< 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

Wilton Littlechild Cree Induction Category: Year Inducted Builder 2022 <Back An Indigenous lawyer of Cree ancestry, bestowed as Honourary Cree Chief and International Chief, Wilton Littlechild was elected a Member of Parliament in Canada and Vice-President of the Indigenous Parliament of the Americas. Known for his advocacy, nationally and internationally on Human Rights and Traditional Games and Sports. Born in Maskwacis (Treaty No. 6), raised by his grandparents but taken at the age of six where he spent fourteen years in the Indian Residential School system. He witnessed and experienced various forms of abuse but was also introduced to sports, which he used to motivate his pursuit of excellence and run from abuse. He eventually excelled academically and in athletics; credits his traditional upbringing to seek balance in life; underpinned by spirituality and family support. Achievements: • Ten Athlete of the Year Awards • Holds three University and five Honorary Doctorate degrees (Physical Education, Law) • Eight Sports Halls of Fame • University of Alberta Most Outstanding Indian Athlete in Canada (twice) • Major Sports: Hockey, Baseball, Swimming • Centennial medal - Top 100 in Hockey • Order of Sport as inductee to Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame • Over seventy-five Championships • Twice honoured in Switzerland and Olympic Games Ambassador

Jonathan Harmon <Back Hopi Induction Category: Year Inducted Coach 2024 Jonathan Harmon was born on the Navajo Reservation and is a member of the Hopi Tribe. He is currently the only Native American Coach for the NJCAA in the sport of Cross Country and is the first Native American Head Coach at Central Arizona College. Harmon started coaching at Holbrook High School in 2008, which is where he graduated in 2003. Harmon still holds the school records in the 1600m and 3200m races. He coached the men’s team to a fifth place finish in the region and had his top male place 29th at state and top female eighth at state. Coach Harmon started his college coaching at Central Arizona College in 2010 where he would fill the assistant coaching position for nine years. During his time as an assistant, Harmon led the men’s team to four NJCAA National Titles and four runner up trophies. Harmon’s first season as head coach was cancelled due to the pandemic but in 2021 he led the Men and Women’s team to an eighth place finish at the NJCAA National Meet. In 2022, both teams finished seventh overall. Throughout Coach Harmon’s tenure at Holbrook High School and Central Arizona College he has helped over 60 Native American Athletes to attain a higher level of education and continue their running at the university level. He currently maintains the men’s and women’s cross country teams at the college and has over seven Indigenous athletes from various tribes competing. His list of prior Native American NJCAA All Americans includes Ryan Yazzie, Tuba City HS (AZ); Jackson Thomas, Del Norte HS (NM); Brian Masayesva, Tuba City HS (AZ); Anthony Masayesva, Tuba City HS (AZ); Valerie Segay, Window Rock HS (AZ); Allison Denetchee, Ganado HS (AZ); Nikesha Eagleman, Ganado HS (AZ); Lara Yazzie, Page HS (AZ); Santiago Hardy, Chinle HS (AZ); Alicia Honyumptewa, Chinle HS (AZ); and, Precious Robinson, Pinon HS (AZ).

