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< Back Joey Christjohn Joey Christjohn Oneida Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2024 Joey Christjohn is an Oneida tribal member in Wisconsin. He started his boxing career as an amateur with his first bout in 1974 in Fond du Lac, WI at the local YMCA. His last bout as a professional was against Carlos DeLeon in Milwaukee, WI in 1993. Christjohn had 92 amateur fights with a record of 68 wins and 24 losses. He was a three-time Wisconsin Golden Gloves Champion. Christjohn was also the 1980 National Indian Athletic Association light heavyweight champion and recorded a knockout in 27 seconds. His pro debut was on Halloween in 1985 and he had 41 bouts in his career winning 19, losing 19, and had 3 draws. His pro career took him throughout the country including Carson City, NV, Milwaukee, WI, and Chicago, IL as well as overseas in Poland and France. One of his notable fights was defeating Oliver McCall in 1985. McCall would eventually win the 1994 WBC heavyweight championship of the world. Christjohn’s sparring partners included Greg Powless, Leander Danforth Jr., Ron Melchert, Kelly Stevens, Ernie Stevens Jr., Tim Tomashek, and Dennis Danforth Sr. <Back

< Back Oliver “Cap” Bomberry Sr Oliver “Cap” Bomberry Sr Cayuga Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete/Builder 2023 Cap Bomberry played for the Oshweken Warriors from 1959 to 1973 and won the President's Cup in 1964, 1967 and 1968. He was involved in minor organization from 1975 to 1988 and was a Team/General Manager with the Jr. A Arrows from 1990 to 1992 winning the Minto Cup in 1992. This was the first indigenous team to win the Minto Cup. He was also the GM for the Six Nations Chiefs from 1993 to 1997 winning the Mann Cup in 1994, 1995, and 1996. Cap was President and GM of the Six Nations Rivermen from 2013 to 2019 winning the President's Cup in 2015 and 2019. Bomberry has been a builder of the sport of lacrosse in the Six Nations minor organization, coach of Pee Wee and Bantam national championships, and Midget provincial championship. He traveled to Australia when Six Nations athletes competed for Team Canada in the World Field Lacrosse Championships and with the Iroquois Nationals when Ontario hosted the World Indoor Championships. Bomberry has been inducted into the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1997 in the Builder Category. He was also inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2001 as a Builder, became an Ontario Lacrosse Association (OLA) Life Member in 2006 and was presented with the OLA President's Award. <Back

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< Back James Walker James Walker Standing Rock Lakota/Dakota Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 James Walker was born along the Missouri River in 1955. Shortly thereafter his family’s home got flooded and they had to move. He was sent to St. Josephs Indian Boarding School in Chamberlain, SD, when he was five years old. He was there seven years and was introduced to basketball. He went to Wilton, ND in the eighth grade and continued playing basketball and football until graduating in 1973. James was recruited by Dickinson State College to play basketball. When he was a sophomore in college, he tried out for the National Indian Activities Association national team and made the cut. The team had a scrimmage at the University of Mary against the defending state amateur basketball team. They went to Haskell, KS and had another scrimmage against their college team and then on to Baton Rouge, LA to play in the National Amateur tournament. We got beat but I got to play against some would-be Pros and D1 college players which really help me develop. James was named to the NAIA All American honorable mention team while at Dickinson State College. After college, he played Indian ball with the UTTEC team in 1975. In 1976, his team and part of the South Dakota team got together and formed the Lakota Coup Counters and they won the national tournament in Ft. Duchesne UT. They repeated in 1977 in Minneapolis and he was named MVP. He continued to play with the Coup Counters for 10 years and they were one of the top teams and always in the top three finishes at national tournaments. He then played with the Dakota Warriors in many tournaments, both Indian only and open tournaments. He was also named to the National Indian Activities Association (NIAA) Hall of Fame. <Back

