< 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

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 Dane Evans Dane Evans Wichita Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2026 Dane Evans is a former professional quarterback known for his standout career at the University of Tulsa and his success in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Born in Chickasha, Oklahoma, Evans made a name for himself at Sanger High School in Texas before enrolling at Tulsa in 2012. Evans became the Golden Hurricane’s starting quarterback in 2013 and went on to set multiple school records. By the end of his college career, he held program records for career passing yards (11,680), passing touchdowns (84), completions (904), and attempts (1,567). In 2015, he threw for a school-record 4,332 yards and 25 touchdowns, ranking among the national leaders in several passing categories. He capped off his collegiate career with a dominant performance in the 2016 Miami Beach Bowl, earning MVP honors after throwing for over 300 yards and five touchdowns in a win over Central Michigan. Despite going undrafted in the 2017 NFL Draft, Evans signed briefly with the Philadelphia Eagles before making his mark in the CFL. He joined the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2018, initially serving as a backup before taking over as starter in 2019. That season, he passed for 3,754 yards and 21 touchdowns, leading Hamilton to a 15-3 record and a Grey Cup appearance. Over five CFL seasons with Hamilton and later the BC Lions, Evans amassed 9,636 passing yards and 49 touchdowns, plus 10 rushing scores. In 2023, Evans joined the BC Lions and played a key role as a reliable backup and spot starter. He announced his retirement from professional football on January 1, 2024, ending his playing career on his own terms. Transitioning into coaching, Evans served as a graduate assistant at North Texas and coached at the high school level before being named Assistant Quarterbacks Coach and Pass Game Coordinator at Texas State in 2025. His leadership, football IQ, and passion for the game continue to shape his promising coaching career. <Back