< 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

Sam McCracken Sioux and Assiniboine Induction Category: Year Inducted Builder 2022 <Back 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 Intrapraneur of the Year.

1899 Carlisle Indian Industrial School Team 2024 Induction Category: Year Inducted <Back During the 1899 season, the Carlisle Indians were led by first-year head coach Glenn “Pop” Warner and the team compiled a 9-2 record. The Indians outscored their opponents 383 to 46. The captain of the team was Martin Wheelock, Oneida, who was named to the 1899 New York Sun All American First Team. Wheelock was inducted in the athlete category of the inaugural 2022 NAIAHF. The Carlisle Indians began playing football in 1893. They became a national powerhouse in their 25 year existence as a program and played a top national collegiate team schedule. On December 25, 1899, the Carlisle Indians and University of California game was the first college football game played between teams from the east and west coasts. The only score was when Jonas Metoxen tackled a Cal player in the end zone for a safety. Schedule: Sept. 23 Gettysburg College 21-0 Sept. 30 Susquehanna University 56-0 Oct. 14 @ University of Pennsylvania 16-5 Oct. 21 Dickinson College 16-5 Oct. 28 @ Harvard University 10-22 Nov. 4 @ Hamilton College 32-0 Nov. 11 @ Princeton University 0-12 Nov. 25 Oberlin College 81-0 Nov. 30 @ Columbia University 45-0 Dec. 25 @ University of California 2-0 Dec. 26 @ Phoenix Indian School 104-0 Roster: The roster included (name; tribe; residence post-Carlisle; graduate class or departed year; profile if available); note: there may be others who were on the roster that are not listed and this induction entry will be updated: Archiqette, Chauncey; Oneida; Pawhuska, OK; class of 1899 Baine, John; Sioux; Warwick, SD; class of 1901 Beaver, Frank; Winnebago; Winnebago, NE; class of 1901 Blackchief, Allen; Tonawanda Seneca; Akron, NY; departed in 1901 Burr, Sidney; Alaskan; Versailles, NY; departed in 1900 Campeau, Frank; Chippewa; N/A; departed in 1901 Dillon, Charles; Crow Creek Sioux; Wyola, MT; departed in 1904 Hare, Nelson; Seneca; Irving, NY; class of 1902 Hudson, Frank; Laguna Pueblo; Bucks County, PA; class of 1896; considered the greatest kicker in the beginning American football; two-time 1898 and 1899 Outing magazine All American; was an assistant coach with Carlisle from 1904 to 1906 becoming one of the first non-white coaches in college football history Johnson, James E.; Stockbridge; class of 1901; first year player at Carlisle in 1899 and eventually was named a 1903 Walter Camp All American at Carlisle, played at Northwestern University in 1904-05 and came back as an assistant coach at Carlisle in 1906 Metoxen, Jonas; Oneida; West De Pere, WI; departed in 1900 Miller, Artie; Stockbridge; Gresham, WI; class of 1900; played halfback and also played professionally for the Homestead Library and Athletic Club being a part of the two-time 1900 and 1901 West Pennsylvania Pro Champions; was a member of the National Football League’s Pittsburg Stars 1902 Championship team Pierce, Bemus; Seneca; N/A; check; three-time Carlisle football captain prior to the 1899 team; All American lineman in 1896; professional player; head coach of the University of Buffalo in 1899, and interim head coached at Carlisle College in 1906 while also coaching at Haskell Institute and was the head coach at Kenyon College in 1908-10 Pierce, Hawley; Seneca; Salamanca, NY; departed in 1904; played professional football after Carlisle Redwater, Thaddeus; Cheyenne; Lame Deer, MT; departed in 1900 Roberts, Charles; Chippewa; Chicago, IL; departed in 1903 Rogers, Eddie; Chippewa; Walker, MN; class of 1897 and departed in 1901; named an All American in 1903; played on the University of Minnesota football team while earning his law degree; head coach at Carlisle in 1904 and St. Thomas College in St. Paul, MN in 1905-08 Scott, Frank; Seneca; Buffalo, NY; departed in 1905 Scrogg, Solomon; Seneca; Springfiled, MA; departed in 1901 Seneca, Isaac; Seneca; Erie County, NY; class of 1900; halfback was named as the first indigenous inductee in the 1899 College Football All American Team Scholder, Joseph; Mission; Riverside, CA; departed in 1900 Scholder, William; San Dieganos Nation; N/A; class of 1906 Sickles, Caleb; Oneida; Tiffin, OH; class of 1898; studied to be a dentist practicing in Tiffin, OH for his career and was the football coach at Heidelberg College Smith, Edwin; Clallam; Chemawa, OR; class of 1991 Warren, John B.; White Earth Chippewa; class of 1900 Wheelock, Martin; Oneida; Seymour, WI; class of 1902; inaugural 2022 NAIAHF induction page: https://www.naiahf.org/martin-wheelock Wilde, Byron; Arickara; Elbowwoods, ND; departed October 19, 1899 Williams, Charles; Stockbridge; N/A; class of 1904 Sources: Wikipedia; Carlisle Indian School Digital Resource Center; Steckbeck. J.S. (1951). Fabulous Redmen: The Carlisle Indians and Their Famous Football Teams. J. Horace McFarland

