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< Back Natalie Nicholson Natalie Nicholson Arikara/Ojibwe Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Natalie Nicholson, Arikara/Ojibwe, is the daughter of Bruce & Millicent Simenson. She is married to John and together they have two daughters Stella and Mya. Natalie is enrolled in The Three Affiliated Tribes and is from Bemidji, Minnesota. Natalie is a 2010 Winter Olympian in the sport of Curling, nine time USA National Curling Champion, two time Junior National Curling Champion, 2006 World Championship Silver Medalist, 2004 & 2007 World Championship Semi-finalist and has 10 time World Championship appearances. She was honored in 2009 as Female Athlete of the Year and Team of the Year in 1997 and 2004. Natalie practices Shotokan Karate and earned her Shodan Blackbelt in 2022. Natalie has her Doctorate in Nursing Practice from The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing graduating in 2022 and was inducted into Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing in 2021. Natalie works as a Nurse Practitioner & Indigenous Lactation Counselor for Mewinzha Ondaadiziike Wiigaming “Birthing Long Ago in Home, Lodge or Hospital”. Mewinzha provides Anishinaabe-led maternal child health and family wellness services by braiding both western and Native American traditional knowledge of health, wellness, and community into practice throughout the holistic health journey of our relatives. Natalie is honored to have the opportunity to be able to co-create our own maternal-child community health clinic: Gaa-giigishkaakaawasowaad “A Place Where Pregnant Women Gather”. <Back

Shayna Powless Category Athlete Tribe Oneida Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 1/8/1994 Shayna Powless is a member of the Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin, USA Cycling-certified coach and a professional cyclist for Legion of Los Angeles. 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 pandemic in North America as well as raise funds for organizations actively fighting this crisis. Shayna has professional race experience in mountain biking, road biking and virtual (Zwift) racing. She also has international experience racing mountain bikes at events such as World Cups, Swiss Cups and Cape Epic (an eight-day stage race in South Africa). Additionally, she has raced professionally on the road in Australia for the Tour Down Under and Cadel Evans Road Race. Photos: Dennis Farris and Joe Flannery Home 2026 Banquet About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

< Back Larry Foster Larry Foster Navajo Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2024 Larry Foster is of the Kinyaa’a’anii (Towering House People Clan) born for the Dzil’ta’ahnii (Mountain Cover Clan). Raised in the Fort Defiance, Arizona community to the late Navajo Code Talker Harold Y. Foster, Sr. and Margaret Foster. As a student athlete at Window Rock High School, he earned All-Conference and All-State honors in three sports from 1966-1968 in baseball, football, and basketball. He was named to the All-Area Connie Mack San Juan Basin League and the Navajo American Legion Baseball League. Upon graduating from high school, he played two years at Bacone Junior College in Muskogee, OK under Coach Negial A. King, and played in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) World Series in Grand Junction, CO. He went on to play at Adams State College in Alamosa, CO, He was named as Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Batting Champion in 1971, under Coach Louie Long with a .442 batting average, where he was part of winning the RMAC District #7 finals and a trip to the NAIA playoffs in Pueblo, CO. After his college career, he played semi-pro baseball and was a nine-time All-Tournament outfield and batting champion. He also played in All-Indian baseball tournaments in Northern Arizona Baseball League tournaments from 1964-1976. He competed in leagues with All Pueblo Indian, Southwest Salt River Agency, Colorado River Indian, and Southern Arizona in Tucson, Arizona and competed in Amateur Softball Association (ASA) fast pitch softball that earned him trips to the National All Indian ASA fast pitch tournaments in Oklahoma City; Bell Gardens; California Indian Softball; Soboba Indian Reservation, CA; and, Gallup, NM. Foster was inducted into the Southwest All Indian Sports Hall of Fame in Phoenix, AZ in 2008 and the Navajo Nation Sports Hall of Fame in 2016. He is married to Mattie Foster, with two adopted kids, and seven grandchildren. Foster received BA in Sociology and AA in Public Health from UCLA in 1980. He is a retired Public Health Advisor and Infectious Disease Coordinator in Arizona, NM and Navajo Nation. Presently, he’s an advocate with the American Indian Religious Freedom, Apache Stronghold and Sportswriter for local area high school on social media. <Back

