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< 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 Kiki Smith Kiki Smith Comanche Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2026 Kiki Smith fell in love with basketball at a young age. Born Dec. 17, 2004, in Topeka, Kan., to Darold Smith and Harmony Burgess-Smith, Kiki had a ball in her hands as a soon as she could walk. A proud member of the Comanche Nation, Kiki played for Legendary Elite on the Native Basketball Circuit during her travel prep career. She remains an active part of the organization, speaking with youth players about playing at the collegiate level. Kiki is a Yellowfish descendant. Her heritage also includes the Kiowa, Cheyenne, Absentee Shawnee and Caddo tribes as well. Kiki played her high school ball at Topeka High School, where she was a four-time 6A All-State selection, garnering three first team nods, while also being named to the All-Centennial League Team all four years. Averaging over 20 points per game, while making nearly 50 3-pointers, in both her junior and senior campaigns, Kiki was tabbed the Centennial League Player of the Year. Kiki was not recruited heavily out of high school and spent her freshman season at Hutchinson Community College, where she rewrote the record books. Kiki guided the Blue Dragons to a perfect 37-0 record and the NJCAA DI National Championship. Averaging 17.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.7 steals per game, while shooting 55.9% from the field and 44.4% from distance on 82 made 3-pointers, Kiki was named the NJCAA DI Player of the Year and a First Team All-American, as well as the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Player of the Year. Kiki then transferred to Arkansas for her sophomore season, where she averaged 10.2 point per night. She ranked second in the SEC and 28th nationally with a 40.6% shooting clip from behind the arc. Following her lone season in Fayetteville, Kiki continued her athletic and academic career at Purdue. In her first season with the Boilermakers, she leads the team in scoring and ranks as one of the best 3-point shooters and passers in the Big Ten. <Back

< Back Charley Norris Charley Norris Red Lake Band of Ojibwe Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2026 Charley Norris was a five-time Pro Wrestling America (PWA) Heavyweight Champion. He was also a two-time PWA Tag Team Champion once with Sam Houston and the other with Derrick Dukes. He and Dukes were known as “Thunderblood” and they were the final champions since the title was later retired. He was a one-time Northern Premier Wrestling (NPW) Heavyweight Champion. Norris also was a Wrestle America 2000 Tag Team Champion. Pro Wrestling Illustrated ranked Norris #90 out of 500 wrestlers in 1993. He made his World Championship Wrestling (WCW) televised debut in 1993 and was a fan favorite while defeating Fury. He had a pay-per-view debut at the Fall Brawl event and defeated Big Sky. In 1996 Norris joined the American Wrestling Federation (AWF) and teamed with Tito Santana. He appeared in several independent cards for the next decade up to his retirement in 2006. He moved home to Red Lake, MN at that time. Additional details on Norris’ wrestling career is available on Wikipedia and matches are on YouTube. <Back

< Back Lucas Martinez Lucas Martinez Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2026 Lucas Martinez was a 2008 graduate of Bismarck High School (ND). In only two years of high school varsity, the team was a North Dakota state tournament runner-up in 2007 with an 18-7 record and a state champion in 2008 (23-2). In 2008 Martinez was named All-Conference, First Team All-State and was a McDonald’s All-American Nominee. Martinez accepted a scholarship to Williston State College during the 2009-10 school year. He led the Tetons to a Region 13 Championship his sophomore season. In 2010, the team lost in triple overtime on the road for a trip to Nationals. His 2010 junior college accolades included being named First Team All Conference, First team All Region, NJCAA Region 13 MVP, Second Team All-American honors for NJCAA Division l, and was nationally ranked in the top 25 in scoring. After a successful stint at Williston State, Lucas received a full ride scholarship to play NCAA Division l at the University of Wyoming from 2011-2013. He helped his team to two 20+ win seasons. His team was nationally ranked his senior year in NCAA Division l. His NCAA D1 accolades included being named the 2012 Jim Thorpe Thanksgiving Classic MVP, ranked first in made three-pointers (81) in the Mountain West Conference, ranked second in single season three-pointers made in UW history, ranked seventh in single season steals in UW history (54), and in 2013 set a school record for nine steals in a game. He was ranked in the top ten of the UW All Time career three-pointers made and was named to the Global Sports Hoops Showcase All-Tournament Team. Lucas Martinez had an amazing international professional basketball career. He has eight championships as a professional player with three MVP campaigns. Martinez played professional from 2014 to 2025 in Mexico, Venezuela. Argentina, Israel, and Brazil. His professional basketball accolades included being named Intercontinental Cup Champion (2016), LNBP Champion (2018), in 2020 the LNBP regular season MVP, LNBP Champion and LNBP Finals MVP, in 2021 the NBB Super 8 Champion, BCLA Champion, and NBB Champion, in 2022 the Intercontinental Cup Champion and Intercontinental Cup MVP and in 2025 the LNBP Value Cup Champion. Lucas Martinez jersey will be retired by Soles de Mexicali when he finishes his professional career. Photo Credit: Soles de Mexicali <Back

