Michael Daney <Back Choctaw Induction Category: Year Inducted Coach/Athlete 2024 Michael Daney is a member of the Oklahoma Choctaw Tribal Nation. He was a track and cross country athlete at Haskell Indian Junior College, Oklahoma Baptist University and Northeastern Oklahoma State University, and a coach at Haskell Indian Junior College and Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute where he is currently a health and physical education instructor. Daney serves as a coach, mentor, and facilitator of the Sport Warriors Track Club, a program that is designed to encourage and assist Native American post-collegiate runners to continue to compete on a national level in USATF national competitions. Daney mentored and coached three runners that qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials. As an athlete at Haskell Indian Junior College, he was a two-time NJCAA national cross country qualifier and was named the cross country team MVP while earning letters in cross country, basketball, and track. While being an athlete at Oklahoma Baptist University, Daney was a member of the NAIA Cross Country All Conference Team, NAIA District 9 Cross Country Champion, and NAIA National Cross Country Qualifier. He was All Conference in the Three Mile Run and Steeplechase and was also named to the NAIA All Region Team Steeplechase. Daney also attended Northeastern Oklahoma State University, and he was the winner of the NIAA Native American Cross Country Championship, Conference Track Champion and school record holder in the one and two mile Daney began his college coaching at Haskell Indian Junior College and was a part of the four-peat Haskell’s Men’s Marathon National Championships that is still an NJCAA record. His men and women’s teams qualified for seven NJCAA National X-Country Championships and were all top 10 finishes. Daney coached 18 male and female All-Americans including one national champion and he was a two-time NJCAA Region X-Country Coach of the Year. Daney also coached 10 NJCAA National Championship at Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute. He coached 23 All-Americans and seven individual national champions. He was named NJCAA Regional Coach of the Year five times and National Coach of the Year 10 times. Daney currently lives in Albuquerque, NM, with his wife, children and grandchildren.

Harold Ladouceur Cree Induction Category: Year Inducted Trainer 2024 <Back Harold Ladouceur was raised in between northern Alberta and the Kikino Metis settlement and Saulteux and Moosomin Reserves in Saskatchewan. Horses had been his family's life since he could remember. Whether it be work horses logging or weekend rodeos. Understanding the needs of horses was ingrained in Ladouceur as a boy. Racing thoroughbreds would ultimately be the path that Ladouceur would find himself. His late Grandfather Alec Poitras trained countless thoroughbreds that would race on the B circuit. As a teenager Ladouceur would be exercising and grooming in the morning and race riding in the afternoon. Ladouceur honed his skills as an exercise rider before traveling to Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg where he would meet his future wife. The couple traveled to Florida where he would find his niche in breaking yearlings for prominent pin hookers that would take them across America working the training sales. They found themselves under the tutelage of renowned horseman Luke McKathan who would be instrumental in his career eventually holding two track records with horses McKathan would later send him. 25 years later Ladouceur still does business with the McKathan family. A fateful afternoon at the CTHS auction, where a slight framed bay filly caught his eye at the Hill N Dale consignment. He had to have her. Hip 98 would be named Paladin Bay by Ladouceur’s mother-in-law, meaning defender and champion. That she was. Winning numerous stakes one being the graded Selene. She was nominated for two and three year old champion filly. Paladin Bay would earn almost 700k before being sold to the prestigious Calumet farm. Some of Ladouceur's achievements are winning the Inaugural Turf Endurance Championship for longtime owner Kirk Sutherland with Tesseron, placing in the Grade 1 International with turf star Primo Touch, and winning the Kingarvie with homebred Jurojin. Barn favorites Wake up Maggie, Splendid Glory, and McCulley earned in the 150k range. Ladouceur has a loyal roster of top woodbine trainers that entrust him with their yearling purchases to be started and paved the way for a successful racing career. The ability to communicate with these young horses and allow them to learn how to safely and happily become racehorses undoubtedly comes from his heritage. To the plains Cree a horse is embraced as a brother. This reputation played a role in being hired to train for the iconic Stronach Stables. Ladouceur believes that horses are sacred animals that will speak to you, one only has to listen.

< 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

Algonquin/Iroquois Danny McCourt Algonquin/Iroquois Induction Category: Year Inducted Official 2023 <Back Danny McCourt worked as a National Hockey League Official for 25 years, just under 1,700 games from 1979 to 2004. From 2005 to 2022, he held the position as an NHL Officiating Manager in the Scouting & Development Department. From 2022 to current –he serves as a Consultant to the Senior Vice President & Director of Officiating for the NHL Stephen Walkom. Danny was hired by the NHL after working 1-1/2 years as an amateur Official living in Falconbridge, Ontario and one year in the International Hockey League, based in the Detroit area. When the WHA folded, the NHL took in four teams and needed 16 more officials. Six came from the WHA and he was one of the other 10 hired. His junior hockey playing career ended with winning an SOJHL championship with the Windsor Spitfires. Never being drafted to play in the NHL and knowing nothing about playing hockey in Europe, he changed his focus to officiating. Coaching was an option, if officiating didn’t get him to “the show” but he thought he could pursue that when he was older. When asked about his most memorable moment in the NHL, without hesitation he says his first regular season face-off in Edmonton versus Detroit and the two centres’ were his brother Dale, fellow 2023 NAIAHF inductee, and Wayne Gretzky. Dale won the face off.

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.