Search Results

< Back Harrison J. Funmaker Harrison J. Funmaker Ho-Chunk Nation Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2025 Harrison Funmaker wanted to be a prize fighter since he was a little boy. His father Bob Funmaker Sr. was his first trainer. Funmaker had his first professional bout in the summer of 1989. He lost a six round split decision in the heavyweight division. His motivation was just beginning to be the best he could be. His next bout was against the same opponent in his debut and he knocked him out in the second round. Funmaker turned pro in Green Bay, WI. Matt Baulie was his trainer/manager in the beginning. Boxing took him around the world including Israel, twice to New Zealand, and to Canada. He fought in three world title fights. He became the World Indian Heavy Weight Champion at Mohican Casino in March of 2003. He was named the Mid-American Champion during the same fight. He was a sparring partner to Tony “TNT” Tubbs and Carlos “King” Molina, the IBF Super Welter Weight World Champion. Funmaker fought Eric “Butterbean” Esch three times and beat him during the third fight. He defeated him in Milwaukee at the US Cellular Arena in 2009. The fight is on YouTube with over 1.3 million views. He was on ESPN in 1990 and was also on ESPN Fight Classics. Fellow 2025 NAIAHF Inductee Lou Askinette trained Funmaker the last half of his career. Funmaker had a 23 year professional career and four decades as a fighter. He won 23 out of 41 fights. Funmaker hopes to inspire young fighters to follow their dreams. Fighting as a pro taught Funmaker many things but the main lesson was to be grateful. He had the opportunity to speak at six schools in the McKinley County School District on the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico. He spoke about life as a prize fighter, what is was like to be on the road, in the ring and at home with his six kids. He wishes to share with all young native kids who have dreams they wish to follow, and let them know it can happen and it is all achievable. <Back

< Back Eden Wilson Eden Wilson Métis Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2026 Eden Wilson is a Canadian bobsleigh athlete from mixed ethnic parentage, of Black, European and Indigenous ancestry. Although born in Manitoba, Eden grew up in Calgary, Alberta, where she attended Mount Royal University and received a bachelor’s degree in Sport and Recreation Management in 2019. Eden earned her spot on the Canadian National Bobsleigh Team in 2020 and has competed in both the pilot and brakeman positions. Over the past six years, Eden has competed in numerous race circuits each year including North American Cups, (a 4x Gold Medalist, 6x Silver and 6x Bronze Medalist), Pan-American Cup Championship (Silver Medalist), the Europe Cup in Germany and Austria and the World Cup in Lillehammer. Eden continues to race on the World Cup Competition circuit again in the 2025/26 season in Italy, Austria, Germany, Norway and Latvia, as she accelerates towards her goal of representing Canada at the 2026 Olympic Games in Cortina, Italy. Off the ice, Eden combines her passion for athletic excellence with a deep commitment to community empowerment. She actively supports youth development through her full-time work with the non-profit organization, KidSport, helping to remove financial barriers enabling children to experience the benefits of organized sport. As a Classroom Champions mentor, Eden shares her journey and life lessons with students across Canada, encouraging them to set goals, stay active and believe in their potential. Since 2021, as an RBC Olympian Ambassador, Eden’s travels throughout Canada attending speaking engagements as keynote, motivational and guest speaker where she advocates for inclusive and fair opportunity in Sport for Indigenous Athletes. In addition, she also visits remote communities throughout Canada including Alberta, BC, northern Manitoba and the NWTs through RBC Training Ground to find athletic potential in young individuals who would otherwise not have the same access to participate. Driven by her heritage and the power of sport to unite and uplift, Eden continues to be a role model for Indigenous youth and a champion for inclusive opportunities in athletics. <Back

< Back Ronald Melchert Ronald Melchert Oneida Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2026 Ronald Melchert hails from the Oneida Nation by the Green Bay of Lake Michigan. Ronald Melchert started training as a boxer in 1969, in the basement of the historic Parish Hall in Oneida, Wisconsin, coached by Matt Powless and coach Harold King. He participated in regional meets throughout Wisconsin and Illinois and became the first Heavyweight champion of the National Indian Boxing Association winning both in 1974 and 1975 in Reno, Nevada. Melchert is a Registered Landscape Architect who has owned his own business since 1982. His experience includes working on primarily Native American projects throughout the United States. Projects include Housing, Governmental Facilities, Community Facilities, Transportation projects, Master planning, Historical Facilities, Parks and Recreation, and Entertainment Facilities of Casinos and Hotels. Melchert’s professional practice and business spans 43 years. Melchert has served as a board member on several Minneapolis not profit organizations serving the inner city Native American community. Ronald is currently the board chairman of the Little Earth of United Tribes Inc., a low income section 8 housing project of 212 units. LEUTC is the only urban HUD project dedicated to specifically Native American residents in the United States. Melchert received an Associate of Arts in Architectural Technology from Madison Area Technical College in 1973, his Bachelor of Science Degree in Landscape Architecture in 1977 from the University of Wisconsin Madison, and a Master’s of Science in Leadership from Capella University in 2016. Melchert is married to Susan and has three children and seven grandchildren. <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