< Back Edison Eskeets Edison Eskeets Navajo Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete/Builder 2023 Edison Eskeets is an enrolled member of the Navajo Tribal Nation. He attended and received diplomas from Haskell Indian Junior College, Kansas, and Bradley University, Illinois. A First Team All-American Runner, invested in Native traditional education composed with the mainstream educational school system at large. Edison taught at the Orme School, an international school, and the Native American Preparatory School serving in the following capacities: Chair of the Fine Arts, Teaching the Arts and Humanities, Coaching Track & Field and Cross Country, Academic Dean, Associate Head of School, Head of School. In addition, he served as the Executive Director on behalf of Wings of America, serving Native youth programs throughout Indian Country. Edison made every effort in making a difference within Native communities and went beyond boundaries: fundraising, grant writing, lectures, presentation of Native Arts, collaborating programs with colleges/communities, and seeking funds from government, foundations, corporations, individual donors, state funds, and tribal funds. It is vital to maintain the goodness of all indigenous societies including culture, language, ceremonies, food, and underscoring the history of the Americas, from Chile to Alaska. At one time, there were over 80 million indigenous population in the Americas and today’s count is almost 6 million. Therefore, Education, Athletics, Native programs, Higher Education, Funds, and Leadership must be nurtured. His final employment was under the Hubbell Trading Post at Ganado, Arizona operated by the Western National Parks Association. He is the first Navajo trader to manage the Hubbell Trading Post, the oldest continuously operating trading post on the Navajo reservation. This environment included education of Native arts: metal smithing, rug weaving, wood carving, painting, pottery, leather works, and trading items with fellow customers. Currently, he is promoting a new book titled “Send a Runner,” a book illustrating the history of the southwest embodied with Native traditional ultra-running. Photo Credits: Joseph Kayne and Fairfield Half Marathon (CT) <Back

< Back Lloyd M. Powless Lloyd M. Powless Oneida Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2025 Lloyd Powless was born on February 9, 1940 on the Pine Ridge Sioux Indian Reservation in South Dakota. His father was Merville Powless from the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. His mother, Adeline Powless, was a nurse from Minnesota of German heritage. Lloyd was athletically talented and he played high school football in Rock Island, Illinois. As a senior in 1956 he received Illinois All-State Football honors as a defensive linebacker. He was recruited to attend several NCAA Division 1 universities on a football scholarship. He accepted the Big 10’s Northwestern University’s offer. After the first year at Northwestern, he transferred to Augustana College at Rock Island, Illinois. At Augustana College, Lloyd became an outstanding middle-linebacker. He played three years for Augustana and received honors of All-Conference first team and “Little All-American” in 1963 as a middle linebacker. Years later Lloyd was inducted into the Augustana College Hall of Fame. At the end of his college football career in 1963, he was drafted into the National Football League (NFL) as the 17th draft choice of the Los Angeles Rams. He participated in three different training camps with the Los Angeles Rams, the Denver Broncos, and the San Diego Charger but did not go further. Lloyd Powless’ life after football included working one year for Standard Oil and John Deere Company for 25 years. He has a son and a daughter who are both college graduates. His wife, an Augustana College graduate, and he are retired and live in Florida. <Back