< Back Awehiyo Thomas Awehiyo Thomas Cayuga Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2022 Awehiyo Thomas (Beautiful Flower) is Cayuga Nation, Wolf Clan from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. She played competitive lacrosse on the international, NCAA DI and professional stage, with many Player of the Game awards. Awehiyo first started playing lacrosse in 1998 for Six Nations Girls Field Lacrosse, and later traveled to Cattaraugus, NY playing many years with the Seneca Girls Lacrosse Club under Sandy Jemison. In 2003, she had her first international experience with U-19 Team Canada, finishing third and being named the third-leading scorer on the squad. Awehiyo was a walk-on starter at Syracuse University, who transferred from Canisius College in her junior year. She started all 21 games and helped the team to its first NCAA Final Four in 2008 - as a senior she started all 19 games and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Health and Wellness. Awehiyo was a proud member of the Haudenosaunee National Women’s Lacrosse (HNWL) Team for many years, competing on the world stage in 2009, 2013 and 2017. In 2018, she was the first Haudenosaunee woman to play professional lacrosse with the Baltimore Ride in the UWLX league. Most recently, she was a member of the HNWL Sr. Team which placed first at the Pan American Lacrosse Association in 2019. As a veteran lacrosse player of 24 years and mother of four, soon to be mother of five, she continues to be a role model for many Indigenous girls coming up. She comes from a long line of great lacrosse players in her family including Grandfather Ivan Thomas, the 1997 Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame inductee and great-grandfather Joseph Logan Jr., maker of the “Logan Special” lacrosse stick. To this day, Awehiyo’s lacrosse display at Woodland Cultural Center in Brantford, Ontario continues to be up for the public to view. Photos: Reems Landreth and Awehiyo Thomas <Back

Dean Hill Category Athlete Tribe Mohawk Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 10/26/1984 Dean Hill excelled at hockey and lacrosse growing up in the Six Nations of the Grand River community. Hill enjoyed a very successful Jr. B lacrosse career with the Six Nations Rebels and the St. Catharines Spartans, which led him to being drafted by the Minnesota Swarm of the National Lacrosse League. Hill would play 10 seasons in the NLL recording 247 points in the regular season and adding 12 more in the playoffs. Hill was known as a power play specialist who many considered to have the best one-timer in the game. In his second NLL season he led the Minnesota Swarm with 32 goals with 12 of them coming on the power play. Hill won a Canadian University Lacrosse Championship with Brock University and a Canadian Sr. B Championship with the St. Regis Braves. He also helped the Iroquois Nationals win two Silver Medals at the World Indoor Lacrosse Championships in 2007 and 2011. In the 2007 gold medal game with Canada leading the Iroquois 14-13, Dean Hill scored with 5 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game. Canada would go on to win the game 15-14 in sudden death overtime. That game is still considered one of the most thrilling indoor lacrosse games ever played. Hill was known for being a great teammate and for his high lacrosse IQ. Upon his retirement from playing he made a seamless transition from player to coach and embarked on a very successful coaching career. He won two Canadian Championship Minto Cups with the Six Nations Jr. A Arrows in 2015 and 2017 and led the Six Nations Rebels to a silver medal finish in the Founders Cup Jr. B Canadian Championships in 2019. Sadly, Dean Hill passed away due to complications in his sleep September 6, 2021 at the age of 36. Home 2026 Banquet 2026 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

< Back Roger Vyse Roger Vyse Mohawk Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Roger Vyse is Mohawk, and member of the turtle clan from Six Nations, Ontario Canada. Growing up on the Six Nations reserve, lacrosse was the dominant sport especially in Vyse's family. Vyse played lacrosse for over 30 years starting at the age of four years old until he retired at the age of 36. Along the way Vyse was a long-standing member of the Iroquois Nationals box and field lacrosse teams starting in 1999 with the under 19 bronze medalists in Adalaide, Australia. Vyse attended Herkimer Community College where he started on attack and was a 2x All American. In his second and final season at Herkimer in 2003, Vyse and his teammates won the NJCAA championship going 18-0 on the season. Vyse played lacrosse at Limestone College Division II. Limestone would make the Division II finals both seasons (2004, 2005) but come up short losing both games in overtime. In Vyse's final season at Limestone, he broke the Division’s 34-year-old goals per season record by one goal (71). He led the team in goals and tied for most assist (71 goals, 29 assists = 100 points) in his final season of college lacrosse. Vyse would be drafted into the National Lacrosse League 13th overall in 2006 by the Buffalo Bandits. Vyse would help the team win the NLL title in 2008. He played six seasons with the Bandits and was nominated to play in the All Star game in 2009. He also played a season in Toronto and Philadelphia to end his NLL career. In the summer's he played for the SR A Six Nations Chiefs during 2002-2016 and also the Sr B Six Nations Rivermen during 2015-2017. While playing for the Chiefs, Vyse and his teammates won the Mann Cup (Canadian Box Lacrosse Championship) three times in ‘13, ‘14 and ‘16. In the same time period in 2015, Vyse helped the Six Nations Rivermen win their first Presidents Cup (Canadian National Title) and was selected to the 1st All Star team as well as being tournament MVP. Vyse still resides from his hometown of Six Nations with his wife and four children with one on the way this summer. Vyse is a Student Mentor at Ogwehoweh Skills and Trade training Center which is also located on the Six Nations of the Grand River. <Back

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.

