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< Back Dr. Darrell Menard Dr. Darrell Menard Métis Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2025 Dr. Darrell Menard is Métis and served 40 years in the Canadian Armed Forces. He has an honours degree in Physical Education, a master’s degree in Exercise Physiology, a Doctor of Medicine and a Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine Diploma in Sport Medicine. Dr. Menard has been a competitive runner since 1969, and he is still competing at the age of 70. His sporting career highlights include: coaching and guide running at the 1980 Paralympic Games where he and Jacques Pilon won a Paralympic gold medal and set a world record for 1500 meters; setting the Alberta native open marathon record in 1980; captaining the University of Alberta team to win the 1980 Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union’s National Cross- Country Championship; competing at five Military World Cross Country Championships; representing Canada in the 20K race walk at the 2007 Military World Games; winning numerous provincial championships, and finishing fourth in the 1976 Canadian Athletics Championships running the 1500 meters in 3.49.6 – a time that remains the Canadian Forces record. In addition to his athletic achievements, Dr. Menard has provided sideline and clinic-based sport medicine care to athletes for 36 years. Over his career, he has employed his sport medicine skills and knowledge at 25 Major games including three North American Indigenous Games, five Military World Games, the 2001 World Athletics Championships, the 2010 U-17 Women’s World Cup, the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games, the 2015 Parapan American Games, the 1980 and 2016 Canadian Paralympic teams and the 2012 Canadian Olympic Team. Dr. Menard continues to work as the Surgeon General’s Specialist advisor in sport medicine and is an adjunct professor in University of Ottawa School of Nursing where he teaches musculoskeletal examination skills to nurse practitioners. He is the author of the “Ask the Expert” article series and has his own sport medicine practice in Russell Ontario. He has been named an officer in the Order of Military Merit and an officer in the Order of CISM. He has also been inducted into the Canadian Forces and the University of Alberta’s Sports Halls of Fame. Photo: Canadian Forces <Back

< Back Miranda Stewart Hess Jr. Miranda Stewart Hess Jr. Paiute Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2025 Miranda Stewart Hess Jr. is an enrolled tribal member of the Big Pine Paiute Tribe of the Owens Valley. Along with being Paiute, Miranda is also Yaqui and Apache. Miranda is the only daughter in her family; she has four older brothers and three younger brothers. Miranda feels fortunate that she is from a big family that loves sports. Her father Brandon Hess and mother Miranda Stewart Hess Sr. were athletes and became coaches to her and her siblings; all seven of her brothers are also athletes. Miranda competes in sports year round and currently participates in wrestling, Brazilian jiu jitsu, boxing, kick boxing, muay thai and MMA. Miranda has been wrestling since age four and is a five time state wrestling champion; two time champion in South Dakota and three time champion in New Mexico. Miranda also earned the championship title in four national wrestling tournaments. Miranda received the coveted honor of New Mexico Youth Wrestler of the Year 2024 award, and finished her 2024 season undefeated. Miranda is very proud to have had articles written about her athletic accomplishments and was interviewed by the local news. During her segment Miranda was chosen to represent Women’s History Month and the fastest growing high school sport in the country which currently is women’s wrestling. Miranda is a huge promoter of girls joining wrestling and encourages everyone she can to try wrestling out. Miranda was a pioneer of the sport in her early career and was the only girl on her team from 2013-2017 in South Dakota. Girls wrestling was virtually unheard of when Miranda first started, so she mainly wrestled boys. Miranda continues to wrestle at the high school level and recently earned a spot on the V. Sue Cleveland varsity team as a freshman. Miranda’s goals are to be a four time state high school champion, wrestle for the University of Iowa, become an Olympic wrestler and join the UFC. <Back