Maurice “Mo” Smith Category Athlete Tribe Navajo Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 11/20/1962 Maurice “Mo” Smith is the Executive Director for the Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake (UICSL). Mo is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who grew up in an urban Indian community in Denver, CO. He has been a “friend” to Indian Country for many years, better known for his work and accomplishments while serving as the Executive Director for the Native American Sports Council, a member-organization of the United States Olympic Committee. His passion and inspiration for his work today stems from his identity of a friend to Indian Country, better known for his work with the Native American Sports Council in the area of Sports and Wellness; hosting the largest sports and cultural celebration of North America, the 2006 North American Indigenous Games (7,000+ athletes). Maurice “Mo” Smith is the first documented enrolled tribal member to break the sub-four minute mile with a personal best of 3:55. Mo is from the Navajo Nation and grew up in an urban Indian community in Denver, CO. Mo is a five-time NAIA National Champion in Track & Field (800 & 1,500 Meters) while attending Adams State College in Alamosa, Colorado. Competed in 1988, 1992 and 1996 Olympic Track & Field Trials. Responsible for hosting and administrating the 2006 North American Indigenous Games in Denver, Colorado. Completed five Marathons including the 2021 Boston Marathon in October during Indigenous Peoples Day. Mr. Smith obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Adams State College and a Masters of Arts with a concentration in Non-Profit Management from Regis University. Originally from Colorado, Mr. Smith has lived and worked in various parts of the country including New Mexico, Montana, Arizona, Washington, no residing in Washington DC. His past employment experiences include serving as the Executive Director of the American Indian Business Leaders, the Director of Programs and Government Contracts for the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, Inc., the Executive Director of the Native American Sports Council, the Program Manager for the United States Olympic Committee and the Development Director of Wings of America. Mountain trail running, play in charity golf tournaments, and spending time with his two children and four grandchildren are a few of his past times. His 1990 Steve Prefontaine Mile winning sub-4:00 minute race is located here: Home 2027 Banquet 2027 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

< 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

Henry Boucha Category Athlete Tribe Ojibwe Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 6/1/51 While growing up in Warroad, Minnesota, Henry Boucha played on the 1964 Bantam State Championship team, was all-conference in football, baseball, and hockey and was three-time All-State in hockey. Boucha graduated in 1969 from Warroad High School. The Warroad Warriors were runner-up at 1969 Minnesota Boys State Hockey Tournament. He signed with the Winnipeg Jets of the WCHL after high school. As an 18-year old, Boucha was chosen to represent the USA in the 1970 World Championships in Bucharest, Romania. In 1970, he was drafted in the US Army during the Vietnam War. He served two years in the Army while playing with the 1971 US World Championship Team and competing in the 1971 World Championships in Bern and Geneva Switzerland. In 1971 the Detroit Red Wings drafted him 16th overall. Still in the service he also played for the US Olympic Team in 1972 in Sapporo, Japan winning a silver medal. Boucha was the first draft choice of the Minnesota Fighting Saints in the new World Hockey Association just after the Olympics. He signed with the Detroit Red Wings in the 1971-72 season and played the last 16 games with Detroit. In 1973, he scored the fastest goal at the start of the game against the Montreal Canadians. Boucha was traded to the Minnesota North Stars in the summer of 1974. He suffered a major eye injury on January 4, 1975 when Dave Forbes of the Boston Bruins hit him with his stick resulting in a devastating and career ending eye injury. Boucha retired in 1977 as a 25-year-old. He returned to Warroad in the mid 80’s to raise his family. Henry coached youth hockey, was Indian Education Director at Warroad Public Schools, and was a realtor. He is the CEO of Boucha Films, LLC, and CEO of Boucha Films LTD, Canada. Boucha Films is currently in pre-production on the movie based on his book he authored called “Henry Boucha, Ojibwa-Native American Olympian”. Home 2027 Banquet 2027 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

J.R. Conrad Category Athlete Tribe Eastern Shawnee Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 2/2/1974 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. Home 2027 Banquet 2027 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

< Back Lorianna “Lori” Piestewa Lorianna “Lori” Piestewa Diné/Hopi Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2026 Lorianna, a graduate of Miyamura High School in New Mexico, had the remarkable record of 152-5 in high school wrestling. She started her high school career in eighth grade while still going to school at J.F.K Middle School. She was state runner-up in her eighth grade year. Then, she won state four times after that at the weight classes 100, 107, and 114 pounds. She was ranked #2 in the country her junior year of high school and took runner-up at the National Recruiting Showcase. During her senior year while being unranked she took fourth at the biggest high school wrestling tournament in the world. She then signed to Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, CO to achieve her Health and Fitness Promotion Degree. She had torn her MCL during the first match of the season and sat out 2/3’rds of her first season. She then came back before RMAC championships where she took first. Loriana won the Regional 8 Tournament where she qualified for National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships. She took third place there finishing her freshman year with the record of 17-2. She won the U20 World Team Qualifier a month later. Lorianna competed in the U.S. Open tournament where she took fifth and qualified for the Senior World Team Competition, where she also took fifth. She is currently ranked #2 in the country for the weight class 124 pounds. Her goal is to show girls that no matter where they come from or how late they start their career, they can always achieve their goals. She wishes to make an Olympic team for wrestling and to possibly become a wrestling coach. In 2025, she was named to the U20 USA Women’s Wrestling World Team, the U20 USA National Champion, her third National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling All American, the 124 lb. regional and RMAC Champion, the Colorado Collegiate Woman Wrestler of theYear, and Academic All American. In 2024, she was named a U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals All American, Tricia Saunders Wrestling Hall of Fame State winner, Team New Mexico Wrestling Team Captain, Homecoming Queen, Wings of America Cross Country Team, New Mexico Cross Country Regional Champion and placed at the New Mexico State Cross Country Championship, and U.S. Marine Corps Academic All American. <Back