Kayla Gardner Category Athlete Tribe Eagle Lake First Nation Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 11/16/1994 Kayla Gardner was a two-time girls’ hockey state champion with the Warroad Warriors, earning back to back titles in 2010 and 2011. Gardner was a contributing member of five section 8A championships. Off the ice, Gardner was a member of the National Honor Society. After graduating from Warroad High School, Gardner attended the University of North Dakota from 2013-2017, where she received a full hockey scholarship. During her time at UND, Gardner was a three-time WCHA Scholar Athlete. After earning her Bachelors of Science degree in Criminal Justice in 2017, Gardner went on to play professional hockey with the Calgary Inferno of the CWHL. After a successful year with the Calgary Inferno, Gardner continued her professional hockey career in Sweden, playing with the Brynäs IF in the SDHL. Home 2027 Banquet 2027 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

< Back Teton Saltes Teton Saltes Oglala Lakota Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2024 Teton Saltes is a remarkable individual whose list of accomplishments is nothing short of extraordinary, all achieved by the age of 25. He stands as a symbol of unwavering dedication and the potential for change and impact at a remarkably young age. During his college football career, Saltes earned two Mountain West All-Conference honorable mentions and was twice honored as a Mountain West All-Academic. Notably, he holds the distinction of being the only college football major award winner in University of New Mexico history as the recipient of the prestigious Wuerffel Trophy. His four-year stint as a starting offensive lineman for the University of New Mexico football team showcases his exceptional athletic abilities and cemented his legacy as one of the best offensive lineman to ever play at UNM. In 2021, Saltes joined the NFL and was a member of the New York Jets. He played in the USFL in 2022 for the Michigan Panthers and secured a championship in the XFL in 2023 with the Arlington Renegades. Beyond his sporting achievements, Saltes's advocacy efforts are equally noteworthy. He addressed the United States Congress and testified before the New Mexico state legislature, passionately advocating for mental health support for student-athletes. His role as a board member in the BEAR Project in Pine Ridge, SD, demonstrates his unwavering commitment to community betterment. Saltes's academic accomplishments are as impressive as his athletic and advocacy feats. He graduated with a degree in political science and entered into a master of law graduate program, with intentions to eventually receive his Juris Doctorate. Saltes' legacy is a testament to the incredible impact an individual can have with determination, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to their goals. <Back

< Back Jaci McCormack Jaci McCormack Nez Perce Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete/Builder 2025 Jaci McCormack grew up on the Nez Perce Reservation outside of Lewiston, Idaho. She fell in love with basketball early on and earned a scholarship to play for Illinois State University, where her team competed in the 2005 NCAA Tournament. After her college career, Jaci was inspired to return home and give back to her community. She served as the Deputy Executive Director for the Nez Perce Tribe, as well as the Youth Prevention Director, building deep relationships with tribal and community partners. In 2015, Jaci founded Rise Above, a non-profit organization that gives Native American youth the skills and resilience to overcome their circumstances and write their own futures. As the CEO of Rise Above, Jaci leads the organization in its mission to empower youth through a variety of programs including sports, education, financial literacy, prevention skills, and mentorship, using prevention strategies that will spark change in people’s lives. Jaci attracted an incredible group of engaged and like-minded partners and donors across the country who believed in Rise Above’s mission to empower Native American youth, including over 30 tribes, investors, prevention advocates, sports legends, and hall-of-famers, and Hollywood stars including Three Time NBA Hall of Famer, Lenny Wilkens and Award-Winning Actor Danny Glover. In 2024 Rise Above established a formal partnership with the Seattle Storm to increase basketball opportunities for BIPOC, low-income, and historically underserved youth, with a focus on the Native community in Seattle and Washington State. Jaci’s life story will be the subject of an upcoming feature film, produced by Danny Glover, Preston Holmes and Lenny Wilkens. The screenplay was written by Erica Trembly, an award- winning native writer. The film is set for production in 2025 with a projected release in 2026. In 2022, Jaci was invited to be a presenter and panelist at the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health and she was appointed by Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell to serve on Seattle's first Indigenous Advisory Council. She is also the recipient of the 2024 Seattle Sports Commission Sports Equity and Inclusion Award. <Back

Tanner Albers Category Athlete Tribe Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 2/12/1977 - 2/2/2010 Tanner Albers was a team captain for the 1994 and 1995 Boys Basketball Teams at Takini High in South Dakota. In both of those years he was the team’s leading scorer, earning All-State and All-Tournament honors while leading the Skyhawks to back-to-back state tournament appearances. He was also a team captain for the 1997-98 United Tribes Technical College (UTTC) Thunderbirds where he led them to the school’s first Junior College National Tournament appearance. That year he earned 1st Team Mon-Dak All-Region, Mon-Dak Region 8 Player of the Year, and was the school’s first, 1st Team All-American. Tanner is currently still the school’s all-time leading scorer UTTC. Tanner played for the Division I Delaware State University Hornets for the 1998-99 season and finished up his collegiate basketball career at the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND. Up until his passing in 2010, Tanner had traveled across North America, playing in many basketball tournaments with teams Iron 5, Iron Boy, Rim Rats, Pure Method, and many others. He would often receive MVP, All-Star, and others honors because of his amazing scoring and shooting talents. He had the opportunity to coach at the collegiate level and was a co-creator of HOOPGOD Basketball Camps. Home 2027 Banquet 2027 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

