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< Back Dennis J Danforth Sr. Dennis J Danforth Sr. Oneida Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2024 Dennis Danforth Sr., “Teyohahase – Good Road,” is a member of the Oneida Nation (WI). Danforth earned his Associates degree in Business Management and currently works for the Oneida Comprehensive Housing Division. A devoted husband to Margaret Danforth and an amazing father to seven children and a proud grandfather to 14 grandchildren. Danforth began his boxing journey at 10 years old with his brothers at the Oneida Mission Boxing Club in Oneida, WI. This was the beginning of shaping a lifetime of family, healthy relationships, and core values through hard work, fitness, and commitment. Danforth’ high school years began at West De Pere High School, and in his junior year in 1974 he transferred to the Flandreau Indian School in Flandreau, South Dakota. Danforth was a multi-sport athlete playing football, basketball, track & field, and boxing. Trained by the late Joe O’Brien, a former Ojibwe boxer and a Marine veteran, Danforth learned valuable lessons of self-control, strategy, focus, sportsmanship, and was a boxing standout. Although Danforth was offered a football scholarship to Black Hill State University, his love of boxing took him on a journey that shaped his lifetime of self-discipline, humbleness, and competitiveness that he shares with his children and grandchildren. Danforth fought in the welterweight and middleweight classes. His greatest accomplishments as a boxer were being invited to the 1976 Olympic Trials and being a three-time National Indian Athletic Association two-weight class champion. Danforth won the 1977 South Dakota State Championship, the Upper Midwest Golden Gloves Championships in Minneapolis, and eventually crowned the 1977 Golden Gloves Welterweight Champion. He received a bid to the U.S. National Golden Gloves Tournament in Hawaii, where he joined Team Minnesota. He fought hard in Honolulu where he was defeated in a controversial split decision to a former three division world champion professional fighter. Danforth was also a two-time Wisconsin State AAU Boxing Tournament champion and participated in three National AAU Boxing tournaments throughout Indian Country. Danforth now enjoys passing on core values through coaching, singing for his community, and inspiring others to learn their culture, language and always be proud of who they are. <Back

Dr. Rosalin Miles Lytton First Nation Induction Category: Year Inducted Builder 2024 <Back Dr. Rosalin Miles is a member of the Lytton First Nation and is known in her native language as Maaj meaning "first light of day". She is a pivotal figure in advancing Indigenous sports on both national and international stages as the Founder and Executive Director of the Indigenous Physical Activity and Cultural Circle (IPACC). Miles organized 10 National Indigenous Physical Activity and Wellness Conferences, and 11 Active Spirit Walk and Runs. These events have fostered a robust network for Indigenous athletes and sports enthusiasts, promoting cultural exchange and athletic excellence. Recognized by the House of Commons and honored with Vancouver Quadra’s Hidden Hero Award, Miles’ dedication to IPACC underscores her commitment to elevating the profile of Indigenous sports. Her role at the University of British Columbia (UBC) as a Research Associate and Indigenous Scholar in the Indigenous Studies in Kinesiology program further amplified this commitment. Miles earned her Master’s degree in Human Kinetics and became the first First Nations kinesiologist. Miles’ Master’s degree expertise, particularly in the physiological and psychological aspects of soccer, benefited teams like the UBC women’s soccer team where she worked as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and at the University of Central Florida (UCF) for their women’s soccer team. She received the UBC Alumni Award for Volunteer Leadership, and the Robert Small Boy Award “Heroes of Our Time” Scholarships from the Assembly of First Nations. As a Director for the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) in British Columbia and Florida, Miles played a critical role in supporting CSCS accreditation recognized by the NSCA Bronze Award. Her doctoral studies at UCF in Education, combined with her Graduate Certificate in Non-Profit Management provided her skills to lead and inspire in the field of sports management and education. Miles’ experience as a strength and conditioning coach at UCF, and later at University High School in Florida, where she broke barriers as one of the first female Indigenous football coaches in Florida, highlighted her pioneering spirit. She also received the NSCA High School Professional of the Year for the United States. At the University of Arizona she worked with the men’s baseball and women’s volleyball teams, and volunteered with Olympic and professional athletes. Miles competed in softball in Japan, as a champion in BC and National powerlifting, and as a fitness competitor at both the USA and World Nova Fitness challenges. Dr. Rosalin Miles work has enhanced the visibility and success of Indigenous coaches, athletes, and researchers, and has also forged lasting connections and opportunities for cultural exchange and understanding in the world of sports.

