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< Back Kenneth Strath Moore Kenneth Strath Moore Cree Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2024 Kenneth Strath Moore is the first First Nation athlete to win an Olympic gold medal. A citizen of the Peepeekisis Cree Nation, he was born in Saskatchewan, Canada in 1910. Moore would excel at every sport he played, including hockey, baseball, lacrosse, rugby, basketball, speed skating and cycling, although he was most passionate about hockey. His athletic and academic abilities enabled him to win scholarships, and he attended Campion College and Regina College in the late 1920s at a time when almost no First Nations students attended universities and colleges. He captained hockey and rugby teams, played baseball and basketball, and was described as “the most versatile athlete in the College.” Moore became a Canadian Junior Hockey Champion in 1930, scoring the winning goal with 40 seconds left in the game to win the Memorial Cup. He won two Allan Cup National Hockey Championships, and in 1932 traveled to Lake Placid, New York, to represent his country and the Cree Nation at the Olympics. There he scored a goal in the game against Poland, won a gold medal, and made history. Today, Moore’s achievements would be exceptional. A century ago, his achievements are extraordinary. He represents excellence and what can happen when talent and heart triumph over poverty and prejudice. After Moore’s retirement from sport a Winnipeg newspaper noted “It is doubtful if any other athlete in Canada has a record that will stand up to that of Moore’s.” He gave back to the community by coaching three teams to championship titles and sitting on the board of the Manitoba Amateur Hockey Association. In 1967 Moore’s Regina Pats hockey team was inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame, in 1976 his Kimberley Dynamiters team was inducted into the British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame, and in 1987 the Winnipegs, his 1932 Olympic hockey team, was inducted into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame. Moore’s accomplishments were celebrated in 2018 in a hockey exhibit at the Manitoba Museum, and his achievements are on display at the British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame. <Back

< Back Kyle Ḵaayák’w Worl Kyle Ḵaayák’w Worl Tlingit, Deg Hit’an Athabascan and Yup'ik Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2022 Kyle Ḵaayák’w Worl is an award-winning Arctic Sports athlete and coach currently residing in Juneau, Alaska. Worl is Tlingit of the Lukaax̱.ádi clan, Deg Hit’an Athabascan and Yup'ik. Over his 13 year career in the sport he has won over 100 medals, traveling through Alaska, Canada and Greenland to participate in various competitions. He is credited for spurring a renaissance in Arctic Sports in southeast Alaska as the first coach for Juneau in over 25 years to bring a team to the Native Youth Olympics in 2018. Along with training and coaching year-round in Alaska, Worl travels across the world to share Arctic Sports, including the Riddu Riddu Festival in Norway, Orenda Art International Gallery in Paris, and Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. Currently, Worl works with the Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska as the Wellness Coordinator, overseeing a region-wide Traditional Games program. A few of his accolades include being featured in October 2019 Men’s Health Magazine; 2018 & 2019 NYO Games Alaska Healthy Coach Award; 2021, 2018, 2017 & 2016 World Eskimo Indian Olympics Outstanding Athlete Award. Arctic Sports are a collection of Indigenous games based on hunting and survival skills of the north. The games trained both physical and mental abilities that allowed the indigenous people of Alaska, Canada, Greenland and Chukotka to thrive in the Arctic for millennia. Today athletes from across the Arctic and beyond carry on the tradition of the games in events such as Native Youth Olympics, World Eskimo-Indian Olympic, and Arctic Winter Games. Photos: Nobu Koch, Sealaska Heritage and Greg Lincoln, Delta Discovery. <Back

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

< Back James Lavallée James Lavallée Métis Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2022 Born and raised in Winnipeg, James is a proud Métis who grew up paddling on the Red and Assiniboine Rivers. James has represented Canada internationally at various kayak competitions including the 2014 and 2015 Canoe Sprint Junior World Championships. In 2016, James was named to Canada’s national canoe-kayak team. In 2017, James proudly wore his Métis sash on the podium after winning three medals for Team Manitoba at the Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg. In October 2017, he received the national Tom Longboat Award presented to the top Indigenous male and female athletes of the year. In 2019 James was presented with an Indspire award in the category of Métis youth. In the summer of 2020 James co-founded Waterways Recreation with the mission of supporting community wellness by using canoeing and outdoor recreation to connect Indigenous youth to cultural skills and identities. To date, Waterways has provided thousands of Indigenous youths with the opportunity to connect with their cultures through community led canoeing summer camps and paddling programs. When he is not out on the water sharing his passion for paddling James studies at Concordia University where he plans to major in management and minor in political science <Back