< 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

Teams 1999 Iroquois Nationals 2015 Team Canada Women's Soccer

< Back Pete Conway Pete Conway Blackfeet Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete/Coach 2023 Pete Conway’s basketball success is easy to follow because of the accolades he has earned along the way. His reputation as a standout player began with his high school career at Montana power Billings West High School. Conway led his team to four state tournament appearances and still holds the record for the most points scored in a game for the Golden Bears. He finished as the schools second all-time leading scorer and was named the Gatorade Player of the Year and Mr. Basketball for the state of Montana in 1998. He opted to play his college basketball at NCAA Division I Montana State where he played on the school’s Big Sky Conference Championship Team in 2002 and was named All-Conference in 2003. Conway left Montana State with the second most three-pointers made in school history and became the 25th member of the 1,000 point club for the Bobcats. Conway received his Bachelors of Business Management from MSU in 2003. Conway continues to lead as the Athletic Director and Head Men’s Basketball Coach at United Tribes Technical College (UTTC). In only his second season at United Tribes the team advanced to the Region Championship and in his third year they won 20 games for the first time in 20 years. Conway has amassed over 100 wins at United Tribes and his teams have advanced to play in the Region Championship four times. He has coached three NJCAA All American athletes at UTTC. <Back

< Back Jordan Nolan Jordan Nolan Ojibwa Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2024 Jordan Nolan is a three-time Stanley Cup Champion with the LA Kings (2012 and 2014) and St. Louis Blues (2019). Nolan is from the Garden River First Nation. He was drafted to the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and would go on to play for the Erie Otters (2005-2006), as well as the Windsor Spitfires (2006-2008) and the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (2008-2010). A 20-goal scorer in Sault Ste. Marie with the Greyhounds, he was drafted by the LA Kings in the 7th round (186th overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Nolan would be an integral part of the LA Kings Stanley Cup winning teams in 2012 and 2014. Just like his father and brother, giving back to First Nation youth is very important to Nolan. Having co-created the 3NOLANS First Nation Hockey School in 2013, he continuously sets aside time in his busy summer schedule to travel to First Nation communities across Canada to help teach hockey skills, but more importantly, how to be a positive role model and leader within your community. <Back

Greg Henhawk <Back Mohawk Induction Category: Year Inducted Coach 2024 Greg Henhawk is a Mohawk of the Bear Clan from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory in Ontario. Henhawk is a retired 32 year secondary school teacher of Science, Physical Education and Alternative Education. In basketball Henhawk has coached over twenty Senior Varsity Zone and District Championship teams. He has coached provincial club and elite development teams earning medals including 12 gold. His Six Nations U15 team placed fourth at the 2000 International Children’s Games. He also worked as an assistant women’s varsity coach at Ryerson and Waterloo universities. He has been an assistant and head coach with Basketball Ontario and Canada Basketball elite development programs and teams including being an Apprentice Coach of the Women’s National U19 team at the FIBA Americas world qualifier 2009 and FIBA World championships 2010. Henhawk has coached over 200 badminton individual and team championships at the Senior Varsity level at the zone, district, regional and provincial level. His field hockey teams in 20 years have won 15 District Championships including a span of 11 years in a row and during that time sporting a 113-0 record in District competition. Henhawk has been on the Project Advisory Group between 1998 and 2003 for the Development of the National Coaching program called “The Aboriginal Coaching Modules (ACM)”. He continues in the ACM program as a Master Learning Facilitator and Learning Facilitator developer. He has delivered over 150 ACM courses in Canada and the United States. He is a past winner of the 2018 Coaching Association of Canada – IG Wealth Management: National NCCP Coach Developer Award. Henhawk is a Founding Board member and present Board of Director for the Coaching Association of Ontario and a member of Canada Basketball’s Unified 2024 Advisory Council with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Henhawk had consulting projects for Holistic Sport Development and Wellness with Recreation North; PHE Canada, Participation, the Respect Group of Canada, Maple Leaf Sport and Entertainment including the Launchpad charity fund and with all 13 Provincial Territorial Indigenous Sport Bodies in Canada. Projects have included: Indigenous Coaching Development for the Mi’kmaq Sport Council of Nova Scotia; The Coaching Association of Canada’s: Indigenous Coach Education and Development Advisory Group; and, the Indigenous Master Coach Developers’ Advisory Group.

