< Back Julius Poitra Julius Poitra Arikara Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2025 Julius Poitra grew up on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in the small town of White Shield, North Dakota. His Indian name, Swift Spirit, was given to him by his step mother Roberta Bear - sister to Robert Bear, the former Arikara Chief. Julius started running while in seventh grade at White Shield. Don Yellowbird, his cross country and track coach, was also his mentor and a father figure. Julius participated in football, basketball, track, and cross country. He excelled in running and won many high school races. During his senior year, Julius won the state two-mile outdoor and 3,000-meter indoor championships. Julius was ranked North Dakota's number one runner in track, and cross country, each year of high school and went on to All American while in college. After leaving White Shield, Julius attended Haskell Indian Junior College in Lawrence, Kansas. Julius competed in the track and cross country programs and was awarded the Tony CoffinAward. During his sophomore year of college, Julius was undefeated in cross-country winning the regional title and advancing to the national cross-country meet. He made All-American status running two miles with a foot injury. Julius ran the mile relay, two-mile run, steeple chase, as well as many indoor and outdoor track events. He was invited, and participated in, the Kansas University mile relay and during the summer ran in the national marathon and won the Team National Championship. He was recruited by several colleges and/or universities: University of Southern Alabama, University of Florida, Kansas State University, and North Dakota State University. After graduating from Haskell with a two-year degree, Julius enlisted in the U.S. Army to serve his country. He is a Desert-Storm veteran - serving from 1988 to 1993. After being honorably discharged, Julius returned to his home in White Shield and worked with students with special needs as well as coaching boys and girls track, cross country, and basketball for 25 years. After 25 years at White Shield School, Julius retired to enjoy the country life. He recently decided to come out of retirement to work for White Shield's Public Safety Department. Although he is back at work again, he still finds time to enjoy fishing, hunting, boating, and camping with his grandchildren. <Back

< Back Gino Odjick Gino Odjick Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2026 Gino Odjick grew up on the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation reserve near Maniwaki, Quebec. As a young hockey player he learned to play from his father Joseph Odjick and spent countless hours on the local outdoor rink. The Maniwaki Arena was named after him years later. Gino was drafted in the fifth round and 86th overall at the 1990 NHL Draft. He was called up to the Vancouver Canucks later that year, and made an immediate impact. Gino played in the NHL from 1990 to 2002, including eight years in Vancouver, two in Montreal and also with the New York Islanders and Philadelphia Flyers. In his career he had 64 goals, 73 assists and 2,567 penalty minutes in 605 regular season games. In the 1993-94 season he had a career high of 16 goals and 13 assists. He had a faithful following of fans who valued his physical toughness play and contributions to the Indigenous community. It was common for the fans to yell "Gino, Gino" often during his regular season games and 44 playoff games with Vancouver and Montreal. Gino was a key member of the 1994 Canucks team that lost the Stanley Cup in Game 7 of the final against the New York Rangers. The 2,127 penalty minutes he amassed as a Canuck was the most in franchise history. He retired from the NHL in 2002 due to heart health issues. He was awarded the 2015 Inspire Award for his contributions to the NHL and as a positive role model to Indigenous youth. This was one of the highest honors from the Canadian indigenous community. He was also inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 2021. Gino died at the age of 52 years old on January 15, 2023 from complications related to Amyloidosis, a disease he was diagnosed with in 2014 that affected his organs and heart. University Canada West (UCW) in downtown Vancouver offered The Gino Odjick Grant, a full-tuition scholarship valued at over $40,000. Named after Canucks legend Gino Odjick, this award is available to qualified Indigenous students—male or female—pursuing an undergraduate degree or an MBA at UCW starting this September. This scholarship honors Gino's legacy as a hockey powerhouse, leader, and mentor, providing an Indigenous hockey player the chance to achieve higher education beyond the rink. This scholarship reflects his legacy, fierce determination, and unwavering support to his community and teammates. <Back

Inupiaq Officials Jerod Phillips Cherokee Gary Hull Inupiaq Danny McCourt Algonquin/Iroquois Brian Chrupalo Pine Creek Frist Nation 282 Michael Thomas St. Croix Ojibwe