< Back Alicia Guerrero Alicia Guerrero Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2025 Alicia Guerrero is an enrolled member of the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation who has grown up and attended school on the Yakama Reservation. Guerrero lost her left leg in 2005 at the age of two years old. Beginning her Para Athletics career in 2018, she broke multiple Washington State records as a high school freshman and has since competed nationally in the F64 category for shot put and discus. Guerrero competed in wheelchair basketball and throwing events at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign before transferring to San Diego State University in 2024 to fully dedicate herself to her competitive throwing career. Beyond the field, Guerrero is passionate about education, with aspirations to become an elementary school teacher serving Native American communities. Guerrero’s drive stems from a commitment to representation—both for disabled athletes and strong Indigenous women. She proudly incorporates her heritage into her competitions, wearing beaded earrings and bold, creative makeup as a testament to the spaces where Indigenous excellence belongs. Guerrero was named to the 2022 National team for shot put. In 2023, she made her international debut at the Para Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, earning her first international medal: bronze in the F64 discus throw. When not competing, Guerrero channels her creativity into beading jewelry, spending time withher dogs and birds, and finds peace by the ocean. <Back

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

Theodore Niizhotay Fontaine <Back Sagkeeng Anishinaabe First Nation Induction Category: Media/Team Year Inducted 2023 Theodore Niizhotay Fontaine, Anishinaabe hockey player, Chief, Elder, author, educator, public speaker. Theodore survived 12 years incarcerated in Indian residential schools, experiencing sexual, physical, emotional and spiritual abuse. The freedom of playing hockey as a child, and later as an adult, was critical to his survival. Theodore played senior and semi-professional hockey, signing a “C” contract with the Detroit Red Wings, but overt racism led him to give up his opportunity. This lifelong regret led to his determination to succeed in spite of his residential schools experiences. He graduated in Civil Engineering in 1973, and served as Chief of Sagkeeng First Nation. He played for 10 years with the Sagkeeng Oldtimers, winning international, national and regional awards, including three World Cups. He initiated donations of personal and hockey artifacts to Canada’s Hockey Hall of Fame and to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Theodore dedicated his career to supporting Indigenous people, including 11 years with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, and serving on boards supporting Indigenous participation in the Pan-American Games, sports, social and economic issues. He taught Indigenous Governance at the Banff Centre for Management and co-founded the Indigenous Leadership Development Institute. His work led to reclamation and commemoration of the Assiniboia Residential School and publishing of survivor stories Did You See Us?. His national bestselling memoir, Broken Circle: The Dark Legacy of Indian Residential Schools, led to public speaking to 1600 audiences from students to professionals in sports, justice, policing, corrections, social services and health care. He authored the foreword for Colonial Genocide in Indigenous North America; the foreword to Stolen Lives: The Indigenous Peoples of Canada and the Indian Residential Schools; and contributed to multiple Indigenous publications and anthologies. Theodore’s leadership and success through activism and writing are his legacy for Indigenous truth and equity in Canada. Photos: Theodore at left, Fort Alexander Indian Residential School about 1950 Theodore speaking to health professionals University of Manitoba Grand Rounds

Maurice “Mo” Smith Category Athlete Tribe Navajo Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 11/20/1962 Maurice “Mo” Smith is the Executive Director for the Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake (UICSL). Mo is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who grew up in an urban Indian community in Denver, CO. He has been a “friend” to Indian Country for many years, better known for his work and accomplishments while serving as the Executive Director for the Native American Sports Council, a member-organization of the United States Olympic Committee. His passion and inspiration for his work today stems from his identity of a friend to Indian Country, better known for his work with the Native American Sports Council in the area of Sports and Wellness; hosting the largest sports and cultural celebration of North America, the 2006 North American Indigenous Games (7,000+ athletes). Maurice “Mo” Smith is the first documented enrolled tribal member to break the sub-four minute mile with a personal best of 3:55. Mo is from the Navajo Nation and grew up in an urban Indian community in Denver, CO. Mo is a five-time NAIA National Champion in Track & Field (800 & 1,500 Meters) while attending Adams State College in Alamosa, Colorado. Competed in 1988, 1992 and 1996 Olympic Track & Field Trials. Responsible for hosting and administrating the 2006 North American Indigenous Games in Denver, Colorado. Completed five Marathons including the 2021 Boston Marathon in October during Indigenous Peoples Day. Mr. Smith obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Adams State College and a Masters of Arts with a concentration in Non-Profit Management from Regis University. Originally from Colorado, Mr. Smith has lived and worked in various parts of the country including New Mexico, Montana, Arizona, Washington, no residing in Washington DC. His past employment experiences include serving as the Executive Director of the American Indian Business Leaders, the Director of Programs and Government Contracts for the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, Inc., the Executive Director of the Native American Sports Council, the Program Manager for the United States Olympic Committee and the Development Director of Wings of America. Mountain trail running, play in charity golf tournaments, and spending time with his two children and four grandchildren are a few of his past times. His 1990 Steve Prefontaine Mile winning sub-4:00 minute race is located here: Home Film Screenings 2026 2026 Banquet 2026 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

