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Earl Sargent Category Athlete Tribe Red Lake Band of Ojibwe Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 2/1/1955 - 8/4/2012 Earl excelled in high school sports for Bemidji High School, lettering in football, hockey and baseball. In 1973 he was pitcher for the Lumberjacks baseball team, he threw a no hitter first game of the tournament, and they then went on to win the State Tournament. His high school resume includes four trips to the state baseball tournament. Hockey was his first love, and after High School he pursued his hockey career. He signed with the Fargo/Moorhead Sugar Kings 1973-1975, where he was selected to play on the U.S. National Hockey team in Leningrad, Russia. He played one year each in the minor hockey leagues as a winger for the Minnesota North Stars, Detroit Red Wings and Albuquerque Chaparrals. He also played with teams in San Diego and Pennsylvania. Home About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact Nomination More

Drew Bucktooth Category Athlete Tribe Oneida Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 2/3/1981 Drew Bucktooth is a lacrosse and hockey player from the Onondaga Nation in upstate NY. As a member of the Syracuse Stars hockey team he played against the highest level and won back to back state championships, a national championship and a world championship and was MVP of the world championship game. As a 16 year old, Drew was selected for the United States National team but was drafted and played in the OHL instead but still played for Team USA in international competitions and was named the team captain. In lacrosse, the first goal Drew ever scored was on his own goalie, but he made sure to do it correctly after that. As an eighth grader Drew led the varsity lacrosse team in scoring, as a ninth grader he led his league in scoring. As a 10th grader Drew once again led his team in scoring and earned All American, one of only two lacrosse players in NY state history to earn the title of All American as a 10th grader. When Drew was 15 he competed with the Iroquois Nationals in the U19 world lacrosse championships in Japan, although Drew was the youngest player there, he led the tournament in scoring and was named to the All World Team. A few years later the Lacrosse World Championships were held in Australia, and again Drew was named to the All World Team and has the distinction as the only person in history to make the U19 All World Team twice. As a member of the Onondaga RedHawks, his team captured the Presidents cup twice, which is the Canadian National box lacrosse championship. These days Drew can still be found in and out of hockey rinks and lacrosse fields coaching his four sons, Blake, Gavin, Dylan and Cruze. Home About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact Nomination More

Jack Powless Category Athlete Tribe Oneida Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 8/14/1961 Jack Powless is a tribal member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. A Air Force veteran with over 20 years of service (including 6 years in special operations) where he earned many awards, and recognitions, including the title of the United States Air Force Athlete of The Year, in 1992. After receiving his Fitness Specialist Certification, through the American College of Sports Medicine, he was assigned to develop fitness programs for special operations. He has represented his tribe, and the US Air Force, in multiple sports including triathlons, XTERRA (MTB triathlons), mountain and road cycling, running, swimming, and adventure racing. Some of his accomplishments include the following achievements - A veteran of 15 ironman triathlons, including 7 Hawaii Ironman World Championships. - All Military Ironman World Champion- 3 times (at Hawaii Ironman World Champs). - Florida State Mountain Bike Champion- vet. expert division. - Guam Seiko International Marathon Champion- 3 consecutive years. - Calistoga 50 Mile Endurance Trail Race- 4th place overall (8:20:00). His coaching certifications, including: -USA Triathlon level 2, -USA Cycling level 3, -USA Track & Field Association Level 1. -Fitness Specialist- ACSM Jack has been an avid leader in his community by volunteering, and coaching: Youth Soccer Teams Youth, and Masters Swim Teams Youth, High School, and Collegiate Track and Field Teams Youth High School and collegiate Cross Country Teams Youth, High School and Adult Mountain bike Teams Youth triathlon teams Along with coaching numerous National Champions, he was instrumental in qualifying over 300 youth cross country athletes to USATF Junior Olympics/National Championships. He also coached his daughter, Shayna Powless and son, Neilson Powless to become multi National Champions in mountain biking, XTERRA, and road cycling. Currently, both are professional cyclists, and representing the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. SSGT Jack Powless and wife Jeanette Allred-Powless, USMSA (US Military Sports Association) Photo: Terri Galarneaux Head Shot Photo: Jack Powless Home About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact Nomination More

