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Kelvin Sampson <Back Lumbee Induction Category: Year Inducted Coach 2022 Kelvin Sampson (Lumbee, North Carolina) is a 33-year head coaching veteran at Houston, Indiana, Oklahoma, Washington State and Montana Tech. Sampson has compiled a 681-336 record during his career. He has led his teams to 16 NCAA Tournament appearances, including 11 in 12 years with the Sooners from 1994 to 2006. During his Oklahoma tenure, he guided the Sooners to 10 consecutive 20-win seasons, the 1999 Sweet 16, the 2002 Final Four and an Elite Eight appearance in 2003. Sampson is one of only 15 coaches in NCAA history to lead 4+ schools to the NCAA Tournament. With the Cougars’ run to the 2021 NCAA Final Four, Sampson became one of only 16 coaches to lead multiple schools to the Final Four. In only seven seasons at Houston, Sampson is the only coach in school history to lead the Cougars to six consecutive 20-win seasons and became the second-winningest coach in program history during the 2020-21 season. He already ranks as the school’s career leader with a .723 winning percentage. In his career, he has been named a National Coach of the Year four times. Sampson has received six conference Coach of the Year awards from four different leagues and guided every program he has led to multiple 20-win seasons during his stints. As a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, Sampson is the first and only Native American basketball coach to lead a program to the Final Four with the Oklahoma Sooners 2002 and Houston Cougars 2021.

Thomas Gardipy Jr. Beardy’s and Okemasis’ Cree Nation Induction Category: Year Inducted Trainer 2023 <Back Thomas Gardipy Jr. is a 4th generation Cree thoroughbred horse trainer. Tom is a very well known trainer across North America. His stats include 4851 lifetime starts with an impressive 872 wins, 847 seconds and 721 thirds, with a total earnings of $4,925,535.00. Throughout his career, Tom has amassed a number of awards, including the 2000, 2001 and 2002 Top Trainer award from Marquis Downs in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. In 2003, he received the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Circle of Honor Award for Sports Athlete Professional. Tom has accumulated a remarkable 6 Top Trainer awards from Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In the 19 years training at Assiniboia Downs, Tom always ranked in the top 3 trainers. Tom attributes his success to his wife of 39 years, Cheryl. When she is not taking the grandchildren to visit their Moshum (grandfather) in Winnipeg, she is maintaining the family farm in Beardy’s Cree Nation. In addition, his sons and daughter all assist and play a role in the day-to-day work training and caring for thoroughbred racehorses. Tom believes in helping and giving back to the community that has always supported him. Throughout his years training, he has employed many Indigenous youth and given them the opportunity to learn about the horse racing industry. Tom firmly believes in the healing ability that horses have. Over the years, he has witnessed and experienced it first hand, with his family and employees. He is often heard saying, “take care of your horses, and they will take care of you”. Black Diamond Stables, which was named after Tom’s great grandfathers horse “Black Diamond” is a family centered business. His hope is to have his children and grandchildren carry on the legacy that began over a century ago and maintain the cultural connection between horseman and horse.

< Back Daniel Polk Daniel Polk Apache/Kwatsan/Diné Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2024 Daniel Polk was born in Ft. Defiance, AZ but grew up in Pinon, AZ and Winterhaven, CA. He is from San Carlos Apache, Kwatsan (Quechan), and Diné nations. His Lakota name is Screaming Eagle and Diné name is Man Comes Home. His parents are Damon Polk and Helena Bekay Polk. He has two sisters and two brothers. Polk now lives in Shakopee, MN with his wife Dyani White Hawk Polk and their daughters Nina and Tusweca Polk. Polk’s first love was basketball. He played four years of varsity basketball at San Pasqual Valley High School. Daniel would walk onto Arizona Western College team to play one year, then transfer to Haskell Indian Nations University to finish out his basketball career. While at Haskell, he would receive his Associates of Arts and Bachelors of Science Degree in Elementary Education. Polk now has a new love and passion for disc golf. His friend Henry Pohocsucut would teach him the sport of disc golf in 2005. When he first saw Henry throw a disc, it flew an entire football field length and Polk has been hooked ever since. He wanted to learn everything about disc golf. The techniques, different styles of throw, forms of competition and rules and regulations. A lifelong athlete, disc golf was now everything to Polk. He would play every chance he got towards the goal to someday become a competitive professional disc golfer. His very first tournament, The Centennial Open, he won the Intermediate division (MA2). This motivated him to keep learning and working on his skills. In 2006, he became an Advance player (MA1), in 2007 he became a Men’s Professional Open player (MPO), and in 2019 he became a Men’s Master Pro 40+ player (MP40). Polk has played in over 300 tournaments and has over 75 wins. He is sponsored by Prodigy Disc, Airborn Disc Golf, and Team Blue Ribbon Pines. Polk is seen as a great and respectful competitor and role model. He works hard to earn everything he has achieved and hopes to continue to be a strong competitor positively representing his sponsors and family. <Back

