< Back Ben Strong Ben Strong Red Lake Band of Ojibwe Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete/Coach Ben Strong is a member of the Red Lake Band of Ojibwe. His parents are Edward Strong and Sarah Haskett. Strong is a retired professional basketball player and former coach. He grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. After graduating from Chapel Hill High School in 2004, he enrolled at Guilford College (ODAC Conference), an NCAA Division III school in Greensboro, North Carolina. He left Guilford ranked second all-time in scoring (2231) as well as in blocked shots (236) and seventh all-time in rebounding (927). During his time at Guilford he received individual awards, among those are the following: two-time First-Team Division III All-American, NCAA Division III Player of the Year, three-time First Team All-ODAC, and two-time ODAC Player of the Year. In 2007, he was a NABC First Team All-American (Co-Player of the Year) and a D3hoops.com First Team All-American (Player of the Year). Strong launched his professional career in 2008 with Maccabi Haifa in the Israeli Premier League. He also played briefly in the Netherlands, Uruguay, and New Zealand. After playing overseas, he took his game to the NBA Development League, playing for various teams. Then in 2016, Strong played in the NBA Summer League for the New York Knicks. Throughout his career, Strong coached youth during summer camps in the Red lake community, as well as some communities on the east coast, where he lived and eventually started his coaching career. In 2016 when he retired from playing, Strong began working as an assistant men's basketball coach at Huntingdon College, before joining the Philadelphia 76ers’ staff as a player development specialist in 2018, then the Phoenix Suns' staff as a player development coach in 2019. In 2021, Strong was hired by the Long Island Nets of the NBA G League to serve as their head video coordinator and player development coach. In 2022, Strong was inducted into Guilford College's Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2025, Strong was also named to ODAC's Inaugural Hall of Fame class. In 2022, Strong retired from coaching to relocate back to NC. He now lives with his wife Lauren and son Fox. <Back

Teams 1999 Iroquois Nationals 2015 Team Canada Women's Soccer

< Back Bernard Clark Bernard Clark Koyukon Athabaskan Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2025 Bernard Clark, an Alaskan born and raised Koyukon Athabaskan, started his sports journey in 2010 with his Native Youth Olympics debut. In 2011 with the support of his high school team Bernard tied the men’s world record for One Hand Reach at 69”, previously held by 2023 NAIAHF inductee Jesse Frankson. This marked the beginning of Bernard’s journey. He then continued to compete in the World Eskimo Indian Olympics (WEIO) held annually in Fairbanks, Alaska. In the several years to follow, Bernard supported and paralleled his wife in becoming the NYO coaches of Wasilla High School. With coaching from past and current generation Alaskan athletes like Nicole Johnson, Carol Hull, Casey Ferguson, Kyle Worl, Alexavier Covey and Nick Hanson, Bernard was sure to succeed. In 2013, 2020, and again in 2024 Bernard set new records in the One Hand Reach (71”) and Swing Kick (65”). He also earned medals in several other events including the Blanket Toss, High Kicks, and distance jumping contests. In between competitions Bernard loves to share, volunteer and commit his time and experience to keeping the Alaskan traditional games alive, from radio talk show interviews, filming a segment for BBC, to interviews with a Smithsonian reporter to his yearly stage performances at the Alaska State Fair. Bernard shares his passion for the events in the hopes of the games continuing to grow and thrive. Photos: Teyah Clark and Greg Lincoln <Back

< Back Jana Williams Jana Williams Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Jana Williams got her start in tennis the summer before seventh grade. Her older sister wanted tennis lessons, and Jana golf lessons; so they agreed to take them together. After playing in her first tournament, the captain from the high school team convinced her to try out for the varsity team as a seventh grader, playing #4 singles and 8-12th #1. She was in the top 5 in the Northwest section throughout her junior career, qualifying for Jr. Nationals and then in her sophomore year was awarded a scholarship to Nick Bollettieri’s Tennis Academy in Bradenton, FL. After high school she got pregnant with twins. When they were six months old she returned to school at North Hennepin Community College and played on the tennis team for two years, going undefeated both years and qualified for the NJCAA National tournament. The first year she made it to the semifinals before losing, the following year the quarterfinals. After both years she was offered scholarships to play tennis, but instead of moving away from family, she decided to walk on to the University of Minnesota’s tennis team during the 1993-1994 season. Jana became involved with the organization called the North American Indian Tennis Association (NAITA). She was the Jr. Singles champion in 1987, and Open Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles champion and Runner-up in many NAITA Tournaments. She was a past President in 2016. She also directed tennis clinics at UNITY Conference in Oklahoma City and Washington DC along with Riverside Indian Boarding School, Anadarko OK. It was Jana’s goal to bring tennis to the Native communities across the country and brought the NAITA’s tournament to Minnesota in 2016. She now actively competes in Women's NPC Bodybuilding and teaches anyone who wants to learn a healthy lifestyle how to work out and improve their overall health. Her awards included the 2017 NPC FIGURE Master's 35+ 1st place and Overall Champion, the IRON VIKING, Battle of The Falls Overall Champion and the 2019 Master’s Nationals and NPC Women's Open Physique Brew City and Minnesota State 3rd and 4th places. <Back