Ernie St. Germaine Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe Induction Category: Year Inducted Builder 2024 <Back Ernie St. Germaine has been an athlete most of his life. Born in 1948 to Frank and Saxon (Benjamin) St. Germaine. He is enrolled in the Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe Tribe. He lettered in three sports in high school and went on to play college baseball at UW Eau Claire. He continued playing baseball for teams including the Eau Claire Merchants, Exeland Braves and Dillworth A’s. He coached high school baseball and summer leagues and high school golf. St. Germaine organized and led youth organizations and summer camps including Great Lakes Anishinaabe Youth Leadership Institute and Great Lakes Running Strong for American Indian Youth supported by Billy Mills and Christian Relief Service. He also led the Summer Survival Camp for high school youth with UW-La Crosse for nearly 10 years. St. Germaine has organized and run several Run Series including the 2023 Bimibaatoo Ziigwan (Spring Run) Series at Lac Courte Oreilles together with the American Birkebeiner Foundation. The six week event averaged over 75 participants with over 400 total participants. St. Germaine considers his most notable accomplishment as being the last surviving Founder of the American Birkebeiner Ski Race that takes place in February each year. The American Birkebeiner (Birkie) is a race founded by Tony Wise of Hayward in 1973. The event is a 55 Kilometer (over 34 miles) marathon Nordic Ski Race. St. Germaine started and finished that first race though never having been on Nordic skis before that day. And though he swore never ever to do anything so foolish again, he was there at the start line in the second year, the third, fourth…in fact, he has skied every American Birkebeiner since that first race and will ski his 50th race in February 2024 never having missed one. The event was canceled in 2000 and 2017 due to lack of snow. Of the original 11 Founders who skied each of the first 10 events, St. Germaine is the last surviving Founder. He continues to train daily on his bike and trail hiking in warm months and skiing during the winter ski season.

< Back “ZA” McIntosh “ZA” McIntosh Muscogee (Creek) Nation, the Cherokee Nation, and the Yuchi Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2026 “ZA” McIntosh has been wrestling since the age of six and has grown into one of Oklahoma’s top young athletes in the sport. He represents Glenpool Wrestling in Glenpool, OK — just south of Tulsa — and has spent his entire wrestling career with the program. He began with Glenpool Youth Wrestling, coached by his father until seventh grade. “ZA” is a four-time Oklahoma State Champion and the only Junior High State Champion for the 2024–2025 season. On the national stage, he’s placed in the top four twice at WOW Tulsa Nationals — considered one of the toughest tournaments in the world. He’s also a United States Junior Open Champion, a three-time Adidas Wrestling National Champion, and a three-time Adidas Nationals All-American and has been named “Outstanding Wrestler” for multiple tournaments. “ZA” has been on multiple national dual teams with wrestlers all across the nation. Rooted in family and faith, “ZA” draws strength from a large, close-knit support system. His family’s constant presence and strong values have shaped him — not just as an athlete, but as a son and a young man. These values push him to pursue greatness, while staying grounded in humility and purpose. “ZA” is proudly Indigenous, representing the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, the Cherokee Nation, and the Yuchi Tribe of Oklahoma. Raised in Yuchi language and ceremonial traditions, he comes from the Polecat Ceremonial Grounds in Kellyville, OK. His cultural identity is central to his discipline and mental toughness, and he carries that pride with him in everything he does. While he pushes himself hard in every sport, “ZA” also values balance. Fishing is one of his passions — a space where he finds peace, focus, and a break from the high-energy demands of competition. It's his reset button and a place where he achieves greatness in a different way. “ZA” believes a true champion isn’t just defined by wins, but by mindset, character, and knowing who you are. With discipline, cultural pride, and a deep love for his family, he continues to train with purpose — always striving to be his best on and off the mat. <Back