Team 2024 2023 Haudenosaunee Nationals Women Induction Category: Year Inducted <Back The Haudenosaunee won the women’s competition at the 2023 PALA Sixes Cup in Kingston, Jamaica. The Haudenosaunee were dominant in the tournament and defeated previously unbeaten Puerto Rico 22-11 in the gold medal game. The Haudenosaunee finished with a 5-0 record and won by at least 11 goals in every game. Back row left to right: Bean Minerd, Onondaga; Paige Crandall, Onondaga; Tallis Tarbell, Mohawk; Lois Garlow, Seneca; Jalyn Jimerson, Cayuga; Allie Trice, Oneida; Fawn Porter, Cayuga; Liz Beville; and Tim Bomberry, Cayuga. Front row left to right: Paisley Cook, Mohawk; Sierra Cockerille, Mohawk; Avery Doran, Mohawk; Jordan Coulon, Onondaga; Olivia Hoffmann, Mohawk; and Lottie Gill, Tuscarora.

Fern Spencer <Back Hopi/Navajo Induction Category: Year Inducted Coach 2024 Fern L. Spencer is Hopi from the Water clan and Navajo from the Honeycomb and Towering House clans and lives in Tohatchi, NM. She recently retired after 49 years in education and coaching at Tohatchi High School. Spencer was born in Phoenix, AZ. She was a 1968 graduate of Gallup High School. She attended Western New Mexico University in Silver City, NM. She walked on to the team at a time when there was six person basketball for women. By the end of her time at the university women’s basketball transitioned to five person basketball. When she received her first teaching job in 1974, she was asked if she was interested in coaching the girls’ basketball team. She accepted and taught for 49 years including 37 years coaching basketball and ten years in cross country. During that time she accumulated 517 wins and the team were 1982 New Mexico State Runner Up and earned six district titles, six trips to state, eight All Star teams, and coached the NM All Stars in Australia 2006. Spencer was named the 2004 New Mexico Girls Basketball Coach of the Year. She received a plaque for coaching 400 wins in 2003 when she received the New Mexico Girls Basketball Coach of the Year award. She also received honors as 2006 Athletic Director of the Year, 2014 New Mexico High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame, 2019 National Federation of Coaches Hall of Fame and 2023 New Mexico High School Distinguished Service Award. She was named to the Navajo Times Hall of Fame and coached games between New Mexico and Arizona after the season ended from 1990 to 1994. Spencer was also President of the New Mexico High School Coaches Association and the New Mexico Athletic Directors Association. She is also the current vice-president for the All-Indian Rodeo Cowboys Association and the Native American Rodeo Historical Society. She had a great experience coaching student athletes and her philosophy has been academics first then athletics.