< Back Anthony M. Riley Anthony M. Riley Pueblo of Laguna Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2025 Anthony M. Riley is an enrolled member of Pueblo of Laguna and Acting Chief, Division of Workforce Development (DWD) in the Department of the Interior (DOI), Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and Office of Indian Services (OIS). Riley received his Bachelor of Science in Technology Education from the North Carolina State University in 1996. Riley was a three-time NCAA Division I All American and seven-time Atlantic Coast Conference Champion in Track & Field and Cross Country. He is a proud father of three daughters and two sons. In 2003, Riley was selected to the Atlantic Coast Conference 50th Anniversary All Cross Country Team. He was recognized as an NCAA DI All American in 1993 in the Outdoor 1500m and Indoor 3000m. In 1992 he was an NCAA DI All American in Cross Country and placed 21st in the national cross country championship. From 1991 to 1996, Riley competed for North Carolina State University and was honored as the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Champion, and had a one-time Cross Country individual title, two Indoor Track (mile) individual titles, two Outdoor Track (1500m) individual titles, two Cross Country team titles and 1 Outdoor Track & Field team title. In 1990, Riley was named the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council’s Most Valuable Performer at the Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Cape Cod, MA. He was named the 800m, 1500m, 1600m medley and 1600m relay champion and team champion while at the Northfield Mount Hermon Prep Academy, Northfield, MA. In 1989, also at Northfield Mount Herman Prep Academy, he was named the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council’s Cross Country Individual Runner-Up and Team Champions. Riley had many accolades as a high school athlete at Santa Fe Indian School in Santa Fe, NM. From 1982 to 1989 he was the New Mexico High School Class AA State Champion in Track and Cross Country. He was a two-time champion in the 800m and 1600m, a member of the 1600m medley relay, and Cross-Country individual and team, and also a member of the basketball team. <Back

< Back J.R. Conrad J.R. Conrad Eastern Shawnee Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2022 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. <Back

< Back Ron Powless Ron Powless Oneida Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2025 Ron Powless was born on March 17, 1931, in Milwaukee Wisconsin and passed away September 9, 2011, in Marietta, GA while enroute to his winter home in Ft. Myers, FL. His father was Merville Powless from the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. His mother, Jesse Snow Powless, was from the Red Lake Chippewa Nation. Ron, the oldest of three brothers, was highly motivated and an athletically talented youth. He played high school football at Morgan Park, Chicago, IL and Washington High School, Milwaukee, WI. His success as a receiver and punter led to his recruitment and scholarship offers. Ron attended Indiana University on an athletic scholarship playing football for the Hoosiers in the Big Ten. Following his time at Indiana, Ron served in the military stationed in Tokyo, Japan, where he was selected to the U.S. Army All-Star football team and played in the first American football game in Tokyo Stadium against the Marine All-Star’s. After his time in the military and playing for the U.S. Army All-Star football team, he continued his education in Mexico City at Mexico City College and later graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Marketing and Economics. Ron’s competitive nature led to successful careers with companies like Xerox and Itek before founding his own corporation, International Data Systems. His success allowed him to contribute to American Indian causes and enjoy homes in Wisconsin and Florida. Ron’s legacy lives on as he had a son and daughter both of whom followed him with successful careers and healthy families. <Back