< Back Cynthia Yerby Cynthia Yerby Seminole Tribe of Oklahoma Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2026 Cynthia Yerby, a proud member of the Seminole Tribe of Oklahoma, was a 10-time Women’s Arm-Wrestling Champion, a student counselor/advocate, and a cultural artist. Cynthia was a dedicated and inspirational professional with 35 years of experience as a college counselor, empowering students – especially those from Indigenous and underrepresented backgrounds – to pursue higher education and personal growth. Cynthia had been recognized globally for her athletic excellence, cultural representation, and unwavering commitment to mentorship and leadership. Cynthia received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology/Psychology and her Master of Education in Counseling and Student Services from East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma. She was an inductee of the Seminole State College Hall of Fame and an inductee of the National Arm-Wrestling Hall of Fame and Oklahoma Sports Museum. Cynthia was a recipient of the AARP Indian Elders Award. She was also awarded the SSC Emeritus Status. As an advisor/college counselor for Seminole State College, Cynthia advised and mentored thousands of students across three decades, with a strong focus on first-generation, Indigenous, and underserved populations. She partnered with tribal education offices and national organizations to increase college access for Native youth. Cynthia received multiple university and community service awards for excellence in counseling and mentorship. Cynthia is the founder and lead designer for Native Designs by Cynthia Yerby: Seminole Patchwork & Fashion. She creates hand/machine-sewn, custom patchwork garments rooted in Seminole tradition with contemporary flair. Her work has been worn in fashion shows, powwows, stomp dances, and cultural celebrations across the U.S. and Canada. Cynthia’s patchwork has also been published in “Piecework Magazine”. Cynthia’s athletic achievements included being named the 1997, 1998, and 2001 USWA/USAA World Wrist-Wrestling Champion. She was named the 1998 and 1999 World Arm-Wrestling Federation Ladies Masters Champion. Cynthia was the 10-time USA Women’s World Champion, an international competitor and represented Team USA worldwide including Russia, Japan, Finland, Sweden, and Canada. Inducted into the New York Wrestling Hall of Fame, she was an 11-time United States National Champion and holds 31 state championships across the country. Notable opponents Cynthia defeated includes country music/acting star Tim McGraw, blues legend B.B. King, and former football coach Barry Switzer. <Back

Leanne Sirup Category Athlete Tribe Inuit Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 6/20/1975 Being of Inuit descent, Leanne Sirup’s history in the sport of swimming spans more than three decades; starting as a swimmer, and then transferring her skills to coaching and mentoring. As an athlete, Leanne raced to the podium in numerous championships provincially and nationally as well as competing for Team Canada internationally. During this period, Leanne also set numerous provincial and national records predominantly in the 800m freestyle, the 200m butterfly, and the 400m individual medley. In addition to her decorated career, Sirup came out of retirement and competed at the 1997 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) where she raced to a total of 8 medals and the distinction of the British Columbia (BC) Premier’s Athlete of the Year. As a coach, Sirup has been the head coach of Team BC since 2004. Leading her provincial swimmers in every NAIG since, including a swim team overall victory in NAIG 2017, Leanne has been honored with the Provincial Coach of the Year (2008) and the National Coaching Award for Indigenous Excellence in Sport as presented by the Aboriginal Sport Circle and the Coaches Association of Canada partnership (2008, 2021). Ms Sirup has also been selected by Swimming Natation Canada as a Select Coach for their High Performance Development program. Leanne is keen on giving back to the Sport that has given so much to her. She is proud to serve as a National Coaching Certification Program’s Learning Facilitator since 2012, sharing her knowledge and experience to further the development the sport of swimming. Locally, Leanne continually endeavors to create opportunities for the youth to learn about the sport of swimming to open the pathway for success in any branch of Aquatics. To positively affect those around her, just as her coaches and mentors have done so generously for her. Photo: Carrie Matheson Home 2026 Banquet About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