Krista Hodder Mi’kmaw from Membertou First Nation Induction Category: Year Inducted Builder 2023 <Back Krista Hodder is an Indigenous woman from Membertou First Nation, located in the heart of Unama’ki, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. She lives in her community with her two children. Krista began her career as a Child and Youth Worker, when she discovered her passion for sport, recreation and physical activity as a means to keep her community active, healthy and safe. She was the Mi’kmaw Physical Activity Coordinator for Membertou for eight years, beginning in 2013. It was in this role that she grounded and developed herself and her priorities. While working with her community, Krista worked with other Indigenous Communities to develop a developmental snowboard program designed to assist Indigenous youth to break down the barriers. The program saw as many as 400 youth come through the doors, with many going off to become snowboard instructors, giving back to the program that has gotten them started. As a hockey mom, Krista noted the discrepancies in opportunities for females to have a safe, supportive spaces to develop skill and build the love of the game. Working with stakeholders, Krista assisted in developing the Indigenous Girls Hockey Program, running for 10 weeks out of her home arena. The program provided gear and weekly practices. Most participants returned year after year, which has also given a boost to the local female hockey association. Some notable awards and recognition that Krista has seen include being named to the 2016 Most Influential Women in Sport and Physical Activity in Canada list, as the overall woman in the Builders category by Canadian Women and Sport. Krista has also been included in a timeline of Influential Women in the Public Service Sector, a national timeline featuring over 150 women from the 1600s to today, compiled by Canada's School of Public Service. In 2020, Krista was honored with the title of Hockey Canada's champion for the month of June. After many great years serving her community, Krista took a leap of faith, and a new title. She is now the Senior Coordinator of Programs and Events with the Aboriginal Sport Circle – Canada’s national voice for Aboriginal sport, physical activity and recreation, with her focus being on developing, supporting and delivering sport programs for Indigenous athletes across the country, providing opportunities and spaces for Indigenous youth to thrive in their sport. Photo 1 (winter photo): Krista participating in a walking meeting with the Active Cape Breton Communities Group. Photo Credit: Wayne McKay Photo 2 (profile): Krista smiles while discovering an eagle feather during a recreation meeting. Photo Credit: Jeannine Denny

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.

< Back Ray Fougnier Ray Fougnier Oneida Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2025 On his 81st birthday on April 5, 2024, Oneida tribal member and grandfather Ray Fougnier set 13 new world records and earned four gold medals at the 2024 Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) North American Powerlifting Championships. Fougnier also earned the AAU Powerlifting Best Overall Male Lifter Award and the Best Squat Award, named as the best athlete of all competitors, regardless of age. In 2023, Fougnier was named the AAU National Powerlifter of the Year. The year prior, he earned the 2022 AAU Strength Sports Best Overall Male Athlete of the Year Award, which includes powerlifting, weightlifting, body building and feats of strength. These awards include all competitors, regardless of age. Fougnier has competed at the AAU North American, World and International Powerlifting Championships for ten years, setting new records every time in the raw master’s division, where participants within his age range (80-84) do not use equipment to assist their lift. In addition to his success in powerlifting, Fougnier is also an accomplished educator, administrator and academic. After growing up in the homelands of the Oneida Indian Nation in Upstate New York, the weightlifting champion was selected to serve as the first Director for the American Indian Program at Cornell University. He also served as a teacher or administrator in the East Syracuse-Minoa, Solvay, Westhill and Syracuse City school districts. Fougnier started powerlifting at the age of 70. He was a natural athlete and lifted throughout high school when he was playing sports more consistently. The primary reason for powerlifting later in life was seeing both of his parents struggle with their health. His father was diagnosed with cancer and passed at the age of 66 shortly after retiring. His mother developed diabetes in her 40s and struggled with managing that disease up until she passed at the age of 72. Fougnier has spent the last ten years as a World Champion, and now having entered his third age group in competition, he knows his success supports the correlation between strength training and disease prevention. Source/Photos: Oneida Indian Nation <Back

Kathy Smith Mohawk Induction Category: Year Inducted Builder 2024 <Back A member of the Mohawk Nation, Sha’tekariwate turtle clan, and raised on the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory in Canada, Kathy Smith was inspired by her father’s involvement in minor sports at Six Nations, and the lack of opportunities for girls to play sports when she was growing up. Her lacrosse journey began with Six Nations Girls Field Lacrosse, where she held positions from coach to house league convenor to Vice President. In 2006, Smith entered the international arena as a member of the Haudenosaunee Women’s Lacrosse (HWL) Board, formed to take women’s field lacrosse teams to play in World Championships. When the original Board was dismantled after the 2007 U19 World Championship, Smith was asked to create a new Board in 2008. A new aspect of Smith’s lacrosse journey began as the Chairperson of the HWL Board, eventually evolving into the Executive Director of the Haudenosaunee Nationals Board of Directors (HNBOD). From 2008 to 2021, she led the Haudenosaunee women to World Cups in 2009, 2013 and 2017 and U19 World Championships in 2011 and 2019. A journey with challenges and lessons, the biggest challenge was the U19 women being denied entry into Scotland to play in the 2015 World Championship. Learning the lessons of perseverance, believing in possibilities, and doing the necessary work, the Haudenosaunee women travelled to England on Haudenosaunee passports in 2017 to play in the World Cup. By entering Germany in 2011 and England in 2017, the HNBOD furthered the acceptance and legitimacy of Haudenosaunee passports. Knowing the women needed to be their best; physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, Smith incorporated visualizations, affirmations, and tapping into preparing the women for competition. Recognizing empowered women build strong families, clans, nations, and communities, she hoped the experience of representing the Haudenosaunee on the world stage, persevering through adversity, and believing in their ability to have, be, or do whatever they want, will be passed on to future generations. During Smith’s time as the leader of the Haudenosaunee women’s lacrosse program, the women had autonomy, self-sufficiency and independence, a women’s program led by women, true empowerment of women.

