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Carol Pickett Hull Category Athlete Tribe Inupiaq Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 4/7/64 An Alaska Native Games icon from Alaska, Carol Pickett won the 1989 Denali Award as Alaska’s Sportsperson of the Year. Even as a teenager she proved to be a natural with jaw-dropping kicks that reached 7 feet, pushing the women’s records to new heights. She still holds the world record in the traditional one-foot high kick, set in 1990. Born and raised in Anchorage, AK, Carol began participating in traditional Native sports in 1979. Since then, Carol has competed successfully in the Native Youth Olympics, World Eskimo Indian Olympics and Arctic Winter Games – Inuit Sports. For 30 plus years of participating in traditional Native sports, Carol has won over 100 medals to her collection as well as the 1989 Alaska State Sportsperson of the Year, Outstanding Contributor Award from World Eskimo Indian Olympics and various other recognitions. Married to fellow Alaska Native Games icon Garry Hull, Carol continues to support traditional Native games events by volunteering, coaching, organizing and officiating events. Home 2027 Banquet 2027 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

< Back Kelly Babstock Kelly Babstock Anishinaabe from the Unceded Territory of Wikwemikong Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Kelly Babstock fell in love with hockey at a very young age, her desire and want to play the sport grew naturally. Kelly always made it very clear to her parents how much she loved the sport before even knowing how to play it. It was when she asked her father to take her out skating, without ever skating before. She put on her first pair of skates and naturally glided on the ice and that was the night where Kelly Babstock took her first step in becoming the natural born athlete she is today. Kelly is a native to Toronto, Ontario. Once she became of age she joined the Jr. league and she had started her career with the Toronto Jr. Aeros, and continued on to Quinnipiac University. In her four years with the team she would become the program’s all-time leader in goals (95), assists (108) and points (203). She helped lead the team to their first NCAA tournament berth in program history and was also the finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award. After her collegiate career, Kelly would move to the professional ranks and join the Connecticut Whale of the NWHL in 2015, and be named to the 2017 and 2018 NWHL All-Star games. She is currently playing in her seventh season in the league with the Metropolitan Riveters. Kelly was featured in Sports Illustrated following her outstanding college hockey career. Kelly was inducted into the LNHL Hall of Fame. Kelly has always been an inspiration for the indigenous community by having hockey camps and creating awareness on her social media platforms. With Kelly’s continuous growth she strives to create a stronger Indigenous platform, influencing the youth to find their love for the sport and to flourish from it. <Back

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Sam McCracken Category Builder Tribe Sioux and Assiniboine, Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 7/19/1960 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 Intrapreneur of the Year. Home 2027 Banquet 2027 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

Bennae Calac Category Builder Tribe Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 11/16/1969 Bennae is a strong Native woman, mother, business owner, mentor, teacher, and leader. Over the last 35 years, Bennae Calac has represented Pauma in various political, cultural, and administrative capacities. She has served as the repatriation chair since the age of twenty-one and her life’s work is to preserve the culture and traditions of her people. She is dedicated to the preservation and revitalization of Luiseño songs and dances and works with her own children and local youth programs to ensure that this traditional knowledge is instilled in the younger generation. Bennae was elected as Committee Member to the Pauma Band’s Tribal Council in December 2008 and served another two-year term as Secretary and Treasurer. Through her various Tribal roles, Bennae interacts with the youth, culture, public and political relations. Bennae continually answers the community’s call to speak on topics ranging from native wellness, health advocacy, domestic violence, women’s issues, and cultural preservation. Bennae serves on numerous boards and committees, including as the Co-Founder of the 7G Foundation , a (501)(c)(3) organization providing Native Americans, and other Indigenous people and communities, assistance in reaching their goals through Athletics, Education, Health-Mind-Body Practices, and Community. She has also established and serves as Board Chair for Onoo Po Strategies , a multifaceted consultancy and holding company with capabilities in Economic Development, Technology, Procurement and Distribution, Business Strategy and Marketing, and Environmental and Agricultural Management. Photo: Mom (left) and daughter at the US Bank Stadium, Minneapolis. Home 2027 Banquet 2027 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