Leanne Sirup Category Athlete Tribe Inuit Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 6/20/1975 Being of Inuit descent, Leanne Sirup’s history in the sport of swimming spans more than three decades; starting as a swimmer, and then transferring her skills to coaching and mentoring. As an athlete, Leanne raced to the podium in numerous championships provincially and nationally as well as competing for Team Canada internationally. During this period, Leanne also set numerous provincial and national records predominantly in the 800m freestyle, the 200m butterfly, and the 400m individual medley. In addition to her decorated career, Sirup came out of retirement and competed at the 1997 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) where she raced to a total of 8 medals and the distinction of the British Columbia (BC) Premier’s Athlete of the Year. As a coach, Sirup has been the head coach of Team BC since 2004. Leading her provincial swimmers in every NAIG since, including a swim team overall victory in NAIG 2017, Leanne has been honored with the Provincial Coach of the Year (2008) and the National Coaching Award for Indigenous Excellence in Sport as presented by the Aboriginal Sport Circle and the Coaches Association of Canada partnership (2008, 2021). Ms Sirup has also been selected by Swimming Natation Canada as a Select Coach for their High Performance Development program. Leanne is keen on giving back to the Sport that has given so much to her. She is proud to serve as a National Coaching Certification Program’s Learning Facilitator since 2012, sharing her knowledge and experience to further the development the sport of swimming. Locally, Leanne continually endeavors to create opportunities for the youth to learn about the sport of swimming to open the pathway for success in any branch of Aquatics. To positively affect those around her, just as her coaches and mentors have done so generously for her. Photo: Carrie Matheson Home 2027 Banquet 2027 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

< Back Shelly Foster Shelly Foster Ojibwe Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2025 Shelly Foster is a member of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe and a descendant of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. She was named Bemidji Pioneer's Northwoods Athlete of the Year during her junior year in high school and was a formidable force to contend with in volleyball, basketball, and track. Shelly walked on to the #1 nationally ranked Stanford University Volleyball team the spring of her freshman year and played two seasons for the Cardinals as a libero. She holds a 1994 NCAA Division 1 national championship ring and helped the Cardinals complete the 1995 season as semifinalists in the Final Four tournament held that year in Amherst, Massachusetts. Shelly was offered a full ride scholarship after her second year playing for Stanford, but due to the discovery of previous NCAA rules violations committed by Stanford, she had to end her collegiate volleyball career early. Shelly believes in lifelong fitness and continues her athletic regimen via road cycling, swimming, and dancing. She also coaches youth volleyball from time to time when community needs arise. <Back

Marty Ward <Back Cherokee Induction Category: Year Inducted Coach 2024 Marty Ward has been a part of the Florida Southern men's lacrosse program for nearly its entire existence. The Moccasins have posted an overall record of 105-85, and have been ranked in the USILA Top 20 numerous times. During his time at Florida Southern, the program has produced 71 all-conference selections, 10 USILA All Americans, and 4 USILA Scholar All Americans. Ward was named as the DSC Co-Coach of the Year in 2011 after leading the Mocs to the conference title game. Ward's teams have also excelled in the classroom, with 35 players earning the D2ADA Academic Achievement Award for a total of 61 total selections, with 4 USILA Scholar All Americans Moccasins have also had more than 100 players named to the SSC Commissioner's Honor Roll. Ward was a standout goalkeeper and two time All American at Division II powerhouse Limestone College, where he helped lead the Saints to a record of 55-9 in his four years. A member of the Cherokee Nation, Ward has also had success as a goalkeeper for the Iroquois Nationals team, earning a bronze medal at the 2014 World Lacrosse Championships. He was also the starting goalkeeper for the Iroquois Nationals team that finished fourth in 2006. He made the roster in 2010 as the team qualified for the global event but did not participate. He has also served as a coach for the Iroquois Nationals U-19 squad at the international level, leading the team to a bronze medal at the 2012 Federation of International Lacrosse World Championships. Ward is currently the only Native American head coach in NCAA men's lacrosse, at any level. In 2018, Ward became the first lacrosse player inducted into the Corcoran (N.Y.) High School Athletics Hall of Fame. Outside of the sport, Ward worked with the NativeVision program from 2013-16, a part of the Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Heath. Sponsored by the National Football League (NFL), the program, one of the nation’s largest nutrition, obesity and diabetes prevention programs for American Indian children. Ward lives in Lakeland, Florida with his wife Aricka, daughter Sawyer, and son Ryker.