Haudenosaunee Nationals Women’s Box Lacrosse Team 2025 Induction Category: Year Inducted <Back The Haudenosaunee Nationals Women’s Box Lacrosse Team made history in 2024, earning their place as trailblazers in international lacrosse. Competing at the 2024 World Lacrosse Championship in Utica, New York, the team clinched a historic bronze medal—the first-ever international championship medal awarded to the Haudenosaunee women in lacrosse. The Haudenosaunee women showcased extraordinary skill, resilience, and unity throughout the tournament, culminating in a commanding 21-4 victory over Team Australia in the bronze medal game. This landmark achievement not only brought pride to Indigenous communities across Turtle Island but also underscored the Haudenosaunee’s cultural and spiritual connection to lacrosse, known as the Creator’s Game. Comprised of athletes from Haudenosaunee and other Indigenous Nations, the team reflected the strength of community, tradition, and perseverance. Team members included: Akwesasne Mohawk Territory Jillian Benedict, Jadie Burns, Trysten Burns, Kharlene "Bineh" Garrow, Tallis Tarbell and Kyra Thompson Fort Albany First Nation Mekwan Tulpin Kanesatake First Nation Ava Gabriel Oneida Nation of the Thames Jada Doxtator Seneca Nation Lindsay John Six Nations of the Grand River Timmia Bomberry, Chelsea Doolittle, Chelsea Gibson, Amalee Jacobs, Kenley Jacobs, Chelsie John, Trisha John, Fawn Porter, Stacy Smith, Alisha Smith-Longboat, Joni Squire-Hill and Carey-Leigh Vyse Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory Kendall Tabobandung Walpole Island First Nation Ferrah Blackbird Wikwemikong Unceded Territory Mackenzie Shigwadja and Reese Shigwadja Team Staff Head Coach, Jason Johnson, Onondaga Assistant Coach, Randy Chrysler, Tuscarora Assistant Coach, Cheyenne Lazore, Akwesasne Mohawk Assistant Coach, Mary James, Métis Assistant Coach / Video Analyst, Matt Attwood, Six Nations of the Grand River Trainer / Dietician, Paul Staats, Six Nations of the Grand River Player Liaison, Karissa John, Six Nations of the Grand River General Manager, Jeff Powless, Akwesasne Mohawk Their triumph exemplifies the power of Indigenous women in sports and serves as an enduring testament to the Haudenosaunee’s deep-rooted lacrosse legacy. By earning a place on the international podium, these women broke barriers, inspired future generations, and strengthened the path toward greater recognition of Indigenous athletes on the world stage. The 2024 bronze medal not only marked a pivotal moment in lacrosse history but also symbolized the enduring sovereignty and resilience of the Haudenosaunee people.

< Back Delby Powless Delby Powless Mohawk Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2022 Delby Powless is member of the Mohawk Nation. He is a Child and Youth Counselor in his home community, Six Nations of the Grand River, in Ontario, Canada. Powless played five seasons with the Six Nations Junior A Arrows lacrosse club and is currently the team’s All-time leading scorer with 686 total points. While attending Herkimer County Community College, Powless was twice named All-American. He transferred to D1 Rutgers University where he led the Scarlet Knights in scoring both years and was a 2x All-American, while leading Rutgers to 2 NCAA tournament appearances. Powless also won a Canadian University lacrosse championship with Brock University and was named All-Canadian. Powless represented the Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team as a player at six World Championships, and at the first-ever World Indoor Lacrosse Championships, he was selected to the All-World Team. In 2003 Powless was named the recipient of the Tom Longboat Award as Canada’s Top Aboriginal Athlete. Powless was drafted 1st overall in the 2004 National Lacrosse League entry draft by the Buffalo Bandits and helped them win the Champions Cup in 2008. Powless also played in Major League Lacrosse with Toronto Nationals winning the Steinfeld Cup in 2009. <Back

Onondaga Redhawks 2014 President’s Cup Champions Team 2026 Induction Category: Year Inducted <Back Team Roster: Ross Bucktooth-G, Edmund Cathers-G, Cameron Simpson, Lee Nanticoke, Kevin Wilkerson, Andy Jamieson, Pete Benedict, Luke Thompson, Grant Bucktooth, Neal Powless, Wade Bucktooth, Dustin Hill, Dave Stout, Kevin Bucktooth Jr., Trevor Clark, Brett Bucktooth, Hiana Thompson, Mike Abrams, Jeremy Thompson, Vince Thomas, Tyler Hill, Drew Bucktooth, Lyle Thompson, Miles Thompson, Orris Edwards, OAC Manager: Melissa Rank, Trainer: Sonny Shenandoah, Equip. Manager: Emerson Shenandoah, Ball Boys: Gavin Hill and Brett Bucktooth Jr., Coach: Ed Shenandoah, Coach: Brian 'Lab' Phillips, Support Staff: Mike Abrams, GM: Shirley Hill

