Jason Johnson <Back Onondaga Nation, Wolf Clan Induction Category: Year Inducted Coach 2025 Jason Johnson worked with the National Lacrosse League’s (NLL) Rochester Knighthawks for 11 seasons and from 2019 to present with the Halifax Thunderbirds. He served more than 12 years as Assistant Coach and then was the Director of Player Development with Halifax. In 2014, he was a member of the coaching staff that won a league-record third straight NLL Championship. Johnson was named Head Coach for the first Haudenosaunee Nationals Women’s Box lacrosse team capturing the bronze medal at the 2024 World Championships in Utica, NY. Johnson was the General Manager for the Six Nations Arrows in the Ontario Junior “A” Lacrosse League. He was the offensive coach from 2004 to 2006, the team won three consecutive Ontario Championships and advanced to three Minto Cup Finals. He was also an assistant coach in 2009, 2010, 2022, and 2023. Johnson was an assistant coach with the Six Nations Minor in 1995 and coached for the past 30 years. In 2024 he assisted with Six Nations U11 Box team winning their first U11 Provincial “A” championship and in 2023 he was an assistant with Six Nations U9 minors winning their first U9 “A” Provincial Championship. In 2015, he won a gold medal as an assistant coach with Team Ontario at the U15 Field Nationals. As a scout for the Iroquois, they won a silver medal at the 2015 FIL World Indoor Lacrosse Championship. Johnson worked alongside his daughter Tawnie, as an assistant coach, and led the Western Mustangs women's lacrosse team to their fifth straight Ontario University Athletics (OUA) championship. In 2014, he was a scout for the Iroquois Nationals and won a bronze medal at the 2014 FIL World Lacrosse Championship. In 2013, Johnson served as the head coach of the Team Iroquois Midget Box Team, and guided the 15 to 16-year-olds to a silver medal at the STX Midget Lacrosse Championship of Canada. He led the Six Nations Bantams to the gold medal at the 2012 Provincials. Johnson and 2024 NAIAHF inductee Curt Styres received Six Nations Minor Lacrosse Association Coaching Staff of the Year honors after leading the Bantams to the Provincial Championship. In 2012 Johnson worked as an assistant coach for the Iroquois Nationals at the U19 World Championships in Turku, Finland. The Iroquois won bronze and defeated Team USA in pool play to earn its first victory over the Americans in the tournament. Johnson was an assistant coach for the Hamilton Nationals for five seasons and the team advanced to three Major League Lacrosse Championships and won the 2009 title.

< Back Trina Ross Trina Ross Pimicikamak Cree Nation Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2026 Trina Ross, a proud member of Pimicikamak Cree Nation, also known as Cross Lake, Manitoba, spent her formative years in this Northern Manitoba reserve until the age of 22. She then relocated to pursue other opportunities and later established her own family, blessed with four beautiful boys. At 35, Trina embarked on her athletic journey, enrolling in a gym membership to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Inspired by her two sons, who were already members of the Manitoba Canoe & Kayak Centre, Trina discovered her passion for dragon boat racing. She enrolled in the competitive program and rapidly excelled, becoming one of the strongest female paddlers at the club. In the fall of 2022, Trina received a surprise invitation from the Dragonboat Team Canada coach to join the national team and compete in the 2022 International Canoe Dragonboat Federation World Championships in Racice, Czech Republic. Trina accepted the invitation and, alongside Team Canada, participated in both 10-member and 20-member dragon boat races against 15 countries. Their impressive performance yielded eight medals: three gold, one silver, and four bronze. As the sole Indigenous woman competitor, the Pimicikamak Cree Nation flag was prominently displayed alongside the Canadian flag in the Czech Republic. In recognition of her outstanding achievements, Trina received the Order of Sport Excellence in 2022. In 2024, Trina was nominated for the Tom Longboat Award by the Manitoba Aboriginal Sports and Recreation Council, which recognizes the national female Indigenous Athlete of the Year. Trina was presented with this prestigious award at the Canada Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Later that year, Trina participated in her second World Dragonboat Championships with Team Canada in Puerto Princesa, Philippines, securing four silver medals and two bronze medals while competing against 32 countries. In addition to dragon boating, Trina is a competitive canoe paddler, having recently won the 70-mile General Clinton Canoe Regatta, stock boat category in New York State. She continues to participate in canoe racing events throughout Northern Canada, culminating in a successful tour at the end of each season. In April 2025, Trina received the highest honor for a Manitoba indigenous athlete, being inducted into the Manitoba Indigenous Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in recognition of her outstanding achievements. <Back