Team 2023 2017 NIFA Ladies Team Indigenous Canada Induction Category: Year Inducted <Back The NIFA Ladies Team Indigenous Canada defended it’s 2015 World Indigenous Games Championship with a second Gold Medal on July 7, 2017 in Maskwacees Cree, Enoch Cree Territories near Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The 2017 NIFA Ladies, one of the most talented First Nations Indigenous female players ever assembled for the 2017 tournament. The team were victorious in five games by overpowering all teams to retain and defend their Gold Medal. They defeated Team Saskatchewan 5-0 in the Gold Medal Final. The players maintained on and off field discipline during the World Indigenous Games week which was the key. The staff and coaches worked together to create a strong indigenous spirit in the march towards sporting achievement at a global level. The First Nations Indigenous soccer ladies proved they could be the best in the world again with their second championship. The term ‘WE’ as a team built a strong and successful bond during this sacred journey of these women warriors! The players were remarkable as athletes, and have become role models, positive leaders and are the best examples to be recognized and honored from their families and First Nations communities in Canada. Team Photo: Back Row from left: Harry Rice Kahnawake, Mohawk, Jason Taylor, Namgi, Dano Thorne, Cowichan Tribes - Nez Perce, Taylor Francis, Akwesasne Mohawk, Wynonna Cross Kanasitake, Mohawk, Hannah Yow, Campbell River, Lenasia Ned, Westbank First Nation, Jolene Nagy, Penticton First Nation, Jenna Thompson, Akwesasne Mohawk, Lucas Cooper, and Bill Wasden Sr., Namgis. Middle Row from left: Brittany Harry, Thla'amin First Nation, Iakokwenienstha Porter, Akwesasne Mohawk, Lacey Baker, Squamish Nation, Kura Jack, Penelakut First Nation, Danielle Dawson, Tsawataineuk Kwakuitl Nations, Margaret Badger, Quatsino First Nation, and Taylor James, Penelakut First Nation. Front from left: Alexxa Badger, Devan Williams, Squamish Nation, and Lason Taylor. Missing: Victoria Marchard, Anishnabe Algonquin.

< Back Ryan Dirteater Ryan Dirteater Cherokee Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2024 Ryan Dirteater is a Cherokee Native from Hulbert, OK. In 2008, he qualified for his first Professional Bull Riders (PBR) World Finals in Las Vegas. Throughout his 14-year professional bull riding career, Dirteater battled through adversity and showcased his unwavering toughness. In 2016, he achieved a remarkable feat by winning the PBR World Finals and finishing fourth in the world. Dirteater's passion for the sport led him to qualify for the PBR World Finals 12 times and secure victory in nine PBR televised events. In 2020, Dirteater made the difficult decision to retire from bull riding as he felt complacent, believing that complacency was the worst state for a professional athlete. However, in 2022, he decided to come out of retirement for the inaugural PBR Teams series, driven by the belief that the new format offered him a second chance at winning a championship title. Dirteater’s dedication and determination to succeed led him to get back in top bull riding shape within just four months. The Nashville Stampede, a team that believed in Dirteater's abilities, drafted him in the third round. Throughout the season, he proved himself as one of the team's starters and a veteran leader. Together, the Nashville Stampede captured the Team Championship title in 2022 at the T-Mobile Stadium in Las Vegas, NV. This victory fulfilled Dirteater's lifelong dream of winning a championship title and left him feeling accomplished. <Back

< Back Dr. Gregory Redhouse Dr. Gregory Redhouse Diné Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete/Coach 2023 Dr. Gregory Redhouse began competing in collegiate archery tournaments in 1992 while attending Navajo Community College (renamed Diné College). He believes that archery cultivates focus and concentration; improves hand-eye coordination; increases upper body strength; enhances team-building skills; promotes self-confidence; and helps relieve stress. He also acknowledges that his collegiate archery training made him a better marksman while serving in the U.S. Marines. During his first year as Head Archery Coach at Diné College (DC), Redhouse advocated for and recruited more women archers in order to fulfill the Title IX federal compliance in collegiate sports. He also incorporated DC’s first Compound Bow Team to compliment DC’s long-running Olympic-Recurve Bow Team. Between 2001 and 2007, Redhouse produced several State champions, Western Regional Champions, Rookie of the Year honors, and All-American Collegiate Archers. In time, he departed collegiate archery in order to pursue a Ph.D. as well as garnering other teaching opportunities with Navajo Technical University (NTU), Tohono O’odham Community College (TOCC), Pima Community College (PCC), and the University of Arizona (UA). Since August of 2019, Redhouse returned to the Navajo Nation and currently serves as Assistant Professor of Economics within DC’s School of Business and Social Science. Moreover, he will instruct archery courses under DC’s Native American Studies (NAS) minor program. This NAS approach to archery, taught at a tribal college, will allow for students to engage with traditional ways of knowing – where the bow and the arrow will serve as their teachers and their lessons will be built from stories of our Indigenous ancestors. Redhouse currently focuses upon Navajo youth and the next generation of Native American archers by sponsoring the Twin Warriors Archery Club; a Junior Olympic Archery Development (JOAD) program sanctioned by USA Archery, the national governing body for the Olympic Sport of Archery. <Back