< Back Fawn Porter Fawn Porter Lower Cayuga Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2026 Fawn Porter has played lacrosse since she was as tall as the goal post. Growing up in Six Nations, Fawn was one of the few girls to play box lacrosse. Her dad, seeing her competitive nature, placed her in box lacrosse and the rest is history. She has represented her community at the provincial, national, and world stage. Fawn Porter played in the minors for the Six Nations Warriors, where they were the first ever Six Nation’s girl’s box lacrosse team to win the Pool A Championship of Ontario. Fawn continued to the national level with the first ever Team Iroquois in 2013 where she was named to the all-star team. Fawn Porter later joined Team Ontario to compete nationally and won a silver medal. Playing box lacrosse was for the love of the game. There was no higher league to elevate to. Fawn tried field lacrosse at Western University, as any discipline of lacrosse will fuel her desire to play. She earned two golds and a bronze during her time at Western University and was named to the all-star team as well as being named as a captain. With the support of family, Fawn played with the Haudenosaunee Nationals for the first time in 2022 at the Women’s National Championship in Maryland, as well as the first Sixes team playing at the World Games in Alabama. Fawn was also named captain of the first Haudenosaunee Women’s World box lacrosse team that won the bronze medal at the first Women’s World Box Lacrosse Championships. She was also a part of the 2025 Haudenosaunee Nationals Women’s Field Team that earned their first bronze medal. Fawn continues striving to remain in the training pools for the three disciplines of box, field, and sixes lacrosse with the Haudenosaunee Nationals. She continues to let lacrosse take her around the world, spreading the good medicine. Fawn is an ambassador for the World Box Lacrosse Global Network (WBLGN) and found her new love of coaching through her first coaching experience with the First Nation’s U15 Girl’s Box team that travelled to Halifax. Fawn continues assisting lacrosse programs in her community as she loves connecting with the youth through lacrosse. <Back

< Back Cheri Madsen Cheri Madsen Omaha Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Cheri Madsen was born in Omaha, Nebraska and her hometown is Nebraska City, Nebraska. Madsen represented the United States as a four-time Paralympian (1996, 2000, 2016, and 2020) and ten-time Paralympic medalist (2 golds, 5 silvers, and 3 bronzes). She participated in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games earning silver (400-meter) and bronze (100-meter) places; the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games Rio 2016, earning silver (400-meter) and fifth (100-meter) places; the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games earning gold (100-meter, 400-meter), silver (200-meter), and fourth (800-meter) places; the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games earning silver (100-meter, 200-meter) and bronze (400-meter, 800-meter) places; and the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games earning bronze (800-meter exhibition race) place. Madsen’s World Championship experience includes in 2019 bronze (100-meter) and fifth (400-meter) places. She participated in 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019. She earned seven medals including three silver and four bronze: Silver – 2017 (100-meter, 200-meter); 2015 (200-meter) Bronze – 2019 (100m), 2017 (400m), 2013 (200m, 400m) Bronze – 2019 (100-meter); 2017 (400-meter); 2013 (200-meter, 400-meter) Personal: Daughter of Mario and Mary Becerra...Mother to Reese and Malayna Madsen...Married Eric Madsen on June 2, 2001...Was left paralyzed by an unknown virus at age three...Began wheelchair racing in 1994 and qualified for her first Paralympic Games just two years later in Atlanta...First Native American female to win an Olympic exhibition bronze medal...Her 1996 Olympic and Paralympic pursuits were chronicled in a Nebraska Educational Television documentary entitled “The Cheri Becerra Story: God Made Her for This Sport”...Left racing for 13 years, returning to competition for the 2013 world championships in memory of her younger brother, Mario III, and their father, Mario Jr., who were killed in a car-train crash in 2007...Hobbies include scrapbooking, reading and watching her daughters compete in sports. <Back