< Back Jayme Menzies Jayme Menzies Métis Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete/Coach 2023 A proud Métis living on her Nation’s home territory, Jayme is a mother, lawyer, athlete, coach, and community advocate, who relentlessly uses sport as a vehicle for social change. During her five years of studying sciences at the University of Winnipeg, Jayme played multiple positions on her university volleyball team, three years of which she served as team captain. She proceeded to pursue law and has been working with and for Indigenous communities in a variety of capacities ever since, one of which was with the National Inquiry in to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people. Jayme has been coaching for 19 years. She has represented Manitoba multiple times as an athlete and a coach, most recently in 2017 at the North American Indigenous Games in Toronto, and the Canada Games in Winnipeg where her team won Gold. For a fourth consecutive cycle, she has been once again named the head coach of the Manitoba volleyball team that will attend the 2023 North American Indigenous Games. Off the court, Jayme is a certified facilitator for the National Aboriginal Coaching Module - a course that, among other things, offers tactics to apply traditional teachings and address racism in sport contexts. Despite the Coronavirus pandemic, she trained more than 50 coaches in this course in 2021. Jayme has also served as President on both the Volleyball Manitoba and Manitoba Aboriginal Sport and Recreation boards, through which she was able to affect change at a policy level. It is extremely important to Jayme to employ a holistic approach to coaching and to help make sport accessible to Indigenous youth. In 2017, Jayme co-founded Agoojin Volleyball, which is a year-round program that sets a precedent in inclusivity, youth empowerment, celebrating Indigenous talent, and utilizing sport platforms for advocacy. Agoojin has spots designated for rural, northern, and remote Indigenous athletes, incorporates cultural teachings, mentors Indigenous female and two-spirit coaches, and prioritizes a trauma-informed, individualized approach for each member of the Agoojin family. Jayme is also the head coach of a college volleyball team, the CMU Blazers. Prior to the pandemic, Jayme’s team won the league championship and in 2022 placed 2nd. Jayme’s relentless dedication to safe, equitable, inclusive, and holistic sport has immensely impacted the volleyball and Indigenous communities in her home province and beyond. Jayme continues to raise the bar in coaching. It comes as no surprise that she has been awarded a number of coaching awards, most notably: Manitoba’s Female Indigenous Coach of the Decade. Photos: University of Winnipeg Wesmen, setter; Photo Credit: Kelly Morton Photography Head Coach, Blazers college female volleyball program; Photo Credit: Canadian Mennonite University <Back

Neilson Powless Category Athlete Tribe Oneida Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 9/3/1996 Neilson Powless burst onto the United States road racing scene as a 19-year-old and found instant success, finishing ninth overall at the 2016 Amgen Tour of California and winning a stage at the Tour de l’Avenir. Those results shot him to the World Tour where his adaptability accelerated his learning curve. His sporting family laid the foundation for his future professional success. His mom ran the marathon in the 1992 Olympics. His dad was in the Air Force and raced Ironman’s, winning an award for being the top Ironman finisher who was also in the military. His sister, Shayna is also a professional cyclist who has raced for the US National Team. Family time in the Powless household was spent outdoors: swimming in the lake, running, and riding bikes on the trails in Northern California. Before pursuing cycling, Powless won both XTERRA National and World Championships in 2012. Since entering the World Tour, most notable results are as follows: Winner of 2021 Klasikoa Donostia San Sebastián and the first time an American has won a World Tour one day race in over a decade. 5th place in 2021 Pro World Championships and the best result for an American in over two decades. Competed twice in the Tour de France and first ever North American Native to compete in the Tour de France. Photo: Getty Images Home 2026 Banquet 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

< Back Darris Kilgour Darris Kilgour Tuscarora Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete/Coach 2026 Darris Kilgour is the younger brother of Rich Kilgour. Darris was named to the NLL’s All-Pro Second Team multiple times in the 90s, including in 1998, when he had a 37-goal and 30-assist year and had a career-high-tying 69 loose balls that season. He had a coaching career with the Buffalo Bandits. He has the most wins as a coach in team history. From 2003-2013, the Bandits won 103 games. During that 11-season stretch, he coached the Bandits to a winning record in 10 of those years. The team won the NLL title in 2008. Darris Kilgour was drafted in 1991, the first player ever drafted by the Buffalo Bandits. During his playing career, he played with the Buffalo Bandits (1992-99), Rochester Knighthawks (1999), and the Albany Attack (2000). In these eight seasons Darris earned three All-Pro selections: First Team in 1998, and Second Team in 1992 and 1997. Darris retired in 2000, and became the first player in NLL history to have his jersey number retired by the Bandits. Darris then began his coaching career in 2000 with the Washington Power, and in 2003 he returned to coach the hometown Buffalo Bandits. During his coaching career, Darris was voted NLL Coach of the Year in 2003, selected to coach the Eastern All-Stars in 2004, won the NLL Championship in 2008, and in 2010, surpassed Coach Les Bartley as the all time regular season wins leader. Darris Kilgour was inducted into the NLL Hall of Fame in 2007. Source: Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. <Back