< Back Ukaleq Slettemark Ukaleq Slettemark Inuit Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Ukaleq Slettemark is a Greenlandic Biathlete who competed in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, where she was the only biathlete, regardless of gender, who hit all 30/30 targets in the individual and sprint competition. In 2019 she won gold in the youth World Championships in Osrblie, Slovakia. She has several other top 10 results in the Junior World Championships from 2017, 2019 and 2021. Ukaleq is inuk and grew up in Greenland with no access to a biathlon shooting range. In 2016 she moved to Norway to pursue biathlon. She currently lives in Norway where she trains and competes with a Norwegian private team. In Norway she is considered one of the best biathletes in her age group, with several podiums and gold Medals in the Norwegian cup and Norwegian championships, as well as a few podiums in the senior category. Norway is considered the best biathlon nation in the world. In 2018 she won the overall Norwegian cup score for the girls 17 group. Photo: Proudly wearing a sealskin cap during training. <Back

< Back Phil Fontaine Phil Fontaine Sagkeeng Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2026 Phil Fontaine was born at Sagkeeng (formerly Fort Alexander) in Manitoba, where his first language was Ojibway (Anishinaabemowin). At the age of six, Phil and his siblings were forcibly removed from their family home and required to attend Fort Alexander Residential School, in accordance with Canadian government policy of the time. While at Fort Alexander Residential School, Phil learned to skate and began playing hockey with the Fort Alexander Braves. He played with the team until age fourteen, when he was transferred to Assiniboia Residential School in Winnipeg. Known as an exceptional and fast skater, Phil was selected to the Winnipeg City All-Star Team, playing for the Southern Division for two consecutive seasons. He was later invited to try out for the Fort Frances Royals of the Canadian Junior Hockey League and played with the team briefly. Alongside his athletic pursuits, Phil earned his high school diploma and later graduated with a university degree in political science. He married and raised two children, Mike and Maya. At age 27, Phil became the youngest Chief at Sagkeeng and went on to serve as Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations. Throughout his political career, Phil used his leadership to expose the systemic abuses endured by Indigenous children in residential schools. He is widely recognized for his pivotal role in negotiating the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, which provided compensation to survivors and led to the creation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Despite the demands of public office, Phil remained deeply connected to hockey. He played with the Sagkeeng Old Timers, members of the Canadian Old Timers Hockey Association, competing internationally from 1982 to 1988. The team won World Cup titles in Munich (1983) and Montreal (1987), as well as the COHA National Cup in 1988, and was honoured by the Hockey Hall of Fame. Today, Phil serves as Special Advisor to Ishkonigan Inc., an Indigenous consulting firm he founded. He continues to follow hockey and enjoys travelling with his wife and spending time with his children and grandchildren. <Back

< Back Shayna Powless Shayna Powless Oneida Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2022 Shayna Powless is a member of the Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin, a USA Cycling-certified coach and a professional cyclist for DNA Pro Cycling. She grew up in Roseville, California and currently resides in Jacksonville, Florida. She graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2016 and was a member of the UCLA cycling team for four years. She co-founded the Dreamcatcher Foundation with her fiance, Eli Ankou, who is a professional football player and member of the Dokis First Nation in Canada. The foundation aims to empower Native youth through sports by providing equipment and camps. The foundation also aims to raise awareness of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) crisis in North America, as well as raise funds for organizations actively fighting this crisis. Shayna has domestic and international professional race experience in road, track, gravel, mountain biking and virtual (Zwift) racing. She also has experience racing at events such as the World Championships, National Championships, Pan Am Games, World Cups, Swiss Cups, criteriums, one-day races, and stage races. <Back