< Back Janee’ Kassanavoid Janee’ Kassanavoid Comanche Nation of Oklahoma Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Janee’ Kassanavoid, member of the Comanche Nation of Oklahoma, is the daughter of Janet and Ron Kassanavoid. Youngest of 6 siblings, she grew up with three all NCAA Division I athletes. Born and raised in Lawson, MO and graduated from Lawson High School. A multi-sport athlete, lettering in softball, volleyball, basketball, and track & field. In 2013, Janee’ attended Johnson County Community College on a Track & Field scholarship for one season. She became an Indoor NJCAA Runner-up in the weight throw and an Outdoor NJCAA Champion in the hammer throw. In 2014, she attended Kansas State University on a Track & Field scholarship, becoming a 3x Big 12 Champion and a 4x All-American during collegiate career. She is the current K-State weight throw 21.81m (71.60 feet) and hammer throw 68.21m (223.09 feet) school record holder. In 2018, Janee’ graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics. She is currently a professional Nike Track and Field athlete, representing Team USA and as a Nike N7 ambassador she is representing culture and sharing the journey to gold as a Native Athlete. A history making moment was becoming the first Indigenous woman to medal at the World Athletics Track and Field Championships by claiming the bronze medal. Her personal best throw with the hammer was 78.00m (255.91 feet) becoming the third best in the USA All-Time and the sixth best in the World All-Time. This throw in May was named the USATF Athlete of the Week honors. Janee’ was the 2022 Indoor National weight throw Champion and the 2022 Outdoor National runner-up in the hammer throw. Closing out the 2022 season, claiming the GOLD medal as the NACAC Champion in the hammer throw. As an elite athlete competing on the biggest stages; the main goal is to inspire and empower the next generation of athletes. She is continuing to break barriers, to be a leader and pave the way for youth, women, and fellow natives both on and off the field and to create spaces where we never thought were possible before. Photos: 2022 World Athletics Track and Field Championship Hammer Throw Bronze Medalist First Indigenous Woman to medal at the World Athletics Track & Field Championships; Photographer: Getty Images <Back

North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame (NAIAHF) Banquet Saturday, June 7, 2025 Oneida Hotel and Conference Center; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA The North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame will recognize the 2025 inductee class as well as other annual inductees in an exclusive ceremony and lunch on Saturday, June 7, 2025. There were 54 inductees and 300 guests at the first banquet on September 9, 2023 at the Canterbury Park Expo Center, Shakopee, MN, USA. Last September 16, 2024 there were 55 inductees and 450 guests at the Oneida Hotel and Conference Center, Green Bay, WI, USA. By honoring and celebrating the empowered journey of these individuals and teams, the hope is their stories may inspire future generations to follow their dreams in athletics. Please join us in our efforts to honor and recognize the elite indigenous athletics leaders in North America by becoming a hall of fame, table or drawing sponsor for the 2025 North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet. All proceeds will offset the event expenses including providing gifts to the inductees. This is the NAIAHF website: https://www.naiahf.org/ Dr. Dan and Susan Ninham, Directors, NAIAHF, PO Box 652, Red Lake, MN, USA, 56671, cell: 218.368.6430 coach.danninham@gmail.com 2025 NAIAHF Banquet Schedule coming soon... NAIAHF Banquet Information: $40 USD/per person with a deadline of noon central time on March 8, 2024; send name, cell number and email address, and number of tickets with check or money order payable to Empowered Youth Development Initiatives and mail to Dan Ninham, PO Box 652, Red Lake, MN, 56671, USA or PayPal payment to code: coach.danninham@midco.net Austin Straubel International Airport: The Austin Straubel International Airport in Green Bay, WI is across the road from the host Oneida Hotel and Conference Center, Green Bay: https://www.flygrb.com/ Host Oneida Nation Schools: https://oneida-nsn.gov/education/oneida-nation-school-system/ Host Hotel Information: Oneida Hotel and Conference Center, https://www.oneidahotel.com/ Ask for the group rate for “North American Indigenous Athletics”. The room rate is $99USD plus 15.5% tax. Rooms can be tax exempt with Tribal ID shown at check in. Call this phone number to make a reservation: 920-494-7300 extension 0. Sponsorship Opportunities: Click on this link - https://www.naiahf.org/copy-of-banquet-sponsorship Information: Susan Ninham, cell: 218.766.3507 or Dr. Dan Ninham, cell: 218.368.6430 or coach.danninham@gmail.com