Anishnabe Iskwewak Team 2025 Induction Category: Year Inducted <Back The Anishnabe Iskwewak broomball team was created in 2024 including only indigenous women from Quebec including Cree, Algonquin, and Atikamekw Nation as there are many talented broomball players within the indigenous communities from Quebec. Many of the players have been playing since the age of five years old until their adulthood as there are many tournaments that are held annually in each community. They are creating an image of unity within the indigenous communities from Quebec but also wanted to encourage physical and mental health within our indigenous women as some of the players are mothers. They hope to inspire the youth to continue to pursue their passion for their careers in broomball and there are many opportunities to look forward to even when you are an adult. The jersey logo was created by Angelina Wabanonik, an Algonquin community member from Anishnabe du Lac Simon. The logo was inspired by unity, and friendship. Also, added to the jersey to spread awareness was the little red dress for Missing and Murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people (MMIWIG+2SLGBTQI). Anishnabe Iskwewak translated to English is “First Nation Women” although Anishnabe and Iskwewak is spelled in different ways for each language in Algonquin, Cree and Atikamekw it still has the same meaning for First Nation Women. Anishnabe Iskwewak attended the World’s Broomball Championship in Mont-Blanc, France on Oct 21-26, 2024, hosted by the International Federation of Broomball Association (IFBA) for the first time. Each player showed great commitment and dedication in working together to attend the tournament being held far from home, most travelling overseas for the first time. There were many obstacles, but the team was very optimistic even with 13 players. With their hard work and perseverance, the team finished the tournament by winning in overtime against Australia with the final score of 3-2 and winning the bronze medal game. Names on the team photo include the following. Top left: Lyne-Sue Kistabish, Hannah Swallow, Carla Lameboy, Kathleen Kistabish, Leonna Cheezo, Chelsea Kistabish, Katie Napash, and Janelle Stewart. Bottom left: Jessica Kistabish, Alicia WAwatie, Pearl Bearskin, Erika Wabanonik, and Eleanor Coonishish

Fern Spencer <Back Hopi/Navajo Induction Category: Year Inducted Coach 2024 Fern L. Spencer is Hopi from the Water clan and Navajo from the Honeycomb and Towering House clans and lives in Tohatchi, NM. She recently retired after 49 years in education and coaching at Tohatchi High School. Spencer was born in Phoenix, AZ. She was a 1968 graduate of Gallup High School. She attended Western New Mexico University in Silver City, NM. She walked on to the team at a time when there was six person basketball for women. By the end of her time at the university women’s basketball transitioned to five person basketball. When she received her first teaching job in 1974, she was asked if she was interested in coaching the girls’ basketball team. She accepted and taught for 49 years including 37 years coaching basketball and ten years in cross country. During that time she accumulated 517 wins and the team were 1982 New Mexico State Runner Up and earned six district titles, six trips to state, eight All Star teams, and coached the NM All Stars in Australia 2006. Spencer was named the 2004 New Mexico Girls Basketball Coach of the Year. She received a plaque for coaching 400 wins in 2003 when she received the New Mexico Girls Basketball Coach of the Year award. She also received honors as 2006 Athletic Director of the Year, 2014 New Mexico High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame, 2019 National Federation of Coaches Hall of Fame and 2023 New Mexico High School Distinguished Service Award. She was named to the Navajo Times Hall of Fame and coached games between New Mexico and Arizona after the season ended from 1990 to 1994. Spencer was also President of the New Mexico High School Coaches Association and the New Mexico Athletic Directors Association. She is also the current vice-president for the All-Indian Rodeo Cowboys Association and the Native American Rodeo Historical Society. She had a great experience coaching student athletes and her philosophy has been academics first then athletics.