< Back Madison Lavergne Madison Lavergne Métis Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2026 Madison Lavergne is Métis and was a member of the two-time NCAA DIII National Hockey Championship University of Wisconsin-River Falls team. The Falcons won in back-to-back seasons in 2023-24 and 2024-25. She is currently a senior on the team. As a junior in the 2024-25 season, Lavergne was named to the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. She played in all 31 games with 30 points off 10 goals and 20 assists. She earned the WIAC Player of the Week and Falcon of the Week honors. As a sophomore in the 2023-24 season, Lavergne was named to the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. She played in all 31 games with 16 points off 10 goals and six assists. She scored four game-winning goals, including the game-winner against Gustavus Adolphus in the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals. She was named to the NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team. She also earned WIAC Player of the Week and two-times Falcon of the Week honors. As a freshman in the 2023-24 season, Lavergne was named an AHCA All-American Scholar. She also was named to the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll, Lavergne played in all 29 games with 28 points (14g-14a). She scored a hat-trick against UW-Superior and was named the Falcon of the Week one time. Madison Lavergne joined the Falcons as a forward from Warroad, Minn. where she played for the Warroad High School hockey team. As a senior, she was her team’s captain and helped lead the Warriors to a Minnesota State Tournament Championship and finished the season with 16 goals and 16 assists for 32 points. She was named to the All-Conference team as a junior and senior, and was on the National Honor Society. She is the daughter of Katie and Rene Lavergne, and she is majoring in Exercise and Sports Science. <Back

Iroquois Nationals 2003 World Indoor Lacrosse Championships Silver Medalists Team 2026 Induction Category: Year Inducted <Back Iroquois Nationals are 2003 World Silver Medalists 2003 WILC roster Name Position Mike Benedict Forward Cory Bomberry Forward Tony Henderson Forward Veron Hill Forward Duane Jacobs Forward Kyle Jamieson Forward J.D. Jones Forward Rich Kilgour Forward Michael Longboat Forward Tom Montour Forward Delby Powless Forward Neal Powless Forward Percy Shenandoah Forward Kim Squire Forward Mike Stevens Forward Marshall Abrams Defense Cam Bomberry Defense Tim Bomberry Defense Mark Burnam Defense Ron Cogan Defense Ryan Davis Defense Bob Henry Defense Robert Henry Defense Clay Hill Defense Allen Jones Defense Ricky Oakes Defense Brian Stevens Defense Derek General Goaltender Ken Montour Goaltender Mike Thompson Goaltender Darris Kilgour Head Coach

Pine Creek Frist Nation 282 Brian Chrupalo Pine Creek Frist Nation 282 Induction Category: Year Inducted Official 2023 <Back Brian Chrupalo was born and raised in the city of Winnipeg. Brian grew up in Manitoba housing that is a low-income housing complex in the cities north end. Brian is married to Lori and they have raised three adult boys, Tanner and twins Andrew and Carter. Brian is the first Treaty Status Canadian (registered to 282 Pine Creek First Nation) to work in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as an on field official. Brian has worked seventeen seasons in the CFL. During his career he has worked 278 games, he has been assigned numerous playoff assignments and worked in five Grey Cup championships. Brian was part of the 2017 season CFL/NFL officials exchange program which saw CFL officials work NFL camps and a preseason game in Jacksonville Florida. Since September 2021, Brian has been learning the Ojibwe language by taking virtual classes, this provided the unique opportunity on September 2022 to allow Brian to announce all of the game’s penalties in Ojibwe and English during the truth and reconciliation game. This was the first time in the history of the Canadian Football League that penalties were announced by an on field official in an indigenous language. Brian will announce the penalties again during the same game for the 2023 season When Brian isn’t working as a Staff Sergeant for the Winnipeg Police Service or working a CFL game he can be found volunteering as the Treasurer on the Board of Directors for the Bear Clan Patrol Inc., an indigenous community-based organization. Brian was instrumental in obtaining funding for a food hamper program during Covid-19. This program saw four hundred families receive healthy food every week for a year. Brian will be introducing marginalized indigenous youth, opportunities to participate in football camps in 2023.