Earl Sargent Category Athlete Tribe Red Lake Band of Ojibwe Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 2/1/1955 - 8/4/2012 Earl excelled in high school sports for Bemidji High School, lettering in football, hockey and baseball. In 1973 he was pitcher for the Lumberjacks baseball team, he threw a no hitter first game of the tournament, and they then went on to win the State Tournament. His high school resume includes four trips to the state baseball tournament. Hockey was his first love, and after High School he pursued his hockey career. He signed with the Fargo/Moorhead Sugar Kings 1973-1975, where he was selected to play on the U.S. National Hockey team in Leningrad, Russia. He played one year each in the minor hockey leagues as a winger for the Minnesota North Stars, Detroit Red Wings and Albuquerque Chaparrals. He also played with teams in San Diego and Pennsylvania. Home 2027 Banquet 2027 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

< Back James Francis Thorpe James Francis Thorpe Sac and Fox Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 James Francis Thorpe was born near Prague, Oklahoma. He was born to Hiram Thorpe, a farmer, and Charlotte Vieux, a Pottawatomie Indian and descendant of the last great Sauk and Fox chief Black Hawk, a noted warrior and athlete. Jim was actually born a twin, but his brother Charlie died at the age of nine. His Indian name, Wa-Tho-Huk, translated to “Bright Path.” In 1904, Thorpe started school at Carlisle Industrial Indian School in Pennsylvania. Thorpe began his athletic career at Carlisle, both playing football and running track. He was selected as a third-team All-American in 1908, and in 1909 and 1910 he made the first team. Football legend Glenn “Pop” Warner coached Thorpe at Carlisle. Thorpe competed in the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm, Sweden. He won the pentathlon and the decathlon and set records that would stand for decades. Thorpe’s glorious Olympic wins were jeopardized in 1913 when it surfaced that he had played two semi-professional seasons of baseball. Ultimately, it was decided that his baseball experience adversely affected his amateur status in the track and field events. His name was removed from the record books and his gold medals were taken away. Thorpe moved on after the Olympic ordeal and signed to play baseball for the New York Giants. He played outfield with New York for three seasons before playing with the Cincinnati Reds in 1917. He played 77 games with the Reds before finally returning to the Giants for an additional 26 games. In 1919, he played his final season in major league baseball, ending on the Boston Braves team. During much of his baseball years, Thorpe also played professional football for the Canton (Ohio) Bulldogs from 1915 until 1920 and with the Cleveland Indians in 1921. In the years following, he organized, coached and played with the Oorang Indians, a professional football team comprised of American Indians. Additionally, he was instrumental in forming the American Professional Football Association, and eventually became the president of the group. Through the years, the association evolved into today’s NFL. In all, Thorpe played with six different teams during his career in pro football, ending with a stint with the Chicago Cardinals in 1929. Two monumental honors were bestowed unto Thorpe in 1950 when he was named “the greatest American football player” and the “greatest overall male athlete” by the Associated Press. Thorpe died on March 28, 1953 of a heart attack. Thorpe’s medals were finally restored to him posthumously in 1982. In addition, and most importantly to his family, his name was put back into the record books. In 1950, the nation’s press selected Jim Thorpe as the most outstanding athlete of the first half of the 20th Century and in 1996-2001, he was awarded ABC’s Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Century. <Back

< Back Jack Powless Jack Powless Oneida Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2022 Jack Powless is a tribal member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. A Air Force veteran with over 20 years of service (including 6 years in special operations) where he earned many awards, and recognitions, including the title of the United States Air Force Athlete of The Year, in 1992. After receiving his Fitness Specialist Certification, through the American College of Sports Medicine, he was assigned to develop fitness programs for special operations. He has represented his tribe, and the US Air Force, in multiple sports including triathlons, XTERRA (MTB triathlons), mountain and road cycling, running, swimming, and adventure racing. Some of his accomplishments include the following achievements - A veteran of 15 ironman triathlons, including 7 Hawaii Ironman World Championships. - All Military Ironman World Champion- 3 times (at Hawaii Ironman World Champs). - Florida State Mountain Bike Champion- vet. expert division. - Guam Seiko International Marathon Champion- 3 consecutive years. - Calistoga 50 Mile Endurance Trail Race- 4th place overall (8:20:00). His coaching certifications, including: -USA Triathlon level 2, -USA Cycling level 3, -USA Track & Field Association Level 1. -Fitness Specialist- ACSM Jack has been an avid leader in his community by volunteering, and coaching: Youth Soccer Teams Youth, and Masters Swim Teams Youth, High School, and Collegiate Track and Field Teams Youth High School and collegiate Cross Country Teams Youth, High School and Adult Mountain bike Teams Youth triathlon teams Along with coaching numerous National Champions, he was instrumental in qualifying over 300 youth cross country athletes to USATF Junior Olympics/National Championships. He also coached his daughter, Shayna Powless and son, Neilson Powless to become multi National Champions in mountain biking, XTERRA, and road cycling. Currently, both are professional cyclists, and representing the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. SSGT Jack Powless and wife Jeanette Allred-Powless, USMSA (US Military Sports Association) Photo: Terri Galarneaux Head Shot Photo: Jack Powless <Back