< Back Rich Kilgour Rich Kilgour Tuscarora Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete/Coach 2026 Brothers Rich and Darris Kilgour played with each other and never against each other. In the beginning they played for both the St. Catharine’s Athletics Jr. A lacrosse team, where they won a Minto Cup together in 1990, and then with the Sr. A. Six Nations Chiefs where they won three Mann Cups in 1994-1996. From 1992-2009, Rich Kilgour played for the Buffalo Bandits, making him one of the longest tenured Bandits in NLL history. Rich participated in seven NLL Finals and won three of them in 1993, 1996 and 2008. He was the Bandits’ captain for a dozen years and he was also an assistant coach for the Bandits. By the time he retired after his 18-season NLL career, Kilgour accumulated 94 goals and 223 assists for 317 points. He also picked up over 750 loose balls and won over 300 faceoffs. Rich scored over 300 points and won over 300 faceoffs in his NLL career. Rich started playing with the Bandits in 1992 season and he retired after the 2009 season. He was the team captain for 12 seasons between 1998-2009. As a defenseman, he played 200 regular season games and ended his career with 107 goals, 249 assists, 356 points, 406 faceoff wins, 913 loose balls, and four NLL Championships in 1992, ’93, ’96, and 2008. Rich and Darris and the Bandits won the MILL Champion’s Cup in the franchise’s inaugural season. The brothers would win two more NLL titles playing together in the ’90s and then won another championship together, with Darris as head coach of the Bandits while Rich was still playing in 2008. By 2010, both Darris and Rich had been enshrined to the exclusive NLL Hall of Fame. Sources: Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame and NLL <Back

< Back Joseph Burton, Jr Joseph Burton, Jr Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Joseph Burton Jr. is a member of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians, in which he was raised and currently resides on the reservation. Joseph began playing sports at four years old, coached and mentored by his mother, Grandfather Charles “B-Bop” Silvas, aunt, and uncles. As he grew older he singled in on playing basketball which he excelled in. He played at West Valley High School in Hemet, CA where he was four-time MVP, four-time All Sun Belt league champion, and CIF Champion 2008. He continued on to Oregon State University with a full ride basketball scholarship, known as the first Native American in OSU history to receive a basketball scholarship. In addition, he along with Coach Robinson introduced the N7 games to OSU basketball in honor of indigenous culture, moreover becoming an ambassador for Nike N7. At OSU he was acknowledged as the first non-guard to record 1000+ points, 700+ rebounds and 300+ assists. While at OSU he visited the White House and met President Barack Obama on various occasions. Upon graduating in 2013, Joseph continued his professional basketball career overseas starting in Denmark playing for Aalborg Vikings. In the last nine years Joseph has played professional basketball in the Netherlands, Japan, Finland, and France. While playing in the French LNB league he's competed at Pro A and Pro B level being awarded MVP in 2016 and runner up 2017. He currently plays in the French FFBB league for Orchies NM1 Basketball. Averaging 21.8 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists, he is ultimately highly ranked with 30+ efficiency. <Back

< Back Naomi Plant Naomi Plant Anishinaabe Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete/Builder 2025 Naomi Plant was a proud Anishnabekwe from Wiikwemikoong Unceded Territory. In 2016 she played for the first ever U-19 Indigenous British Columbia (BC) female box lacrosse team and the team earned a bronze medal at the 2017 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG). She played on the Storm Select Society All Native team in 2018, won the silver medal in Six Nations, and placed third in the 2022 inaugural Women’s Box Lacrosse Tournament in San Jose. Naomi played for the Aquinas College (MI) women's lacrosse team from 2020-2022. Her best season was in 2021 when she scored 15 goals and 16 assists over 10 games. In total, Plant scored 26 times and assisted 23 more over 29 games. She accumulated 29 ground balls, nine caused turnovers, and 28 draw controls. Naomi played for Arlee High School (MT), was a captain in 2015 and received team awards each year, and she helped her team win three state championships. She was also awarded at State finals the all-star girl’s lacrosse team award three times. Naomi also played on the Flathead Indian Reservation 10 Sticks Lacrosse High School Boys’ Varsity Team. Naomi had an underlying drive to help Indigenous youth through sports. Having relatives throughout Turtle Island, she helped with numerous box lacrosse camps for female players in British Columbia, driving long hours to attend. This helped increase knowledge of the game and female participation in BC’s interior. She also ran camps on her home reservation in Arlee, Montana. This was her way of giving back to the sport and inspiring the next generation of male and female players. Her passion for sharing her knowledge of traditional sports wasn’t just refined to the Medicine Game, but also her passion for native games. She would teach these at several schools, cultural venues and community events. Some of these events and programs included Salish Cultural Camps, Patty and Willie Steven’s youth camp, Arlee School Native American Heritage Days, St. Ignatius Native American Heritage Days, Salish Institute lacrosse nights, and locally in her community. <Back