Kerry Danforth <Back Oneida Induction Category: Year Inducted Coach 2023 Kerry “Buggs” Danforth starting coaching in 1995 and was influenced by his dad, the late Bill Danforth, who coached Oneida Baseball in his early 30’s until he was 50. After his dad passed and he continued to play baseball and softball he knew he was given a gift to help a player at any part of their game. He learned to help a hitter out by just watching their hands, feet and swing, and to make corrections, and as his and his wife Candace’ three daughters, Nona, Olivia and Tiana, and son Jackson, got older, he stopped playing to coach. In 2006, he coached his daughter Nona in Florida in the Independent Softball Association (ISA) Nationals and won that tournament and this put them in the ISA World Nationals in Columbia, North Carolina and they were crowned World Champions. In 2007, he coached the team to win the North America Fastpitch Association (NSFA) National Champions in Florida. In his years of coaching, he sent several athletes to the collegiate level and 58 to the NCAA DI level. From 2006 to 2019, his teams won six Wisconsin American Softball Association (ASA) and National Softball Association (NSA) national titles from the age groups of 10 & Under to 18 & Under. In those years the teams were also Runner-up State champion in 2006 and 2018 and at the national level were runner-up in 2010 and 2012. In 2011, he was the 18 & Under Team Wisconsin’s Indigenous Coach that won the North American Indigenous Games Gold Medal and were undefeated. In 2014, he was a college assistant coach working with infield and hitting to Jean Rivett at NCAA DI University of Wisconsin – Green Bay. Coach Rivett is in the ASA Hall of Fame as a player. UWGB won the conference title, conference tournament title, and played in the NCAA Tournament in Minnesota. Also at the college level, he was an assistant coach working with infield and hitting at NCAA DIII St. Norbert College from 2016-2018. As a coach for the past 25 plus years he amassed over 600 wins and under 100 losses and his best year was in 2009 with an 85-6 record.

Sianneh Mulbah Ojibwe Induction Category: Year Inducted Builder 2024 <Back Sianneh Mulbah enters her 13th season with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx and her fifth as Chief People Officer. Mulbah is responsible for developing and executing the organization’s comprehensive human resources strategy and is integral to the Executive Team. During her tenure, Mulbah has played a crucial role in transforming the organization’s culture. In 2019, Mulbah became the first Timberwolves and Lynx employee to receive the prestigious Sports Business Journal “Game Changers” award. She was among forty women nationwide honored in New York City for transforming the industry and leading the next generation of women in the sports business. In 2018, Mulbah was named to Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s prestigious “40 Under 40” list, which recognizes high-achieving business leaders in the community. Mulbah was also named a Twin Cities Business 2021 Notable BIPOC Executive for her leadership throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Mulbah leads the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx Women in Sports Leadership Council, which focuses on women's professional growth and development in the workplace. She also serves on the Advisory board of directors for the Twin Cities chapter of Women in Sports and Events (WISE). Before her Advisory role, Mulbah held the position of VP of Mentorship for WISE. In January, Mulbah began her most recent community-focused role when she assumed a board of directors’ role with Volunteers of America. In addition to WISE and VOA, Mulbah also holds a board position on the Ceridian Cares Charity, based out of Toronto, Ontario, and is in her second term as Secretary of School District 196’s (Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan), Native American Parent Advisory Committee, which purpose is to serve in an advisory capacity for planning and implementing programs and events that support District 196 American Indian students and their families. A graduate of Bemidji State University, Mulbah received a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She received a double master’s degree in organizational management–HR and Business Administration from Concordia University-St. Paul. Mulbah resides in the Twin Cities with her son, a senior at the University of MN – Duluth majoring in Journalism, and daughter, a seventh grader and avid soccer player.

< Back Gaylord Powless Gaylord Powless Mohawk, Wolf Clan Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2024 Gaylord Powless was a Mohawk lacrosse player from the Six Nations of the Grand River First Nations Reserve, Ontario, Canada where he was the eldest of 14 children born to Ross and Wilma Powless. Powless received his first lacrosse stick at age two and by age 17, he won the Tom Longboat Award as the best Indigenous athlete in Canada. In 1964, Gaylord was recruited by the Oshawa Green Gaels junior lacrosse team, by coach Jim Bishop to which he led to four consecutive Minto Cups from 1964 to 1967 and was chosen as the most valuable player in the series in 1964 and 1967. Powless turned professional in 1968 and, in 1969, played for the Rochester Chiefs, winning the Can-Am Lacrosse League title. He went on to a successful career in professional and senior amateur lacrosse with teams in Detroit, Syracuse, New York, Montreal, Brantford, Port Coquitlam, and Brampton as well as with the Six Nations team. Powless was also a star player for the Detroit Olympics of the National Lacrosse Association. He scored 63 goals in the 1968 season, twice as many as his nearest competition. He knew where everyone was at all times on the field of play, was an unselfish player, and an outstanding playmaker. Powless's career was cut short by injuries and in 1977, he retired at the age of 30. He had to withstand tremendous racism from coaches, players, fans, and sports writers. His reaction was to recognize that he was a target for bullying and abuse and to overcome it by being the best player, and the highest scoring athlete he could be. Sadly, Powless lost his battle with cancer on July 28, 2001, but his influence as a role model and inspiration to generations of Indigenous youth carries on. He left behind his wife Patti, daughters Michelle and Gaylene, and son Christopher (deceased 2015) who he coached in lacrosse to his Jr. career. His grandchildren Taylor, David, Kahner, Rachel and Kali continue his legacy through their love of sports, they would have been his greatest accomplishment. <Back