Empowered Youth Development Initiatives Presents.... 2023 and 2022 North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame Meet and Greet Session Canterbury Park Expo Center, Shakopee, Minnesota, USA: https://www.canterburypark.com/ ​ ​ No Cost to Attend and the General Public Is Invited – Free Parking – Children Need Adult Supervision Saturday, September 9, 2023 from 1:30 to 3:00 pm at Canterbury Park Expo Center: https://www.canterburyparkevents.com/venues/expo-center/ The North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame will recognize the classes of 2023 and the inaugural 2022 inductees in a general public meet, greet and mingle session. By honoring and celebrating the empowered journey of these individuals and teams, the hope is their stories may inspire future generations to follow their dreams in athletics. Meet and Greet Agenda 1:30 to 2:45 pm General Public Meet and Greet Session with Attending 2023 and Inaugural 2022 NAIAHF Inductees Emcee: Susan Ninham 2:45 to 3:00 pm Closing Ceremonies Co-Emcees: Dr. Dan and Susan Ninham Traveling Song: Tuwe Sece Kun Drum, Prairie Island Dakota Sponsors Title – Empowered Youth Development Initiatives Gold Medal – Bald Eagle Erectors, Inc. Bronze Medal – Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Boxing Commission Department of Regulation Bronze Medal – Indian Gaming Association Bronze Medal – 7G Foundation Note Consider going to the horse races at 3:00 pm and the at door admission is $10 per adult and $8 per child from five years old; the horse races are family friendly Information: Dr. Dan Ninham, cell: 218.368.6430 or coach.danninham@gmail.com Check out all the inductees on the NAIAHF website: https://www.naiahf.org/ including these Banquet Attendees and families of posthumous inductees: Ryneldi Becenti, Robert “Bob” Gawboy, Jerry Tuckwin, Edison Eskeets, Alvin Begay Jr., Mark D. Williams, L.A. Williams, Ross Anderson, Naomi Lang, James Walker, Gerald (Jerry) Gourneau, Donny Belcourt, Ayanna O’Kimosh, Dano Thorne, Michael Robinson, Theodore Niizhotay Fontaine, Michael Linklater, Brian Chrupalo, Steve McDonald, Matt Roberson, Jason Taylor, Jolene Nagy, Lacey Baker, Danielle Dawson, Margaret Badger, Devan Williams, Victoria Marchard, Angelo Baca, Becki Wells-Staley, Brady Fairbanks, Carol Hull, David Powless, Earl Sargent, Eddie Lone Eagle, Ernie Stevens Jr., George “Comanche Boy” Tahdooahnippah, Henry Boucha, Katie Taylor, Kyle Khaayák’w Worl, Leanne Sirup, Martin F. Wheelock, Maurice “Mo” Smith, 7G Foundation, Bennae Calac, Denise Tsadeyohdi Waterman, Wilton Littlechild, Michael Thomas, Ron Brown, William (Bill) Wasden Sr., Jim Warnee Jr., Jack Powless, Tom Gardipy Jr., Niki Goodwin, Brianna Mazzolini-Blanchard, Harry Rice, and Kiara Peterson.

Gewas Schindler Category Athlete Tribe Oneida Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 3/28/1976 Gewas Schindler is a Haudenosaunee Oneida Nation citizen and a member of the Turtle Clan. He grew up playing multiple sports under the tutelage of his grandfather, Chief Paul Waterman, on the Onondaga Nation. Gewas played the Creator’s game, this game has world-renowned origins within the Haudenosaunee culture known as Dehontsigwiseh - "bumping hips" is called lacrosse, currently played collegiately, internationally, and at pre-Olympic levels today. Gewas worked for the National Hockey League Phoenix Coyotes and the National Lacrosse League Arizona Sting in marketing, the professional Rochester Nighthawks Lacrosse organization as Governor and he served five years on the National Lacrosse League Board of Governors along with serving on their Marketing Committee, Player Relations Committee, and the Collective Bargaining Agreement Unit. In 2012 Gewas Schindler received the NCAIED (The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development) 40 Under 40 National Business Award, and the Rocky Mountain Indian Chamber of Commerce Award in 2010. Gewas Schindler attended Loyola University in Baltimore, Maryland, concentrating in Communications and Marketing. As a student-athlete at Loyola, he earned lacrosse accolades earning 3X Division 1 All American Attackman awards. He was a 3X Iroquois Nationals World Team Captain who worked as a professional athlete in the National Lacrosse League and the Major Lacrosse League for eight years. Gewas Schindler competed in seven more World Lacrosse Championships and made eight Iroquois National World Team Rosters. In 2021, as General Manager, the Haudenosaunee U-15 Team won a Gold Medal in the IIJL World Championship, and the Haudenosaunee U-17 Team followed with a Gold Medal. Gewas’ role as an organization builder for youth lacrosse led him to serve as a Lacrosse Ambassador traveling to numerous countries such as Australia, Japan, Thailand, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, England, Mexico, Switzerland, Haudenosaunee, Indigenous Territories, Canada, and the United States to support, advise, and to leave a sport the indigenous people gave to the world community of lacrosse. Gewas’ family includes his wife Tia, and four children, Lawson, Madex, Kohen, and Kimaura. Home About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact Nomination More