2015 Team Canada Women's Soccer Team 2022 Induction Category: Year Inducted <Back NIFA Women’s Indigenous Team Canada won the inaugural World Indigenous Games soccer championship in 2015. The World Indigenous Games is a multi-sport event with over 2,000 athletes from 30 countries. Indigenous Team Canada, with nine of its 17 players from First Nations communities across BC, played six games against teams from Brazil, Peru and Chile. In the Championship Final, the Canadian team played the host Brazilian Indigenous Nation of Xerente in front of 10,000 local supporters. Regulation play ended 0-0, the Canadian team becoming champions by scoring on three penalty kicks to one. The team repeated its achievement at the 2017 World Indigenous Games.On their return, the team received a letter from Canada Soccer, in which President Victor Montagliani expressed Canada Soccer’s congratulations and pride in this “monumental victory” of Indigenous Team Canada. A video of highlights of the championship game is available at https://youtu.be/LS6M9GcZxt4 BC Soccer Hall of Fame and Heritage Archive Web-Site – Click on Full Biography: https://heritage.bcsoccer.net/entries/nifa-indigenous-women-s-team-canada-2015/

Krista Hodder Mi’kmaw from Membertou First Nation Induction Category: Year Inducted Builder 2023 <Back Krista Hodder is an Indigenous woman from Membertou First Nation, located in the heart of Unama’ki, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. She lives in her community with her two children. Krista began her career as a Child and Youth Worker, when she discovered her passion for sport, recreation and physical activity as a means to keep her community active, healthy and safe. She was the Mi’kmaw Physical Activity Coordinator for Membertou for eight years, beginning in 2013. It was in this role that she grounded and developed herself and her priorities. While working with her community, Krista worked with other Indigenous Communities to develop a developmental snowboard program designed to assist Indigenous youth to break down the barriers. The program saw as many as 400 youth come through the doors, with many going off to become snowboard instructors, giving back to the program that has gotten them started. As a hockey mom, Krista noted the discrepancies in opportunities for females to have a safe, supportive spaces to develop skill and build the love of the game. Working with stakeholders, Krista assisted in developing the Indigenous Girls Hockey Program, running for 10 weeks out of her home arena. The program provided gear and weekly practices. Most participants returned year after year, which has also given a boost to the local female hockey association. Some notable awards and recognition that Krista has seen include being named to the 2016 Most Influential Women in Sport and Physical Activity in Canada list, as the overall woman in the Builders category by Canadian Women and Sport. Krista has also been included in a timeline of Influential Women in the Public Service Sector, a national timeline featuring over 150 women from the 1600s to today, compiled by Canada's School of Public Service. In 2020, Krista was honored with the title of Hockey Canada's champion for the month of June. After many great years serving her community, Krista took a leap of faith, and a new title. She is now the Senior Coordinator of Programs and Events with the Aboriginal Sport Circle – Canada’s national voice for Aboriginal sport, physical activity and recreation, with her focus being on developing, supporting and delivering sport programs for Indigenous athletes across the country, providing opportunities and spaces for Indigenous youth to thrive in their sport. Photo 1 (winter photo): Krista participating in a walking meeting with the Active Cape Breton Communities Group. Photo Credit: Wayne McKay Photo 2 (profile): Krista smiles while discovering an eagle feather during a recreation meeting. Photo Credit: Jeannine Denny