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Teams 1999 Iroquois Nationals 2015 Team Canada Women's Soccer

< Back Awehiyo Thomas Awehiyo Thomas Cayuga Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2022 Awehiyo Thomas (Beautiful Flower) is Cayuga Nation, Wolf Clan from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. She played competitive lacrosse on the international, NCAA DI and professional stage, with many Player of the Game awards. Awehiyo first started playing lacrosse in 1998 for Six Nations Girls Field Lacrosse, and later traveled to Cattaraugus, NY playing many years with the Seneca Girls Lacrosse Club under Sandy Jemison. In 2003, she had her first international experience with U-19 Team Canada, finishing third and being named the third-leading scorer on the squad. Awehiyo was a walk-on starter at Syracuse University, who transferred from Canisius College in her junior year. She started all 21 games and helped the team to its first NCAA Final Four in 2008 - as a senior she started all 19 games and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Health and Wellness. Awehiyo was a proud member of the Haudenosaunee National Women’s Lacrosse (HNWL) Team for many years, competing on the world stage in 2009, 2013 and 2017. In 2018, she was the first Haudenosaunee woman to play professional lacrosse with the Baltimore Ride in the UWLX league. Most recently, she was a member of the HNWL Sr. Team which placed first at the Pan American Lacrosse Association in 2019. As a veteran lacrosse player of 24 years and mother of four, soon to be mother of five, she continues to be a role model for many Indigenous girls coming up. She comes from a long line of great lacrosse players in her family including Grandfather Ivan Thomas, the 1997 Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame inductee and great-grandfather Joseph Logan Jr., maker of the “Logan Special” lacrosse stick. To this day, Awehiyo’s lacrosse display at Woodland Cultural Center in Brantford, Ontario continues to be up for the public to view. Photos: Reems Landreth and Awehiyo Thomas <Back

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Cherokee Jerod Phillips Cherokee Induction Category: Year Inducted Officials 2026 <Back Jerod Phillips is a lifelong resident of Northeastern Oklahoma and a proud citizen of the Cherokee Nation. He and his wife of 28 years, Alisha, have raised three adult sons Trent, Ty and Brady and are proud grandparents of five grandchildren. Jerod’s passion for sports sparked his officiating career in 1993, when he began working rural little league football games alongside his father. What started as a family pastime quickly evolved into a lifelong pursuit of excellence. Over the next three decades, Jerod advanced through the ranks—from junior college games to small college Division II schools, the Southland Conference, the Mountain West Conference, and the Big 12 Conference. In 2016, Jerod achieved a lifelong dream when he joined the National Football League (NFL) as a Down Judge. Throughout his NFL career, he has officiated two Wild Card Playoff Games, two Divisional Playoff Games, and four Championship Games: the 2019 AFC, 2021 NFC, 2023 AFC, and 2024 NFC Championships. He was also selected as an Alternate Official for Super Bowl LV (55) in Tampa Bay and Super Bowl LVII (57) in Phoenix, Arizona. Beyond the field, Jerod contributes his expertise by helping supervise officials for the Big 12, Mountain West, and Conference USA. Jerod serves as an inspiring example of perseverance and dedication—proof that even a small-town Native kid from rural Oklahoma can achieve greatness at the highest levels. As a school principal, he is deeply committed to the success of his students, encouraging them to dream big and work hard to achieve their goals. His passion for athletics goes beyond the game; he believes sports help shape character, teaching essential life lessons about perseverance, discipline, and accountability. Despite the opportunities his career could afford him across the nation, Jerod chooses to live and give back to the Native community where he grew up. His presence and leadership inspire countless students who see in him a reflection of what is possible with hard work and integrity.

< Back Billy Mills Billy Mills Oglala Lakota Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Billy Mills was born in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. He is Oglala Lakota and grew up on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Billy did not have an easy childhood. Surrounded by poverty and orphaned at the age of 12, he started running to channel his energy into something positive. In high school, his gift for running become more apparent as he set records in numerous track events. He went on to earn a track scholarship from the University of Kansas and then served as an Officer in the United States Marine Corps. At the 1964 Olympics, he shocked the world and came from behind to win the gold medal in the 10,000 meters race. At the time, he set a world record of 28 minutes, 24.4 seconds and is still the only American to ever win a gold medal in the 10K event. His win was an upset that has been called the second greatest moment in Olympic history. In Lakota culture, someone who achieves great success has a ‘giveaway’ to thank the support system of family and friends who helped him achieve his goal. As part of his effort to give back to his community, Billy helped found Running Strong for American Indian Youth and became the organization’s National Spokesperson. Today Billy travels over 300 days every year. He visits Native American communities throughout the U.S. and speaks to youth about healthy lifestyles and taking pride in their heritage. Photo Credit: Billy Mills <Back