< Back Delby Powless Delby Powless Mohawk Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2022 Delby Powless is member of the Mohawk Nation. He is a Child and Youth Counselor in his home community, Six Nations of the Grand River, in Ontario, Canada. Powless played five seasons with the Six Nations Junior A Arrows lacrosse club and is currently the team’s All-time leading scorer with 686 total points. While attending Herkimer County Community College, Powless was twice named All-American. He transferred to D1 Rutgers University where he led the Scarlet Knights in scoring both years and was a 2x All-American, while leading Rutgers to 2 NCAA tournament appearances. Powless also won a Canadian University lacrosse championship with Brock University and was named All-Canadian. Powless represented the Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team as a player at six World Championships, and at the first-ever World Indoor Lacrosse Championships, he was selected to the All-World Team. In 2003 Powless was named the recipient of the Tom Longboat Award as Canada’s Top Aboriginal Athlete. Powless was drafted 1st overall in the 2004 National Lacrosse League entry draft by the Buffalo Bandits and helped them win the Champions Cup in 2008. Powless also played in Major League Lacrosse with Toronto Nationals winning the Steinfeld Cup in 2009. <Back

< Back Shawn Martin Shawn Martin Mohawk Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2025 Shawn Martin is Akwesasne Mohawk from the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe in New York and was brought up by his mother, the late Beverly Lazore/Casey. He attended elementary school in Akwesasne, high school at Salmon River Central and Hartwick College (Oneonta, NY) in 1987-1991. Shawn established himself as an elite athlete over his competitive career between 1988 -1995. His collegiate running career began in cross country and indoor and outdoor Track and Field. Shawn improved in cross country from 33rd to 6th in the NY Division Ill Championships and 16th to 10th in the NY Regional missing an NCAA berth by 0.4 seconds. Shawn placed fifth in 1989 and second in 1991 in the indoor season with a school record of 2:30.9 in the 1000m at the NY Division III meet. During the outdoor season, Shawn competed in the 3000m Steeplechase placing third in both1989 and 1990 and was the NY State Champion in 1991 with a personal best of 9:10.3. In 1991, Shawn qualified for the Division III National Championships placing eighth and awarded All-American status. Shawn competed for the Wings of America in 1990 and 1991 with the Northeast Region Senior Team at XC Nationals; in New York City and Boston. He continued running at the Empire State Games in the 3000m steeplechase, and was selected to USA East T&F team. Shawn ran the Utica Boilermaker 15k numerous times with a personal best of 56:53. In 1995 Shawn competed at the North American Indigenous Games in Blaine, Minnesota winning the gold medal in the 3000m, silver medal in the 800m, and a fourth-place finish in the 1500m. In honor of all these accomplishments, Shawn was inducted to both the Salmon River and Hartwick College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010. Shawn lives in Akwesasne with his wife and two daughters and has continued his support of excellence in athletics. He coached youth to junior varsity level in soccer and softball, the high school varsity level in XC/T&F for six years, and basketball for 25 years. In 2002 Shawn was assistant coach to the Boys NYS Class C XC Championship team. Over the last six years he has been a high school official in girls/boys’ soccer, basketball, and boys’ lacrosse. <Back

Wilton Littlechild Category Builder Tribe Cree Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 4/1/1944 An Indigenous lawyer of Cree ancestry, bestowed as Honourary Cree Chief and International Chief, Wilton Littlechild was elected a Member of Parliament in Canada and Vice-President of the Indigenous Parliament of the Americas. Known for his advocacy, nationally and internationally on Human Rights and Traditional Games and Sports. Born in Maskwacis (Treaty No. 6), raised by his grandparents but taken at the age of six where he spent fourteen years in the Indian Residential School system. He witnessed and experienced various forms of abuse but was also introduced to sports, which he used to motivate his pursuit of excellence and run from abuse. He eventually excelled academically and in athletics; credits his traditional upbringing to seek balance in life; underpinned by spirituality and family support. Achievements: • Ten Athlete of the Year Awards • Holds three University and five Honorary Doctorate degrees (Physical Education, Law) • Eight Sports Halls of Fame • University of Alberta Most Outstanding Indian Athlete in Canada (twice) • Major Sports: Hockey, Baseball, Swimming • Centennial medal - Top 100 in Hockey • Order of Sport as inductee to Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame • Over seventy-five Championships • Twice honoured in Switzerland and Olympic Games Ambassador Home 2027 Banquet 2027 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