< Back Sydney Daniels Sydney Daniels Mistawasis Nêhiyawak Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2024 Sydney Daniels is a proud member of Mistawasis Nêhiyawak First Nation on Treaty 6 Territory. Daniels completed a four-year NCAA Division 1 ice hockey career at Harvard University where she obtained many accolades including ECAC Hockey All-Academic selection, Multiple ECAC Player of the Month, All-ECAC Hockey Team, All-Ivy League Team. Most importantly, Sydney was selected to captain the team her senior year. Daniels has also participated in multiple tournaments as a member of Team USA bringing home both a silver and gold medal in the IIHF World Championships at both the U-18 and U-22 levels. After her collegiate career, Daniels was drafted third overall in the NWHL to the New York Riveters. She played her first professional ice hockey season with the Boston Pride of NWHL. Daniels spent four seasons as an NCAA Division 1 Assistant Coach for Harvard University from 2018-2022. As a coach, she helped the team in winning the Ivy League, the ECAC regular season, and the Beanpot Championship. Most recently, Daniels was hired by the Winnipeg Jets as a member of the NHL scouting staff, with a specific focus on recruiting within the NCAA. She is the first female from Treaty 6 Territory to be an operations staff member of an NHL team. Daniels is passionate about finding ways to use her experiences to uplift Indigenous Youth. For the past six years, Daniels and her father, Scott Daniels, also a 2024 NAIAHF inductee and former NHL player, run the Daniels Hockey School, a multi-day youth hockey camp for Indigenous youth. Daniels Hockey focuses on creating safe and inclusive spaces for Indigenous Youth to feel safe, have fun, and develop their hockey skills. She hopes to continue to find ways to support and empower Indigenous youth to chase their dreams. <Back

< Back Sharon and Shirley Firth Sharon and Shirley Firth Gwich’in First Nation Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2024 Twin sisters Sharon and Shirley Firth were members of Canada’s national cross-country team for an unprecedented 17-consecutive years competing on the World Cup circuit. Between them, they won 79 medals at a variety of racing distances at the national championships and competed in four winter Olympic Games in 1972 at Sapporo, Japan, in 1976 at Innsbruck, Austria, in 1980 at Lake Placid, New York, USA, and in 1984 at Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. She and her sister were the subjects of a CBC Documentary entitled The Olympians: The Firth Sisters. Shirley and Sharon were in the PBS TV Episode 2010 Series of Molly of Denali “Stand Back Up.” They were also on a Canada Postage Stamp: Canadian Women in Winter Sports 2018. Sharon Firth had been awarded the John Semmelink Memorial Award from the Canadian Ski Association in 1972, the Commissioner’s Award from the Government of the Northwest Territories in1981, the Order of Canada in1987, was inducted into the Canadian Ski Museum and Skiing Hall of Fame in 1990, and she received the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002. Sharon also received the 2005 National Aboriginal Achievement Award, inducted into the 2008 Banff Sport Hall of Fame, and received the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal in 2012. In addition to hall of fame inductions, she was also named to the 2012 Northwest Territories Sports Hall of Fame and 2015 Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, Order of Sport. In 2017 Sharon received an honorary doctorate of law degree and was an adjunct professor in 2018. She also received the 2018 Order of Northwest Territories. Shirley was voted Canadian Women's Nordic Skier of the Year six times by Ski Racing Magazine, and was inducted into the Canadian Ski Museum and Skiing Hall of Fame in 1990. After marrying, Shirley lived in Europe for over 20 years, receiving a teaching diploma in 2002 from the University of Paris. She won 42 Canadian national championship medals including 29 gold, 10 silver and 3 bronze. Shirley died on April 30, 2013. <Back