< Back Bradley Scott Croaker Bradley Scott Croaker Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2026 Bradley Scott Croaker was born August 31, 1976 in Bemidji,f Minnesota to Wanda Faye Headbird and William Leland Croaker. He is a member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. He was raised alongside his older sister Andrea and older brother William Jr. At the young age of nine years old Brad began his boxing adventure with the Leech Lake boxing club. His father William and Henry Harper were his coaches throughout his boxing career as he had many others along the way that helped him achieve his accolades including two older brothers William Jr. and Archie Larose. He boxed amateur for 15 years before taking time off to work and raise his family. Within those 15 years Brad earned his nickname of Ogichida by winning multiple local, state, regional, and national titles to he credits. He finished with an amateur record of 134 wins and 12 losses with 50+ KOs. He then turned professional at the age of 27 where he finished with a record of 4 wins 0 losses and 1 draw. As an amateur some of his credits included three National Silver Gloves titles at 80lbs, 119lbs, and 156lbs. Other accomplishments included multiple National Indian Jr. and Sr. Championships, 1992 National Junior Olympic runner up, 1993 North American Indigenous Games 156lb Champion, 1993 State Golden Glove 156lb Champion, and 1994 and 1995 State Golden Glove 165lb Champion. In 1995 Brad qualified for the National Golden Gloves tournament in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he finished as runner up, competing against every states best 165lb boxer. Throughout his boxing career Brad continued playing other sports and had some injuries which would prevent and delay him from continuing his boxing career. Brad said he pushed hard and finished where he needed to, not necessarily where he wanted to, in his career, to not only make a name for himself in the sport but to also put Leech Lake on the map and show others the relentless will power of all Native Americans past present and future. Brad’s wife is Lori and they have five children - Bradley, Jennalee, Brody, Rasean and Devante. <Back

< Back Kennis M. Bellmard II Kennis M. Bellmard II Kaw Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2026 Kennis (Ken) Bellmard is a member of the Kaw Nation. Ken is a 1976 graduate of Ponca City, Oklahoma High School where he was a three-time State wrestling place winner culminating in an undefeated season and a State championship. Ken was selected to the Oklahoma All State Wrestling team and was a USWF Junior National All-American and an AAU Greco-Roman National Champion. Ken competed in Bulgaria in 1975 and Japan in 1976 as a member of the Oklahoma AAU Wrestling team. Ken was a NCAA Division II National runner-up for Augustana College (SD) in 1977. He was a member of the Northern Oklahoma College wrestling team in 1978 and was a letterman for the Oklahoma State University Wrestling team in 1980 and 1981. Prior to entering Law School, Ken was a Junior High Wrestling Coach in Ponca City, Oklahoma where he coached a State Championship Team. He was also a High School Wrestling Coach at Newkirk, Oklahoma, where he coached a State Runner-up Team. Ken has been a Practitioner of Native America Law since 1990. Ken received an Associate of Arts degree from Northern Oklahoma College (1978), a Bachelor of Arts degree from Oklahoma State University (1981) and a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Law (1989). Ken is presently serving as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Economic Development at the United States Department of the Interior-Indian Affairs. A member of numerous professional associations, he has served as Chair of the Indian Law Section of the Oklahoma Bar Association and has been named as one the Best Law Firms for Native American Law in Oklahoma by US News and World Report. Ken has been on the forefront of Oklahoma Indian Gaming Development and Energy Development on Indian land. Ken is active in Kaw Nation cultural activities and has been a member of the Kaw Nation’s Cultural Committee and was drum keeper for the Kaw I-Lon-Shka Ceremonial Dances. As a member of the Board of Directors of USA Judo, Ken attended the Beijing and London Olympics as a member of the USA Judo delegation. <Back