< Back Jesse Frankson Jesse Frankson Inupiaq Eskimo Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Jesse Frankson started training for the Inuit Games in 1997. He competed in the Native Youth Olympics (NYO) State competition for the one foot high kick and tied the state record as a senior in high school. He then started coaching NYO high school athletes for three years. He was selected for Team Alaska in 2002 and 2004 for the Arctic Winter Games, which is held Bi-annually in various parts of the world, where he set records for the Alaskan High Kick and the One Foot high Kick. Jesse went on to compete at the World Eskimo Indian Olympics in 2005 and 2006 with several games, four of which he set records in. The One Foot High Kick, Alaskan High Kick, Kneel Jump and the One Arm Reach, all of which he held at one time, something that to his knowledge, has never been done before or since. He also competed and won in the Two Foot High Kick, Scissor Broad Jump and Stick Pull. Jesse was one of a few athletes featured in Jonathan Stanton’s documentary Games of the North, also Guinness World Records which was featured on Fox in 2001, where he set the world record for the Highest Martial Arts Kick at 9’8”, in a televised competition against Martial Artist Michael Blanks. Jesse was born in Kotzebue, Alaska and raised in Point Hope, Alaska. His wife Krystle Frankson and he have six children. His parents are Theodore Frankson Jr. and Kristi Frankson. <Back

< Back Michael Thompson Michael Thompson Mohawk Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2024 Michael “Mike” Thompson is a member of the Mohawk Nation and has lived, played and coached in Akwesasne for most of his life. He is one of the most decorated indoor box lacrosse goaltenders to ever play the game of box lacrosse, yet is kind, giving and humble to the core. Thompson played field lacrosse in high school and was an effective and intimidating defenseman. He began playing box lacrosse goalie at the age of 20 while playing in the Ontario Junior B Lacrosse league for the Akwesasne Lightening. He was a natural and quickly made a name for himself as one of the top goaltenders of his generation. He first played professional box lacrosse for the Ottawa Rebels and later enjoyed a professional career with the Buffalo Bandits of the National Lacrosse League where he won the NLL Championship in 2008. During the summers, Thompson played in the Ontario Major Series Lacrosse League, often called Senior A, with the Peterborough Lakes. He won two Mann Cup Canadian National Championships with the Lakers and was named MVP of the Championship series when they won in 2012. Winning a Mann Cup is considered the pinnacle of success in the lacrosse world and being awarded the Mike Kelley MVP trophy was one of the greatest honors of his life. Thompson also enjoyed success with the Iroquois Nationals Men’s Box Lacrosse team having competed three World Championships. Thompson retired from professional lacrosse in 2012 to focus on coaching his two sons who are also incredibly talented and dedicated lacrosse players. He currently resides in Akwesasne with his wife, two sons and his daughter. <Back