Algonquin/Iroquois Officials Jerod Phillips Cherokee Gary Hull Inupiaq Danny McCourt Algonquin/Iroquois Brian Chrupalo Pine Creek Frist Nation 282 Michael Thomas St. Croix Ojibwe

Denise TsadeyohdiWaterman Category Builder Tribe Oneida Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 6/9/1953 Denise Tsadeyohdi Waterman is a Haudenosaunee Oneida Nation citizen and Turtle clan family member. Ms. Waterman has served as a teacher and Mathematics Specialist for nearly forty years at the Onondaga Nation School. In 2016 the NIEA-NYS awarded Teacher of the Year, and The NIEA awarded her the National Community Service Teacher of the Year in 2014. Ms. Waterman co-founded the Onondaga Nation Education organization, the Onondaga Nation Minor Athletics, & the Onondaga Nation OLA Junior Lacrosse, Advisory Board member for Ohngwe sports, and is a Founding Board member (1983) of the Iroquois National Lacrosse of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. Denise Waterman said, “I enjoy applying Haudenosaunee ideology manifesting itself through the Haudenosaunee lacrosse, which allows the entire world to see, learn, and feel the pride of indigenous peoples and lacrosse enthusiasts from every corner of the world.” During her tenure as Executive Director of the Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse 2010-2015, she wrote, established, and negotiated the 2011 FIL merger initiative for the Haudenosaunee regarding the full nation membership for all our people within the world lacrosse organization. She also is widely noted for winning the bid to host the international 2015 World Indoor Lacrosse Championships on Native Lands; under her auspices as Executive Director. The World Lacrosse. Inc., an international sporting organization, has awarded Ms. Waterman the International Spirit of Lacrosse Award in 1998, 2007, 2011, and 2016. Her colleagues say, “The sustainability and future of indigenous sports are protected, thanks to the vigilance and character and truth of Denise Waterman that is the energy, the positive leadership that is the inner wisdom that provides us a view beyond ourselves; at no expense to others.” Denise Waterman’s educational background includes a B.S., SUCO New York in Education, Master’s Syracuse University, CAS in Education Leadership, and Ed.D Executive Leadership candidate at LeMoyne College. Denise’s family members are Lawson, Madex, Kohen, Kimaura, Tia, and Gewas. Done:toh. Home Film Screenings 2026 2026 Banquet 2026 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

Athletes Angelo Baca Diné/Hopi Brent Reiter Menominee Dean Hill Mohawk Eddie Lone Eagle Red Lake Band of Ojibwe Gewas Schindler Oneida Jeff Shattler Ojibwa Kali “KO” Mequinonoag Reis Seaconke Wampanoag Leanne Sirup Inuit Neal Powless Onondaga Shayna Powless Oneida Awehiyo Thomas Cayuga Carol Pickett Hull Inupiaq Delby Powless Mohawk Ernie Stevens Jr. Oneida Henry Boucha Ojibwe Jim Neilson Big River First Nation Katie Taylor Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Liz Duval Metis Neilson Powless Oneida Tanner Albers Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Becki Wells Staley Blackfeet and Blood Carolyn Darbyshire-McRorie Metis Drew Bucktooth Oneida Gary Sargent Red Lake Ojibwe Jack Powless Oneida Joy SpearChief-Morris Blackfoot (Kainai) Kayla Gardner Eagle Lake First Nation Martin Wheelock Oneida Nicole Johnson Inupiaq Terae Briggs Crow Brady Fairbanks Leech Lake Ojibwe David Powless Oneida Earl Sargent Red Lake Band of Ojibwe George "Comanche Boy" Tahdooahnippah Comanche James Lavallée Métis J.R. Conrad Eastern Shawnee Kyle Ḵaayák’w Worl Tlingit, Deg Hit’an Athabascan and Yup'ik Maurice “Mo” Smith Navajo Rob McClain Muscogee Creek/Red Lake Ojibwe