< Back Patti Dillon Patti Dillon Mi'kmaq Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Patti Dillon was one of the most storied and accomplished runners of her era. Rising from complete obscurity to win the 1976 Ocean State Marathon, she quickly established herself as the best female runner in the Boston Area. By 1979, however, she was one of the most fearsome competitors in the United States. The next three years would see her finish runner up at the Boston Marathon three times in succession; finish behind Grete Waitz in the 1980 NYC Marathon becoming the first American woman to break 2:30; set multiple American and world records; and help to usher in professional running in the United States, often at great cost to herself. Along the way, Patti was signed by Nike as their first sponsored female runner and was pivotal in pushing for and accepting prize money in road races. In one glorious stretch, Patti entered 48 road races and won 44 of them. She set world records in the 20k, half-marathon and 30k and a world record in the women’s only marathon. Patti also won the Honolulu Marathon 4 times, winning in course record times with each successive race. After retiring in 1986, Patti married US Cross-country National Team standout Dan Dillon. They have two wonderful children, Aaron and Raven, and a growing pack of golden retrievers. Patti is now the Head Coach of the first professional Native American running team in US history with the intention of developing world class talent across Native Americans communities. Patti held the World Record for 5 miles, 20k, 13.1 miles, 30K twice, and 26.2 miles. American records included the 10k 6x, 15k 2x, and 10 miles. She broke the American Marathon record three times and held them all at the same time. <Back

Jeff Shattler Category Athlete Tribe Ojibwa Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 12/26/1984 Jeff Shattler, a Toronto raised Native from the Ojibwa tribe, has played in the National Lacrosse League (NLL) for 15 years. Shattler spent his rookie year with the Buffalo Bandits, but spent the majority of his career with the Calgary Roughnecks. Jeff is currently in his 16th season, with the Saskatchewan Rush where he was most recently named playoff MVP during the 2018 season, and where he helped win the team the championship that year. In addition to two NLL championships during his career, Jeff has also won two Mann Cup championships and participated in nine all star games. Prior to his latest achievements with the Saskatchewan Rush, Shattler had several other career highlights with the Calgary Roughnecks. In 2011 he was awarded with both the ‘Transition Player of the Year’ and the ‘League MVP. Shattler also represents Team Iroquois on an international level where he helped secure three world championships: one bronze medal in field lacrosse, and two silver medals in box lacrosse. At present, Shattler is the all time leading scorer amongst aboriginals in box lacrosse, and number 16 in the NLL. Currently, Shattler and his family are residing in Regina, Saskatchewan where he has founded, The Shattler Lacrosse Academy, an outlet he uses to spread his knowledge and passion for the sport to individuals all across North America. Home 2027 Banquet 2027 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

David Powless Category Athlete Tribe Oneida Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 5/29/43 David Powless’ high school football team was the undefeated Illinois State Champions of 1960. He was an All State offensive tackle. He received college football scholarship offers. He chose the Oklahoma University (OU). He left OU as a sophomore and went to the University of Illinois and played offensive guard on the University of Illinois Big 10 and Rose Bowl Championship team in 1964. In 1965 as a graduating senior he was drafted in the National Football League (NFL) by the New York Giants and also by the American Football League (AFL) by the Kansas Chiefs. He was with the New York Giants one year and then went to the Washington Redskins his second year. That year he had a spinal injury requiring surgery that ended his football career. Powless worked for Native American tribes including his Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin. He also owned several personal businesses. His expertise was in economic development. In 1983 he received an award in the “White House Rose Garden” from Vice President of the United States George Bush for the development of recycling technology. In 2008 he was inducted into the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame for his athletic contributions. Home 2027 Banquet 2027 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

Joy SpearChief-Morris Category Athlete Tribe Blackfoot (Blood Kainai) Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 3/17/1994 Joy is an Indigenous Black Canadian writer, advocate, and athlete. She is a proud member of the Kainai Blood Tribe and grew up in Lethbridge, Alberta. Joy is a retired 100m hurdler in athletics, three-time Canadian National Championship finalist and two-time Team Canada member. As a member of Team Canada, she is a 2014 North American Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) U23 silver medalist and a fifth place finisher at the 2019 FISU World Universidad. She has sat on the AthletesCAN Board of Directors and Athletics Canada’s Athletes Council, and now sits on the AthletesCAN Diversity and Equity Advisory Committee. Joy has achieved several notable accolades. Most notably, she was the 2016 and 2017 OUA Female Track MVP, 2017 USports Student-Athlete Community Service Award winner, 2017 Tom Longboat Award winner and the featured cover athlete for the 2019 May/June issue of Canadian Running Magazine. Joy has a Bachelor’s degree in History and First Nations Studies and a Master’s degree in Political Science specializing in Transitional Justice and Post-Conflict Reconstruction from Western University. Joy is now pursuing a career as a journalist, having bylines in The Globe and Mail and CBC Sports. She is currently in the Master of Journalism program at Carleton University. Home 2027 Banquet 2027 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