Tim Moccasin Cree Induction Category: Year Inducted Trainer 2025 <Back Tim Moccasin is a professional jockey from the Saulteaux First Nation in Saskatchewan. Tim’s passion for horses started at a young age; spending much of his time with friends and family riding and working with horses. At the age of 12, Tim was already competing as a jockey in bush meets throughout Saskatchewan. Tim started his professional racing career in 1994, at the age of 16, at Marquis Downs in Saskatoon. He obtained his first professional win that year on a horse named Moneytree Muncher. Tim went on to win multiple leading jockey awards at Marquis Downs. The majority of his career was spent in Saskatoon but has also raced at tracks inManitoba and Alberta. During his career as a professional jockey Tim competed in both thoroughbred and quarter horse racing. Tim has 3,349 thoroughbred starts with 624 wins, 518 seconds, and 463 thirds. Tim has 283 Quarter horse starts with 58 wins, 48 seconds, and 53 thirds. In his 2001 season at Marquis Downs Tim set, and continues to hold, the North American record for the most consecutive wins with 14 wins. Tim rides a little less professionally but continues to dedicate a large part of his life to horses. In recent years Tim has competed in Indian Relay racing with its growing popularity in Saskatchewan. He enjoys interacting with the younger generation of riders giving them advice so they can become more confident and safer riders. The next step in his thoroughbred racing career is to become more involved in the training aspect of racing. Tim continues to reside in Saskatchewan with his wife and during the off-season he enjoys being with his children and watching them participate in sports such as hockey and volleyball.

Dano Thorne,’kwaliquinum’ <Back Coast Salish Cowichan and Nez Perce Induction Category: Year Inducted Coach 2022 A First Nations life-long advocate for sport, recreation, youth, and sport from grassroots to international level. A national level coach and coach instructor and founding member national aboriginal coaching modules the first master coach in this program, instructor in national coaching certification program, life skills coach mentor, suicide prevention mentor, physical literacy and multi-sport mentor, technical advisor to national and provincial sports groups and technical advisor and interim board member of world games movement. A lifetime professional commitment to create and develop sports and recreation for youth across North America. As an athlete, Indigenous Team Canada Indoor Soccer 1989-1998, Pro Soccer 1986-1988, Premier League Men’s Soccer 1979-1999, Duncan United Indigenous Men Provincial Champions and numerous MVP honors, and British Columbia (BC) Champions in 1990 and 1991. As a head coach, men’s teams won BC Champions 3 times in 1990, 1991, and 2001 and women in 1992. Men national runner-up 2001, women world champions 2015, 2017, Cuba U20 2019 and women North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) champions in 1993 and 1995. As an advocate and leader including being a board member, NAIG Council, Aboriginal Sport Circle, Team BC chef de mission, Special Olympics North America, National Indigenous Physical Activity Cultural Circle, founder NIFA Soccer Society, member of national sports committee appointed by sport minister and numerous other committees. Awards and honors include five-time BC Coaching Awards, three-time National Coach Awards, first ever Indigenous National Coach of the Year 1999. Graduate National Coaching Institute 1995 and presently completing the Canada Sport Institute Master Coaching Diploma. A two time athlete of the year as Cowichan Tribes Athlete in 1976 and 1979. With his 2015 team world champions he was inducted into the BC Soccer Hall of Fame in 2021. Dano has holistic approaches and remembers his cultural teachings of his family and elders. He is recognized for humility and integrity, respect of diversity and working for all people of indigenous ancestry and beyond. Believe who you are and live your dreams to all youth. Dano has been walking the red road for 33 years and enjoys his life daily. Has a strong spiritual belief with the Creator.

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

J.R. Conrad Category Athlete Tribe Eastern Shawnee Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 2/2/1974 J.R. Conrad was born and raised in Northeast Oklahoma, and he is an Eastern Shawnee Tribal Member. J.R. grew up in Indian housing with his mom’s side of the family all living under the same roof for much of his childhood. Once he got to high school, he figured out football could pay for school and it could change the trajectory of his life, and future generations of his family. J.R. became an All-State player, a Gatorade Player of the Year for Oklahoma, and a Gatorade Player of the Year for the Southwest US. He went on to play football at the University of Oklahoma, and was the first true freshman to ever start at center in school history. He was a USA Today All American, started in over 40 games, and was a 4-year starter. Played in bowl games, and the Blue Grey All Star Game, got invited to the combine. He was drafted by the New England Patriots and was a part of Super Bowl 31 team, played for Bill Parcells, followed him to the New York Jets, and later spent a short time with the Dallas Cowboys. J.R. has been married to his wife Keisha for 24 years, and they have four children: Hayden, Hudson, Henley, and Holden. Home Film Screenings 2026 2026 Banquet 2026 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More