Eugene Oree Foster <Back Navajo Induction Category: Media Year Inducted 2024 Eugene Oree Foster was a long-time resident of Fort Defiance, Arizona where he was born and raised. His late father, Harold Y. Foster, was a Navajo Code Talker and his mother is Margaret Foster. As a sports writer, Foster covered all sports at all levels including professional, college, high school, junior high school, elementary school, and community sports and leagues. He was also a heralded athlete at Window Rock High School (1968-71) in basketball, baseball, cross-country and track and field. He earned a college athletic scholarship to run cross-country and compete in track and field at Central Arizona College. Foster played semi-professional baseball with the Fort Defiance Indians. He was also a varsity school baseball coach and an assistant cross-country coach at Window Rock High and coached a little league baseball team, the Fort Defiance Indians. He received his AA Degree from Central Arizona College, BS Degree in Journalism from the Arizona State University, and MA Degree from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University. Foster was a recipient of many awards including the Native American Journalist Sportswriter for 15 consecutive years, the prestigious Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) Skip Bryant Media Award in 2010 and 2016, and the award for excellence, the Wall of Fame Award from Central Arizona College, for his outstanding journalism, as a historian, and a photojournalist. He was also a sports correspondent for Arizona State University Football, the Arizona Diamondbacks Baseball, Arizona’s Phoenix Suns Basketball, Professional Bull Riding (PBR), Ty Murray and Associates, the Arizona Interscholastic Activities (AIA) 365Sports, the New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA) Sports, the Arizona Republic, and the Gallup Independent Sports. These sports awards and recognitions were meant with excellent award-winning sports journalism reviews. As a sports editor for over 30 years at the Navajo Times newspaper, he established the Navajo Times All-Area Athletic Sports Teams, established the Arizona vs New Mexico Basketball Classic, founder of the Navajo Nation Sports Hall of Fame, founder of the Native American Basketball Invitation (NABI) for Youth, and founder of the Arizona Diamondbacks Baseball Native American Day for 10 consecutive years. He also recognized many athletes in the professional rodeo arena with the Indian National Finals Rodeo (NIFR), and the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) Association, and locally with the All-Indian Rodeo Cowboy Association (AIRCA), the Navajo Nation Cowboy Association (NNRCA). Oree Foster died on 3/1/2023 and will be missed.

< Back Travis Kilgour Travis Kilgour Tuscarora Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2026 Travis Kilgour is the youngest of the Kilgour brothers trio. He was a part of teams that won back-to-back Minto Cups (1990-1991) that is for the top Canadian Junior A title, back-to-back-to-back Mann Cups (1994-1996) awarded annually to the top Senior squad in Canada and a MILL championship (1996). Travis had 55 goals and 60 assists in 51 games with the Buffalo Bandits over six seasons. He was taken 17th overall in the 1994 MILL entry draft. Travis scored 74 goals and recorded 85 assists in his 73-game career with the Buffalo Bandits, Washington Power, New Jersey Storm and Montreal Express. He began playing during the 1995 season and last took the field during the 2002 campaign. <Back

Ryan Salmon Ojibwe Induction Category: Year Inducted Builder 2024 <Back Ryan Salmon's journey in the world of volleyball began on the beaches of Southern California, where he first discovered his deep passion for the sport. Starting from those humble beginnings, he embarked on an impressive collegiate career, representing UNLV and Kendall College. It was during his time at Kendall College that his commitment to both academics and athletics flourished, earning him recognition as an All-American athlete, and playing a pivotal role in his college team's successes on the volleyball court. Following his graduation, Salmon's devotion to volleyball led him to explore the world as he pursued a professional career in the sport. The California beach culture, which initially ignited his passion, remained the driving force behind his remarkable journey and continued to inspire his dedication to the game. Beyond his achievements in volleyball, Salmon, alongside his wife, Nicole, holds the significant role of Directors at the Minnesota Juniors Volleyball Club. In this capacity, he leverages his extensive knowledge and experience to nurture young talent, providing aspiring athletes with the opportunities and guidance needed to reach their full potential. Through his leadership, Salmon plays a crucial role in shaping the future of volleyball in Minnesota. Furthermore, Salmon's contributions extend beyond the volleyball court. He serves as the Tribal Liaison for the White Earth Nation, a role of great importance. In this capacity, he forges connections between the tribe and external organizations, working tirelessly to preserve the heritage, traditions, and values of the White Earth Nation. His unwavering dedication to his community's well-being has a profound and far-reaching impact.