< Back SilentRain Espinoza SilentRain Espinoza Kumeyaay and Penobscot Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2025 SilentRain Espinoza is a descendant of the Kumeyaay and Penobscot Indian Reservations. She is the daughter of Greybuck and Mackenzie Espinoza, oldest of three with siblings Greysun and Youngbuck Espinoza. Born and raised in Alpine, California, her softball career started at the age of four playing for the Intertribal Sports League that competed against other surrounding reservations. Her freshman year of high school was when she verbally committed to playing NCAA Division I softball at the University of Washington, a renowned institution and one of the powerhouses in college softball. In 2019, SilentRain finished her freshmen season as a starter in the Women’s College World Series where the Huskies placed third. Her freshmen accolades included being named Pac-12 All-Freshman, NFCA All-Region Third Team, and Pac-12 Freshman of the Week (April 22). SilentRain was fortunate to play five seasons with the Washington Huskies due to Covid-19. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a Master’s in Education. Graduating in 2023, she left the University of Washington having competed in two Women’s College World Series. She continued her softball journey professionally and is a Nike N7 ambassador. Her first season was with the USSSA Pride in Viera, Florida where she was named to the All-WPF team as a rookie. Her second season was with the Texas Smoke out of Austin, Texas where she was again named to the All-WPF team. SilentRain aims to inspire the future indigenous generations to continue their journey in sport and set their standards high despite the lack of representation of indigenous people in the spaces around them. Creating your own path and legacy is how we will continue our culture and presence in this world. <Back

< Back Kevin Sandy Kevin Sandy Cayuga Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete/Coach/Builder 2023 Kevin Vincent Sandy belongs to the Lower Cayuga Nation, Wolf Clan, Haudenosaunee and resides on Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. His two amazing children are Aamisk and Menaywaywyn who belong to the beautiful Mushkegowuk and Haudenosaunee way of life of their parents. Sandy was the first General Manager of the Six Nations Arrows Lacrosse team who went on to become the first Indigenous team in the world to win the Minto Cup Canadian Jr. A Lacrosse Championship in 1992. He enjoyed visiting families, bringing the players together, to come home and believe in a dream to compete at the highest level possible in their sport of choice. He’s been the General Manager of the Six Nations Rebels who won Canadian and Ontario Lacrosse Championships in the late 1990’s. Sandy has helped build, plan and organize the Haudenosaunee National teams who won silver at the 2007 World Indoor Lacrosse Championships (Halifax, NS) and 2008, U-19 World Field Lacrosse Team (Coquitlam, BC). Sandy has functioned as a builder/organizer in hosting, staging and delivering the 2017 North American Indigenous Games, Box Lacrosse Competition at Six Nations of the Grand River, which seen girls competing for the first time at these games. Record crowds and players participated in the games, which was held at three separate venues over a one-week period in Grand River Territory. He also helped host and stage the World Indoor U19 Lacrosse Challenge at Six Nations of the Grand River Territory (2015) prior to the World Indoor Lacrosse Championships (Onondaga Nation). <Back

< Back Roy Old Person Sr. Roy Old Person Sr. Blackfeet Induction Category: Year Inducted Roy Old Person Sr. grew up on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Montana. He is a graduate of Browning High School, Haskell Institute and attended Wichita State University. Browning HS didn’t compete in cross country when Old Person Sr. was there and the longest competitive distance was one mile. He began his running career as a senior in high school and placed third in the mile at the 1964 Montana State Track Meet. At Haskell Institute, Old Person Sr. was provided with coaches with extensive experience and fellow athletes with long distance running experience that helped him mature to the elite level. He won his first college race and his career began at a record pace. In 1965 he became the only runner from Haskell to ever win the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Championship setting a new national record of 15:02.1 in the three mile distance, and he ran it 26 seconds faster than the runner the previous year and today his time is still the second fastest in the history of the Junior College Championship meet. He also represented Haskell at the Kansas Relays running against many of the top runners in the country including the Olympic Champion Jim Ryan and Billy Mills. He received an athletic scholarship to Wichita State University and competed in the three and six mile cross country distances, and steeplechase, 5,000 and 10,000 meters track distances. At Wichita State University Old Person Sr. earned Cross Country All Conference in 1967. He was the 1967 Four Mile Individual Champion in a time of 19:46.7, All-Time Men's Cross Country Individual Missouri Valley Conference Champion, 1969 Cross Country All Conference, and All-Time All Conference Honoree in 1967 and 1969. In 1967 he ran a personal best 29:49 six mile race at the Midwest Federation race. He ran a Shocker record three mile race in 14:02.5 on October 25, 1969. He also set personal track bests a 4:20.2 mile and 9:12 two mile. In the 1960’s Old Person Sr. ran in many of the major university track meets including the University of Kansas Relays, University of Texas Relays, University of Oklahoma Relays, Drake Relays, Oklahoma State Relays, University of Missouri Relays, and National Track Meet at Garden City, KS. <Back