Fern Spencer <Back Hopi/Navajo Induction Category: Year Inducted Coach 2024 Fern L. Spencer is Hopi from the Water clan and Navajo from the Honeycomb and Towering House clans and lives in Tohatchi, NM. She recently retired after 49 years in education and coaching at Tohatchi High School. Spencer was born in Phoenix, AZ. She was a 1968 graduate of Gallup High School. She attended Western New Mexico University in Silver City, NM. She walked on to the team at a time when there was six person basketball for women. By the end of her time at the university women’s basketball transitioned to five person basketball. When she received her first teaching job in 1974, she was asked if she was interested in coaching the girls’ basketball team. She accepted and taught for 49 years including 37 years coaching basketball and ten years in cross country. During that time she accumulated 517 wins and the team were 1982 New Mexico State Runner Up and earned six district titles, six trips to state, eight All Star teams, and coached the NM All Stars in Australia 2006. Spencer was named the 2004 New Mexico Girls Basketball Coach of the Year. She received a plaque for coaching 400 wins in 2003 when she received the New Mexico Girls Basketball Coach of the Year award. She also received honors as 2006 Athletic Director of the Year, 2014 New Mexico High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame, 2019 National Federation of Coaches Hall of Fame and 2023 New Mexico High School Distinguished Service Award. She was named to the Navajo Times Hall of Fame and coached games between New Mexico and Arizona after the season ended from 1990 to 1994. Spencer was also President of the New Mexico High School Coaches Association and the New Mexico Athletic Directors Association. She is also the current vice-president for the All-Indian Rodeo Cowboys Association and the Native American Rodeo Historical Society. She had a great experience coaching student athletes and her philosophy has been academics first then athletics.

< 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

< Back A-Tsi-La “G” McIntosh A-Tsi-La “G” McIntosh Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Cherokee Nation, and Yuchi Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2026 A-Tsi-La “G” McIntosh had been wrestling since the age of five and quickly became one of the most accomplished young wrestlers in the country. A six-time State Champion, “G” was also a United States Junior Open Champion, a two-time Adidas Wrestling Nationals Champion, and a three-time All-American at Adidas Nationals. Known for his dominance on the mat, he was named “Outstanding Wrestler” at multiple tournaments and competed on numerous national dual teams alongside elite athletes from across the nation. “G” was a multi-style wrestler, holding state titles in Folkstyle, Freestyle, and Greco-Roman — a rare and impressive achievement. He currently attends Glenpool Public Schools in Tulsa County, OK, where he balances academic life with a demanding training schedule. “G” is a dedicated student and plans to continue his wrestling career at the collegiate level, with hopes of one day coaching or mentoring the next generation of Native youth athletes. Proud of his Indigenous heritage, “G” represents the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Cherokee Nation, and Yuchi Tribe. Raised in ceremonial culture since birth, he comes from the Yuchi Polecat Ceremonial Grounds in Kellyville, Oklahoma — a place that remains central to his identity and spiritual foundation. Family and faith are core to “G”’s life. He comes from a large, close-knit, and supportive family that has been a constant presence throughout his athletic journey. He believes deeply in staying grounded, not just as a competitor, but as a person. “G” also values balance. Outside of wrestling, he enjoys being outdoors — whether it’s around a campfire, in the woods, or simply surrounded by family and nature. This time helps him reset and stay centered amid the pressures of high-level competition. While he trains with relentless discipline and pushes himself to elite levels, “G” knows being a true champion means more than winning — it’s about mindset, humility, and knowing who you are. Champions are built through consistency — in every part of life. Whether it’s training, school, or family. Staying consistent builds confidence, and confidence is the foundation of success on and off the mat. <Back

< Back Abby Roque Abby Roque Ojibwe Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2024 Abby Roque grew up in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and is Ojibwe from Wahnapitae First Nation. She grew up playing boys hockey in Michigan, and competed in two U18 Women’s Worlds winning a gold and silver medal. She then went on to play NCAA Division 1 hockey at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Roque and the Wisconsin Badgers won a National Championship in 2019, and multiple WCHA league championships. Individually she won WCHA Rookie of the Year, WCHA First Team, WCHA Player of the Year, and was Top-3 for the Patty Kazmaier Award. She graduated from the Business School at the University of Wisconsin with a degree in marketing. She made the USA national team in 2019 and has been a mainstay ever since. In her USA Hockey career she was named the 2020 USA Hockey’s Women’s Player of the Year. She has also competed in three IIHF Women’s World Championships, winning Gold once and Silver twice. She was the first indigenous player to play for Team USA in the Olympics, winning a silver medal in the Beijing 2022 Olympics. <Back