe died on March 28, 1953 of a heart attack. Thorpe’s medals were finally restored to him posthumously in 1982. In addition, and most importantly to his family, his name was put back into the record books. In 1950, the nation’s press selected Jim Thorpe as the most outstanding athlete of the first half of the 20th Century and in 1996-2001, he was awarded ABC’s Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Century. <Back

< Back Alexis Desjarlait Alexis Desjarlait Red Lake Band of Ojibwe Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Alexis Desjarlait has been involved with athletics since she could remember. She was on the Bemidji Bombers traveling team from 3rd grade until 5th grade then attending her first year of AAU basketball. In between that time frame, she was on the Bemidji Blaze fastpitch team as well. Desjarlait played volleyball, basketball and softball for six years at a varsity level and carried that three-sport athletics at Hibbing Community College (HCC). The 2018 high school graduate scored 2,190 points for Red Lake to rank second in program history and also had a total of 995 rebounds. The Warriors had a 129-25 record during her career and headlined the programs first-ever run to the state tournament in 2017. The success carried over with her 44-13 record at HCC. In two seasons as a Cardinal, Desjarlait scored a school-record 1,057 points and grabbed 512 rebounds. She was the All-Region XIII MVP and an NJCAA Division III All-American honorable mention selection in 2019-20. Desjarlait also earned spots on the Minnesota College Athletic Conference’s All-Northern Division First Team and All-State First Team in both her freshman and sophomore campaigns, and she cracked the MCAC All-Defensive Team during the 2020 season. In 2018-19, she led the Cardinals to their first-ever national tournament appearance. Desjarlait was also awarded Region XIII MVP 2020. She is now a junior at NCAA Division III Concordia University Chicago. <Back

< Back Scott Murray Scott Murray Oneida Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete/Coach 2025 Scott Murray was born on November 25, 1955, in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, living there until the age of 10 before his family moved to Grafton. During his time at Grafton High School, he was a two-time All Conference stand out athlete who lettered in five sports: basketball, baseball, golf, cross country, and track. Scott attended Milton College where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation Management. He was a three-year starter in basketball, scored 1,000 points in his college career and was selected as an All-WICA and All-District collegiate athlete. During his college basketball career, he was invited to play in Costa Rica and later played professional basketball in San Jose, Costa Rica. During his off time in Costa Rica, he was an English teacher. Scott was later inducted into the Milton College Hall of Fame. Scott’s college coach, Dale Race, who coached hundreds of student athletes in his long career, made it clear that number 11 was one of his finest student athletes ever, both on and off the court. He said in his 40 years of coaching, Scott was one of the best, Scott Murray was a champion. For many years, and up to the time of his death on December 18, 2015, Scott was the Area Manager of Fitness and Recreation for the Oneida Nation where he is an enrolled member. In addition to his important role in fitness and recreation, Scott was the well-loved and longtime Head Boys Basketball Coach at the Oneida Nation High School. He also coached the Wisconsin Boys Basketball team at the Native American Indigenous Games where they won the Gold Medal twice. While Scott was an exceptional athlete in high school, college, and at the recreational level, it was not without having to overcome an amazing challenge in life. Early in his high school years, Scott lost three fingers in a shop class. In spite of that traumatic experience his athlete resume’ was amazing. In his post high school and professional basketball years, he continued to be an outstanding recreational athlete regularly competing in basketball, softball, and golf. While competing locally and nationally, Scott was a part of many local and national championships which included three National Championship titles at the National Indian Athletic Association (NIAA) 40 and over tournament. He was selected as the Co-MVP at the 40 and over national NIAA Championship in 1999. Scott Murray passed away on the worksite doing what he loved to do. As the Area Manager of Recreation, Scott took the Nation to another level while constantly working towards making our Nation a better place. Whether it was empowering our youth to become great student athletes or building our future in recreation and sports, Scott cared about the Oneida Nation community. The Oneida Nation Fitness Center gym is now named the Scott Murray Gym in honor of his commitment. <Back

< Back Cheri Madsen Cheri Madsen Omaha Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Cheri Madsen was born in Omaha, Nebraska and her hometown is Nebraska City, Nebraska. Madsen represented the United States as a four-time Paralympian (1996, 2000, 2016, and 2020) and ten-time Paralympic medalist (2 golds, 5 silvers, and 3 bronzes). She participated in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games earning silver (400-meter) and bronze (100-meter) places; the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games Rio 2016, earning silver (400-meter) and fifth (100-meter) places; the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games earning gold (100-meter, 400-meter), silver (200-meter), and fourth (800-meter) places; the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games earning silver (100-meter, 200-meter) and bronze (400-meter, 800-meter) places; and the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games earning bronze (800-meter exhibition race) place. Madsen’s World Championship experience includes in 2019 bronze (100-meter) and fifth (400-meter) places. She participated in 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019. She earned seven medals including three silver and four bronze: Silver – 2017 (100-meter, 200-meter); 2015 (200-meter) Bronze – 2019 (100m), 2017 (400m), 2013 (200m, 400m) Bronze – 2019 (100-meter); 2017 (400-meter); 2013 (200-meter, 400-meter) Personal: Daughter of Mario and Mary Becerra...Mother to Reese and Malayna Madsen...Married Eric Madsen on June 2, 2001...Was left paralyzed by an unknown virus at age three...Began wheelchair racing in 1994 and qualified for her first Paralympic Games just two years later in Atlanta...First Native American female to win an Olympic exhibition bronze medal...Her 1996 Olympic and Paralympic pursuits were chronicled in a Nebraska Educational Television documentary entitled “The Cheri Becerra Story: God Made Her for This Sport”...Left racing for 13 years, returning to competition for the 2013 world championships in memory of her younger brother, Mario III, and their father, Mario Jr., who were killed in a car-train crash in 2007...Hobbies include scrapbooking, reading and watching her daughters compete in sports. <Back

< Back Stevie Ray Doxtator Stevie Ray Doxtator Oneida Nation Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2026 Born on January 26, 1997, Stevie Doxtator began his martial arts journey at the age of 12, training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. From a young age, Stevie showed discipline, focus, and a strong work ethic, qualities that would later define his athletic career. By the time he turned 18, he had earned his purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, demonstrating years of dedication to the art of grappling and self-improvement. After finishing school, Stevie took some time away from competition to focus on work, but his passion for martial arts never left. Within a couple of years, he returned to training—this time immersing himself fully in Muay Thai, also known as the art of eight limbs. Over the past five years, Stevie has dedicated himself to mastering the striking discipline, training full-time and competing across Canada. Through relentless effort and determination, Stevie rose to become one of the country’s most respected Indigenous combat athletes. He currently holds a record of 12 fights and was crowned Canadian National Muay Thai Champion in the 71-kilogram division in 2025. His achievements represent not only his personal dedication but also pride and inspiration for his Indigenous community. Stevie’s talent and impact have been recognized throughout his career. He was honored with the Indigenous Fighter of the Year Award in 2022 and received Montreal’s Fighter of the Year Award in 2020, marking his consistency, sportsmanship, and excellence inside and outside the ring. Balancing humility with fierce competitiveness, Stevie continues to grow as both an athlete and role model. His journey from a young martial artist to a national champion stands as a testament to perseverance, cultural pride, and passion for combat sports. Through his accomplishments, Stevie hopes to inspire the next generation of Indigenous athletes to chase their dreams and represent their heritage with strength and honor. <Back