< Back Ahman Green Ahman Green Choctaw Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2026 Following an outstanding 12-year career in the NFL, All-Pro running back Ahman Green established himself as a successful football analyst, eSports authority and gamer, coach and philanthropist. Drafted in the third round (76th overall) by the Seattle Seahawks in 1998, Green played two seasons for the team before being traded to the Green Bay Packers in time for the 2001 season. An anchor of the team’s offense, Green was a four-time Pro Bowl selection, a two-time All-Pro and was named the NFC’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2003. He set numerous team records during his eight seasons with Green Bay, including the most touchdowns in a season, the most rushing yards in a game and the longest run from scrimmage, among others. He remains the Packers’ all-time rushing leader and was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame in 2014. Green also played two seasons for the Houston Texans. He retired as a member of the Packers in 2011. Green was one of the greatest running backs in University of Nebraska history, leading the school to two national championships (1995 and 1997). A standout running back and three-year starter, Green was named to the First Team All-Big Eight in 1995 and First Team All-Big 12 and Second Team All-American in 1997. He is the Huskers’ third all-time rushing leader. A member of the Orange Bowl Hall of Fame, Green set the Orange Bowl single game rushing record with 206 yards on 29 carries with two touchdowns in the Huskers’ national championship win over Tennessee to finish the 1997 season. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, Green spent part of his childhood in Los Angeles before returning to Omaha for high school, where he earned honors as a USA Today and Parade All-American First Team selection and the Gatorade Circle of Champions Nebraska Player of the Year at Omaha Central. A versatile athlete, Green also excelled on the track, winning state championships in the 100m, 200m and 400m relay in his senior year. Off the field, Green was a state Academic All-American as well. Green is strongly committed to giving back to the community and established the Ahman Green Foundation, which is devoted to enhancing the quality of life for children and families that have been impacted by hardship or terminal illness. In addition to his work with his foundation, Green is actively involved with helping many worthy organizations including the Alzheimer’s Association, Make-A-Wish, Wounded Warriors and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Wisconsin and Nebraska. Green and his wife, Marie, reside in Richmond, Texas, and are parents to five children. <Back

Neal Powless Category Athlete Tribe Onondaga Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 10/27/1974 Neal Powless played for the Iroquois Nationals in 6 World Lacrosse Championships and made the tournament’s ALL-World Team as an Attackman in 2002 and won a Silver Medal in 2003. Mr. Powless is a Professional (1), NCAA (1) and Canadian (3) National Champion. He was a 3x All-American at Nazareth College and held the Single Season goals (57 in 15 games) record for 18 years, which is still second all-time even though the seasons are now 18 games. Neal played professionally for 7 seasons amassing 53 goals and 39 assists in 41 games. Neal is the current Head Coach of the Men’s Dutch National Box Lacrosse Team that is ranked #8 in the World. He began coaching the Netherlands in 2014-16, where they finished #17 in the World and #7 in Europe in Field lacrosse. In 2017 he transitioned to box lacrosse where they progressed from #17 in Europe to their current World rank. Neal was inducted into the Nazareth College Sports Hall of Fame in 2009 and the US Lacrosse, CNY Chapter Hall of Fame in 2017, one of the most prestigious chapters in the USA. He also produced the Major Motion Picture Crooked Arrows, which featured lacrosse. Home 2027 Banquet 2027 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

Jim Neilson Category Athlete Tribe Big River First Nation Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 11/28/1941 - 11/6/2020 Jim Neilson was one of the first Indigenous superstars in the sport of hockey, playing in the National Hockey League for 16 seasons. Born in Big River, Saskatchewan and raised at an orphanage in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Neilson honed his hockey skills through his youth. At 17 he played Junior A with the Prince Albert Mintos in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. He made his professional debut at 19 for the Kitchener-Waterloo Beavers of the Eastern Professional Hockey League, named the league’s top rookie in 1962. That fall he joined the New York Rangers of the NHL for the next 12 seasons. He was named the Rangers top defenseman in 1966 and was runner-up to Bobby Orr for the Norris Trophy (top defenseman) in 1967-68. Neilson and the Rangers lost in the 1972 Stanley Cup Final to Boston in 6 games. In 1974 he was traded to the California Golden Seals, where he was named team captain and Team MVP in 1975-76. Neilson finished his NHL career with the Cleveland Barons for 2 seasons, where he again was the team captain. He was the team nominee for the Bill Masterton Award presented to the player who depicts perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication. His professional career concluded in 1978-79 when he played with the Edmonton Oilers in the World Hockey Association where he was a teammate of 17 year-old Wayne Gretzky. In 1,023 regular season NHL games, Neilson had 69 goals and 299 assists and was named to 4 NHL All Star Teams. Jim Neilson was inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame in 1996. Home 2027 Banquet 2027 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More