< Back Cory Witherill Cory Witherill Navajo Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2026 Cory Witherill is a Navajo professional race car driver from Pacific Palisades, CA who competed in the INDYCAR Series, Indy Racing League, NASCAR, ARCA and ASA series. He made an incredible bump day qualifying run on a brand new Menard’s engine to qualify for the 2001 Indianapolis 500, becoming the only full-blooded Native American to race in the Indy 500. He finished nineteenth after a flat tire, dropping to 26th and two laps down. Most of the race prior to the flat, Cory was running near the top 10. In 2002 and 2003, he went to the Indy Racing League’s Infinity Pro Series driving for Ron Hemelgarn Racing. In 2002, he had eight podium finishes and one win at Nashville Super Speedway. In 2003 while driving for Hemelgarn Racing, Cory almost won, but finished second in the inaugural Freedom 100 race at the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Cory also competed in other forms of professional motorsports before making it to the Indy 500. He is a six-time Canadian Stadium Off-Road champion, 4 time U.S. Off Road Stadium champion and a professional motocross racer. He also raced in the Shelby Can-Am series, US F2000 series, CART Indy Lights and USAC sprint cars. Cory was raised and adopted by two loving non-native parents, Carole and Listion Witherill who are both very supportive in Cory for finding his path. He hopes one day to find and meet his biological family. <Back

Denise TsadeyohdiWaterman Category Builder Tribe Oneida Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 6/9/1953 Denise Tsadeyohdi Waterman is a Haudenosaunee Oneida Nation citizen and Turtle clan family member. Ms. Waterman has served as a teacher and Mathematics Specialist for nearly forty years at the Onondaga Nation School. In 2016 the NIEA-NYS awarded Teacher of the Year, and The NIEA awarded her the National Community Service Teacher of the Year in 2014. Ms. Waterman co-founded the Onondaga Nation Education organization, the Onondaga Nation Minor Athletics, & the Onondaga Nation OLA Junior Lacrosse, Advisory Board member for Ohngwe sports, and is a Founding Board member (1983) of the Iroquois National Lacrosse of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. Denise Waterman said, “I enjoy applying Haudenosaunee ideology manifesting itself through the Haudenosaunee lacrosse, which allows the entire world to see, learn, and feel the pride of indigenous peoples and lacrosse enthusiasts from every corner of the world.” During her tenure as Executive Director of the Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse 2010-2015, she wrote, established, and negotiated the 2011 FIL merger initiative for the Haudenosaunee regarding the full nation membership for all our people within the world lacrosse organization. She also is widely noted for winning the bid to host the international 2015 World Indoor Lacrosse Championships on Native Lands; under her auspices as Executive Director. The World Lacrosse. Inc., an international sporting organization, has awarded Ms. Waterman the International Spirit of Lacrosse Award in 1998, 2007, 2011, and 2016. Her colleagues say, “The sustainability and future of indigenous sports are protected, thanks to the vigilance and character and truth of Denise Waterman that is the energy, the positive leadership that is the inner wisdom that provides us a view beyond ourselves; at no expense to others.” Denise Waterman’s educational background includes a B.S., SUCO New York in Education, Master’s Syracuse University, CAS in Education Leadership, and Ed.D Executive Leadership candidate at LeMoyne College. Denise’s family members are Lawson, Madex, Kohen, Kimaura, Tia, and Gewas. Done:toh. Home 2027 Banquet 2027 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

Gerald (Jerry) Gourneau Turtle Mountain Chippewa Induction Category: Year Inducted Trainer 2023 <Back Gerald (Jerry) Gourneau, Mukaday Maaingan (Black Wolf) from the Horse clan is from the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Reservation in Belcourt, North Dakota. Jerry holds a Master’s degree in Administration graduating from Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD. He has worked as a teacher, administrator, project coordinator, director, and self-employed horse trainer. Jerry’s desire for thoroughbred horse racing and training began at the age of 16 when his father Larry Sr. with brothers Bill and Dave Sr. later identifying as “Gourneau Brothers Racing” purchased their first horse named “Sima’s Award”. His passion for racing grew as he began to work at various racing circuits in the United States and Canada. Tracks he frequented are Turf Paradise, Delta Downs, Fairgrounds, Sam Houston and Lone Star Park, Century Mile, Fonner Park, and Assiniboia Downs. He began to perfect his skills and knowledge as a horsemen along with the love of horses and his family pushed him to do the very best he could in making his First Nations people proud. Jerry just completed three consecutive years as the leading trainer at Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg, MB earning purse money of $1,850,050.00. The first leading trainer title came in 2019 and was successfully shared with his brother Dave Sr. The most memorable and meaningful times in horse racing are with family from Belcourt, ND and his wife Lyn Blackburde from Rainy River Manitou Rapids First Nation in Treaty 3 Ontario. Jerry was recently highlighted in a book published by the Manitoba Aboriginal Sport and Recreation Council celebrating the history of over 100 Indigenous athletes from Manitoba, Canada titled “A History of Excellence, The Untold Stories of Manitoba’s Indigenous Sport 2021”.