Jason Peters <Back Mi’kmaw Induction Category: Year Inducted Coach 2022 Jason Peters, a Mi’kmaw, is a member of Glooscap First Nation located within the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia. He has been a coach and an Indigenous and mainstream sport leader for 33 years. Peters is also a recognized sport administrator, Chartered Professional Coach (ChPC), and a National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) Coach Developer, Basketball Coaches of Canada Advisory Board member and Head Coach of Team Yukon’s U18 Women’s program that will be attending the 2022 Canada Games. Peters’ is believed to soon be Canada’s first Indigenous basketball Head Coach at the Canada Games taking place in Niagara in 2022. He is a two-time provincial champion at Bayside Middle School and former Head Coach of the Simonds High School Seabees women’s program in Saint John, New Brunswick. He served as the Chef de Mission of Aboriginal Team New Brunswick during the 2014 (Regina) and 2017 (Toronto) North American Indigenous Games. In 2013. he was inductee of the New Brunswick Aboriginal Sports Hall of Fame and in 2011 his book Aboriginal Sport Heroes: Atlantic Canada was published. In 2009 Peters served as an Assistant Coach of the New Brunswick women’s Canada Games basketball team (PEI), Canada Basketball’s Nike Centre for Performance and received the New Brunswick Aboriginal Coaching Award. In 2012 he received Basketball New Brunswick’s Special Merit Award for his ongoing service to the basketball community. Peters’ coaching career started in 1989 when he volunteered to coach a Junior Mini team in the newly established East Saint John Minor Basketball Association (ESJMBA). He eventually became a rep team coach, a member of the board of directors and President. Jason also served as a board member of the Coaching Association of Canada, Coach New Brunswick, the Aboriginal Sport Circle, and the North American Indigenous Games Council. Photo Credits: 2010 Vancouver Olympic Committee and Jason Peters

Team 2025 AlgonCrees Induction Category: Year Inducted <Back In the fall of 2024, AlgonCrees had participated in the World Broomball Championship in Megeve/St. Gervais, France. The team was made up of Algonquin and Cree women within the province of Quebec in Canada, hence the name AlgonCrees. Not only was it a privilege to play in a high calibre tournament, it was an honour to play with our very own all-Indigenous broomball team. This is a prime example of unity for the love of broomball. While in France, the AlgonCrees were truly grateful for all the tremendous support we had received from our people back home. We felt the whole Algonquin and Cree Nation rooting for us from afar. The AlgonCrees are pictured with their silver medals. They lost by two points in the Gold Medal game versus the USA Gray Ducks. Top left: Katie Nottaway, Tanya Nottaway, Elizabeth Hester, Gwen Tenasco, Lorrain Nottaway, Aleasha Bush, Wynonna Ratt, Wanessa Thusky, Delci Wadden, Stephanie Wawatie-Whiteduck; Bottom left: Brooklyn Dixon, Destiney Isik- Blacksmith, Amanda M. Neeposh, Erin Gull, Shayden Decoursay, Koyesha Iserhoff