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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 2026 Banquet 2026 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

Iroquois Nationals U19 World Lacrosse Games Category Team Tribes Iroquois Confederacy Year Inducted 2022 In the summer of 1999, the Iroquois Nationals participated in the U19 World Lacrosse Games in Adelaide, Australia. It was a privilege to represent our community, Akwesasne, as well as the Iroquois Nationals on the world platform playing Tewa’a:raton or lacrosse. Drew Bucktooth, Delby Powless and myself were co-captains and it was a great honor not only to help lead the incredible talent that was comprised of our team, but to also stand alongside players who I have incredible respect for on the lacrosse field. As young men, this was the first time for many of us to be able to participate in playing the game we love, the gift from the Creator, on the international level. That year we brought home the bronze, and a big component of that was the amazing coaching staff from some of the greatest in the game, along with the natural talent that the team was comprised of. This is evident as many of the players from that team went on to have successful and long careers in lacrosse on a professional level. While in Australia, we were truly overwhelmed at the amount of support we received from many of the teams across the world, but particularly the Australian Aboriginal community. This is just a prime example of how lacrosse can truly unify people; regardless if it is between neighbors playing the game together or people who live on opposite sides of the world and have entirely different cultures. I am forever thankful for my experience that I had participating in the games and the lifelong friendships that were forged. Nia:wen to all that continue to support our young Onkwehonwe lacrosse players. I am so proud of how much the game has grown and the amazing talent that is on display from our people. I am confident that one day the Iroquois Nationals will bring home the gold to our people and the entire world will recognize the original creators of the medicine game. -written by Freeman Bucktooth Home 2026 Banquet 2026 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

August Wesley <Back Narragansett Induction Category: Year Inducted Coach/Athlete 2025 August Wesley is an international wrestler and head coach. He is a Narragansett Indian and given the name Hiawatha in representing the tribe located in Charlestown, Rhode Island. August is an accomplished wrestler that represented Team USA six times including the UWW Veteran World Championships. He is a gold medalist competing for Sunkist and also won six USA Greco-Roman National Team Championships. Wesley is a highly decorated coach with over 30 years coaching experience. He was selected 14 times to lead USA teams at international competition in 27 countries on five continents. He has led USA teams to five team titles, twice in Australia, and in Germany, Austria and Hungary. Nationally he offers technical wrestling clinics and motivational speaking. Wesley was selected to coach at the US Olympic Training Center. He has a Bronze Certification with USA Wrestling, accredited interscholastic certification, and is a former member of the California Coaches Association. These credentials and achievements culminated in his selection as a state representative for USA GRIT (Greco-Roman Initiative Team) for his years of dedication and development of the sport. Wesley was nominated as the National Collegiate Wrestling Association Coach of the Year. He received West Coast Conference Coach of the Year honors, and named a two-time college coach of the year at Sacramento State University after winning two California State Championships. While at Iowa State University as Head Club Coach they achieved five All Americans, qualified 24 wrestlers to the national's, and also winning the Great Plains Conference team title. He earned international success as the outstanding freestyle coach, leading Team USA to a championship trophy in Austria and Australia. Wesley accumulated over 145 high school wins and has guided many wrestlers to receiving NCAA Division 1 scholarships through his club California Elite. He served as assistant coach at the Senior Nationals and Sierra College capturing the California State Championship. He was the head coach for CPV at the 2022 and 2023 UWW World Championships in Europe. Wesley also coached the 2022, 2023 and 2024 Continental Championships in Africa and 2024 Paris Olympic Qualifiers. He serves as the Cabo Verde Secretary General and President of referees commission for Africa. Wesley was nominated to the Sacramento Sports Hall of Fame for his achievements.