< Back Juwan Nuvayokva Juwan Nuvayokva Hopi Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2024 Juwan Nuvayokva, a member of the Hopi Tribe, has a storied career in the sports of Cross Country, Track and Field and Long Distance Running. He grew up in the Hopi Village of Oraivi located in Arizona. Oraivi dates back to 1150 A.D., with the claim of being the oldest, continuous, inhabitant village in the United States of America. Oraivi continues to have no running water and electricity. Juwan was able to solidify a career that comes from humble beginnings. Nuvayokva grew up running in traditional races. Falling in love with the sport of running in high school, he became a six-time Arizona State Champion in Cross Country and Track & Field. He ran one of the fastest times in the state of Arizona in Cross Country during his time, a 14:56, running under Coach Rick Baker at Hopi High School. Hopi has won 27 consecutive state team titles, a national record. He continued his running career at the NCAA Division 1 level at Northern Arizona University (1997-2002). Nuvayokva never looked back under Coach Mann’s guidance. As a Native American, he was one of the first athletes to be on four Cross Country Big Sky Championship Teams and four Big Sky Track & Field Championship Teams and he won the Big Sky 10,000 meter event in 2002. Nuvayokva is honored to share that he accomplished obtaining one of the highest achievements and honors in NCAA Division 1 collegiate running, becoming an NCAA Division 1 All-American. With this honor, he ran in four NCAA Cross Country Championships, in which NAU made the podium in 2001, finishing in fourth place. After college, he continued to run professionally for six years with a Saucony shoe contract. He competed in numerous races including the USA Half Marathon Championships. He also finished seventh overall in the 2012 Arizona Rock and Roll Marathon. He continues to serve as an assistant coach at his alma mater Hopi High School. <Back

< Back Trent Jacobson-Janis Trent Jacobson-Janis Oglala Lakota Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2026 Trent Jacobson-Janis, an enrolled member of the Oglala Lakota Nation and is known by his Lakota spirit name Wóškate Waštélake, which means “Lover of the Game.” Trent’s love for lacrosse began at age 11 and has carried him through an outstanding career thus far. He was fortunate and skilled enough to start playing varsity high school lacrosse when he was 14 years old as an eighth grader. From earning an All Section Honorable Mention Defense award his first year of playing varsity lacrosse at Robbinsdale Armstrong High School in Plymouth, MN, to earning multiple 1st team all conference and section awards throughout his high school career. His freshman year of college lacrosse at Fort Lewis College he earned RMLC 2nd Team All-Conference LSM in 2023, then transferred back home to play at the University of Minnesota for his sophomore year earning Honorable Mention All-Conference LSM in 2024. College accolades included being named 2025 UMLC First Team All-Conference, MCLA Division I Honorable Mention All-American, and Scholar Athlete and earned him a spot on the Dean’s List for his junior year at the University of Minnesota, where he studies American Indian Studies and Business Management. He is still striving and eager to earn accolades for not only himself, but for his people and ancestors as well to make them proud. Off the field, Trent gives back through the Indigenous Lacrosse Alliance, whose mission is to revitalize the game in tribal and urban Indian communities. This past summer, Trent helped host the Lax-4-Life Camp, bringing together over 70 Indigenous youth from more than 15 tribal nations to learn the game while focusing on wellness, mindfulness, and community. Also this past summer and fall, he got his certificate for the Oyate Leadership Network 2025 Summer-Fall Cohort through the Tiwahe Foundation in which he was certified to have exceptional progress in Indigenous Leadership and unwavering dedication towards applying Indigenous life-ways and values. Janis-Jacobson coaches with the Minnesota Chill travel club lacrosse team, helping the next generation develop their skills and confidence through the game. He will strive to live up to his name of being a true “Lover of the Game” and leader in the Indigenous lacrosse community. <Back