Joy SpearChief-Morris Category Athlete Tribe Blackfoot (Blood Kainai) Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 3/17/1994 Joy is an Indigenous Black Canadian writer, advocate, and athlete. She is a proud member of the Kainai Blood Tribe and grew up in Lethbridge, Alberta. Joy is a retired 100m hurdler in athletics, three-time Canadian National Championship finalist and two-time Team Canada member. As a member of Team Canada, she is a 2014 North American Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) U23 silver medalist and a fifth place finisher at the 2019 FISU World Universidad. She has sat on the AthletesCAN Board of Directors and Athletics Canada’s Athletes Council, and now sits on the AthletesCAN Diversity and Equity Advisory Committee. Joy has achieved several notable accolades. Most notably, she was the 2016 and 2017 OUA Female Track MVP, 2017 USports Student-Athlete Community Service Award winner, 2017 Tom Longboat Award winner and the featured cover athlete for the 2019 May/June issue of Canadian Running Magazine. Joy has a Bachelor’s degree in History and First Nations Studies and a Master’s degree in Political Science specializing in Transitional Justice and Post-Conflict Reconstruction from Western University. Joy is now pursuing a career as a journalist, having bylines in The Globe and Mail and CBC Sports. She is currently in the Master of Journalism program at Carleton University. Home About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact Nomination More

Media Sunnie R. Clahchischiligi Diné (Navajo)

< Back Joy SpearChief-Morris ​ ​ ​ Joy SpearChief-Morris Blackfoot (Kanai) Induction Category: Year Inducted D.O.B. ​ Athlete 2022 ​ ​ Joy is an Indigenous Black Canadian writer, advocate, and athlete. She is a proud member of the Kainai Blood Tribe and grew up in Lethbridge, Alberta. Joy is a retired 100m hurdler in athletics, three-time Canadian National Championship finalist and two-time Team Canada member. As a member of Team Canada, she is a 2014 North American Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) U23 silver medalist and a fifth place finisher at the 2019 FISU World Universidad. She has sat on the AthletesCAN Board of Directors and Athletics Canada’s Athletes Council, and now sits on the AthletesCAN Diversity and Equity Advisory Committee. Joy has achieved several notable accolades. Most notably, she was the 2016 and 2017 OUA Female Track MVP, 2017 USports Student-Athlete Community Service Award winner, 2017 Tom Longboat Award winner and the featured cover athlete for the 2019 May/June issue of Canadian Running Magazine. Joy has a Bachelor’s degree in History and First Nations Studies and a Master’s degree in Political Science specializing in Transitional Justice and Post-Conflict Reconstruction from Western University. Joy is now pursuing a career as a journalist, having bylines in The Globe and Mail and CBC Sports. She is currently in the Master of Journalism program at Carleton University. <Back

Sam McCracken Category Builder Tribe Sioux and Assiniboine, Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 7/19/1960 Sam McCracken, is a member of the Sioux and Assiniboine tribes in northeastern Montana on the Ft. Peck Indian Reservation and the General Manager of Nike N7. He also serves as the Vice Chair of the board for the Center for Native American Youth. McCracken started with Nike in 1997. He became the Manager of Nike’s Native American Business in 2000 and led the development of the Nike Air Native N7 shoe, the retail collection and the fund which provides access to sport for Native American and Indigenous youth in North America. Since 2009, the fund has awarded more than $8 million in grants to Tribal communities, reaching more than 500,000 youth. McCracken received Nike’s Bowerman Award in 2004, named after Nike co-founder and track and field coach Bill Bowerman. He was honored by the Freedom Foundation at Valley Forge with the George Washington Honor Medal in 2004. In 2007, he was coined a "corporate change maker" and named among the 20 most innovative global “Intrapreneurs” by sustainability.com. He worked with Nike to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Indian Health Service in 2003 and 2009, and with the Bureau of Indian Education in 2010 bringing access to sport for Native American communities. He was appointed by President Barack Obama to the U.S. Department of Education’s National Advisory Council on Indian Education in 2010 and received the President’s "Leadership Award" from the National Indian Gaming Association in 2010. More recently, McCracken and N7 received the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development’s 2019 Corporate Business of the Year award and in 2020, McCracken was inducted into the Montana Indian Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2022, McCracken was honored by the World Economic Forum as the Schwab Foundation’s Social Intrapreneur of the Year. Home About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact Nomination More