< Back Richard Peter Richard Peter Cowichan Tribes Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2024 He was known as “Bear” to many people, not only a nod to his strength and the size of his hands, but also the size of his heart. Poll the world’s top wheelchair basketball coaches and players regarding about who they’d choose to build their ultimate dream team around and in the top five would be Duncan, British Columbia’s Richard Peter. A proud member of the Cowichan Tribes, community was a huge part of Peter’s upbringing. Strength of family and his own determination helped him overcome a terrible injury at age four when a school bus backed up over his chest breaking his hip and spinal cord just below the ribcage. Adjusting to life in a small community with few wheelchair-accessible buildings wasn’t easy, but Peter’s strength of character more than met the challenges. He graduated from public school and tried virtually every sport available. In 1994, Peter debuted on the Canadian national team and was a pillar of strength for Canada from 1996 through to 2012. Beginning in 1996, Peter represented Canada at five Paralympic Games helping capture three golds (Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, London 2012) and a silver (Beijing 2008). In world championship play, Peter has been part of one gold medal-winning squad (2006) and three that earned bronze. Six times he led Team BC to the national championship. Individually, Peter is regarded as one of the fiercest defenders in the world, an effortless scorer, and one of the game’s most sportsmanlike players. In the latter years of his career, Peter was still a regular member of the national team and played professionally in Germany with club RSV Lahn-Dill where he lived part of the year with wife Marni Abbott-Peter, herself a BC Sports Hall of Famer. At the same time, Peter was already racking up an impressive array of accolades. Twice named winner of the Tom Longboat Award as Canada’s Male Aboriginal Athlete of the Year, he was also a two-time Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association Male Athlete of the Year, and the 2008 Canadian Wheelchair Basketball Athlete of the Year. Bio credit: Jason Beck, Curator of the BC Sports Hall of Fame. <Back

Empowered Youth Development Initiatives Presents.... Friday, June 6th and 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 Weekend Schedule Saturday 6/7/2025 7:00am Sunrise Tobacco Burning Ceremony Dr. Artley Skenandore Oneida Hotel and Conference Center; Green Bay, WI Saturday 6/7/2025 12:30pm Doors Open to 2025 NAIAHF Banquet NAIAHF Banquet: Opening Reception with Beverage Stations Three Clans Complex, Oneida Hotel and Conference Center Saturday 6/7/2025 1:00pm Welcome and Moment of Silence: Susan Ninham Honor Song: Buffalo Creek Drum Saturday 6/7/2025 1:30-2:30pm Buffet Lunch Meal Blessing: Susan Ninham Music Performance: Keith Secola, Anishinaabe, Singer/Songwriter, Music Performance Sponsor: Oneida Nation Saturday 6/7/2025 2:30pm-3:15pm Meet and Greet Inductees Reception Drawing Prizes Saturday 6/7/2025 3:15pm-4:00pm Oneida Smoke Dancers Demonstration Sponsor: Oneida Nation Saturday 6/7/2025 4:00 Sponsor Acknowledgment and Speaker Introductions: Dr. Dan Ninham Tehassi Hill, Chariman, Oneida Nation Ernie Stevens Jr., Chairman, Indian Gaming Association Vin Baker, RiseAbove, Milwaukee Bucks assistant coach, four-time NBA All Star, Olympic Champion Ogimaa Tim Ominika, Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve, Ontario, Canada Julius Poitra, White Shield School, ND/Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara Nation Individual and Team Inductee Recognition: Susan and Dr. Dan Ninham Honor Song: Chief Philip Whiteman Jr. Inductee Group Photo Meet and Greet Inductees Reception Inductee Speech Session Drawing Prizes Travel Song: Buffalo Creek Drum Inductee Banners Distribution