< Back Ryneldi Becenti ​ ​ ​ Ryneldi Becenti Navajo Induction Category: Year Inducted D.O.B. ​ Athlete 2023 August 11, 1971 ​ Ryneldi Becenti is Navajo from the Navajo Reservation. She has been playing basketball since she was five years old. She always had the passion, love, determination and commitment to be the best. She played collegiate and professional basketball and is retired now to continue to give back to the youth. Becenti played basketball at Window Rock High School (AZ) and Scottsdale Community College (AZ) where she was a two-time NJCAA All American. She was a two-time first team All Pac 10 and honorable mention All American at Arizona State University before she turned pro after two seasons. In 1983 she played in Sweden and also played in Greece and Turkey. In 1997 she played for the Phoenix Mercury and also was drafted with the Chicago Condor in 1998. Becenti was also a bronze medalist at the 1983 World University Games. Her induction into the NAIAHF follows five other Hall of Fames she is in including the American Indian Athletic HOF (1996), Arizona State HOF (2004), Arizona High School HOF (2009), Scottsdale Community College HOF (2011), and National Native American HOF (2022). Her Arizona State University #21 was retired on 12-21-2013. <Back

Coaches Cherlyn Dawn Billy Shuswap Nation Gerald “Jerry” Tuckwin Prairie Band Potawatomi Kerry Danforth Oneida Craig Berube Cree Jason Peters Mi’kmaw Mark Burnam Mohawk Dano Thorne,’kwaliquinum’ Coast Salish Cowichan and Nez Perce Kelvin Sampson Lumbee

< Back Terae Briggs ​ ​ ​ Terae Briggs Crow Induction Category: Year Inducted D.O.B. ​ Athlete 2022 April 3, 1997 ​ Terae Briggs is from Pryor, Montana, and it is on the Crow Reservation. Her Indian name is Brings Spring Water. She belongs to the Ties in the Bundle Clan and is a Child of the Big Lodge Clan. Her parents are Terry Briggs and Janel Spotted Bear, and her grandparents Max and Dorothy Spotted Bear helped raise her. She has five siblings, Crystal Briggs, Joshua Briggs, Marcus Spotted Bear, Kimberly Briggs, and Terrilyn Briggs. Briggs played varsity basketball for four years and graduated from Plenty Coups High School in 2015 as the Valedictorian and served as student council president. She earned first team All State and fist team All District 6C her senior year. She went on to play college basketball at United Tribes Technical College (2015-2016), where she was voted the first-ever Most Valuable Player as a freshman for the basketball program at the Region XIII Tournament. She helped lead the UTTC team to win the District’s and the Regional Basketball Tournament. It was UTTC’s first appearance in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Basketball Tournament. She averaged 22.4 points per game and 12.1 rebounds per game and earned second team NJCAA DII All American honors. She received a full basketball scholarship to the University of Nevada (2016-2019) where she played three years and graduated in 2019 with a Bachelors in Human Development and Family Studies. While playing at the University of Nevada, she tallied 993 points and 692 rebounds. Her total rebounds ranks seventh for program history, her career field goal percentage of 51.2 ranks fourth, and 279 made free throws ranks sixth all time. As a senior she started all 31 games, averaged 13.9 points per game and 7.8 rebounds per game, led the team with 10 double-doubles and was named Mountain West All Conference Honorable Mention. Brigg’s went on to play professionally, as a rookie in Sweden for the club Mark Basket until it was shut down mid-season due to COVID-19. She is now playing in Norway for the club Ulriken Eagles. Basketball has taught her so much about life that she can’t wait to share her knowledge and experience with her niece and whomever from my reservation that wants to follow in her path of using basketball as a tool to get a college education. Her goal is to get more opportunities for basketball players who want to further their game. Photos: The University of Nevada Photography and The Ulriken Eagles Photography <Back