< Back John Macdonald John Macdonald Mohawk Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2025 John Macdonald grew up in the Southern Ontario town of Simcoe, not far from extended family on Six Nations. Being gifted with a rare combination of size and speed, he quickly found his way onto the football field. He also played rugby, track & field, soccer, and ice hockey and was voted “Most Outstanding Male Student” in his senior year of high school. John was heavily recruited to play defensive line at many Canadian universities, but decided to attend McGill University. After five years, he left McGill as an all-star, an All-Canadian, and held the school record for tackles for loss in a career. He was selected in the first round, seventh overall by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 2002 Canadian Football League (CFL) draft. He played three years for Hamilton and was a starter in 2003. He was very active in the community and continued his education during his CFL career with the goal of becoming a teacher. After retiring from pro football in 2004, John began teaching English, Native Studies, and Physical Education. He’s been the head football coach of the Pauline Johnson Thunderbirds in Brantford, Ontario since 2019, winning a league championship in 2022. John has also been a guest coach at McGill University and the University of Guelph. He coached hockey, rugby, and field lacrosse in and around Brantford and Six Nations, winning provincial championships with two Six Nations Girls’ Field Lacrosse teams in 2013 and 2015. John helped build the S.O.A.R. Elite Athletic program at Pauline Johnson that prepared athletes to compete in NCAA and Canadian university sport. John has won many awards for his contributions to education, sport, and Indigenous advocacy including a Norfolk Sports Hall of Recognition Induction in 2017, a Dreamcatcher Charitable Foundation Education Award in 2018, and the CFL Alumni Association Indigenous Champion Award in 2023. John has supported Indigenous initiatives for McGill University, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats Alumni Association, the CFL Alumni Association, and the CFL. <Back

John Alexander Hunter Muscogee Creek Induction Category: Year Inducted Builder 2024 <Back John Alexander Hunter is a Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska descendant and White Earth Nation descendant living in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. He is a Muscogee Creek Nation citizen through his paternal grandmother’s (Alexander) family. Encouraged and supported by parents and family, Hunter took great interests in most sports in his home community of St. Paul, Minnesota. He earned the Dave Winfield Scholarship Award for athletic, scholarly, and service achievement in high school. With little more than the encouragement of a literature teacher, John started the first ever organized lacrosse team for his high school in 1994, which went on the state championship its first two years of play. Many of the players had been looked over for the school's most popular sports of baseball and hockey. Lacrosse quickly became popular as many of these student athletes were without an outlet for competitive team athletics. This was an exciting time to organize lacrosse, since there were only 8 teams in the inaugural statewide league, and interest was growing rapidly. Hunter took his lacrosse skills to Stanford University, he played four years of lacrosse and earned team captain honors his senior year. Focusing on starting a family and career, John took a break from lacrosse organizing until 2014 when he co-founded the non-profit sports organization, Twin Cities Native Lacrosse. He was inspired by other local indigenous lacrosse groups such as the Lightning Sticks Society. Since its beginning, Twin Cities Native Lacrosse has helped inspire the rapid growth of the traditional lacrosse games throughout the western Great Lakes communities. The traditional lacrosse game had not been played on a large scale in the region for over 100 years. Facilitating games, hosting skills clinics, and promoting traditional stick-making arts was the core work of the group. Hunter used the network of schools and indigenous youth groups in the Twin Cities to place the Anishinaabe and Dakota ball games directly in front of hundreds of Indigenous youth. Many now teach the game themselves. In 2018, the success of the community work was honored with a Super Bowl Legacy Grant. In 2020, Hunter was selected as the Head Coach for the Minneapolis Boys’ High School Lacrosse team, and became one of the first indigenous lacrosse head coaches in the state’s history. Also in 2020, John became the founding board member for the international non-profit organization, Anishinaabe Baagaadowewin, with a mission to share Anishinaabe history and culture -- specifically about traditional ball games. Hunter helped Anishinabe Baagaadowewin complete the initial work towards the the formation of an Anishinaabe National team. In 2022, Hunter was the primary consultant to BBC Radio’s podcast about ‘Great Lakes’ traditional lacrosse, which was broadcast to millions of listeners worldwide.

< Back Vic Mercredi Vic Mercredi Métis Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2024 Vic Mercredi achieved the honour of being the first player born and raised in the Northwest Territories to be drafted and signed by a National Hockey League Team in 1973. Mercredi started his junior career in 1969 playing in the British Columbia Junior Hockey League for the Penticton Broncos. In his first season he scored 16 goals and 34 points in 48 games. He followed this season by continuing and improving with 50 goals and 106 points in 51 games, making many take note of his skills as an offensive player. He was awarded the British Columbia Junior Hockey League Most Valuable Player trophy and was a unanimous First Team All-Star. After two seasons with the Broncos, Mercredi moved up to major junior hockey playing two seasons with the New Westminster Bruins in the Western Canada Junior Hockey League. He continued to grow and establish himself as a solid offensive player, scoring 24 goals and 54 points in 68 games. Mercredi could shoot equally well both left-handed and right handed. He took advantage of this unique ability by using a straight stick. In 1973, Mercredi was drafted 16th overall in the first round of the 1973 National Hockey League Amateur Draft by the Atlanta Flames and 35th overall in the 1973 World Hockey Association Amateur Draft by the Houston Aeros. This was a start of a successful professional career that included 68 games with the 1973 Omaha Knights, scoring 21 goals and 57 points, two games in the National Hockey League with the 1974 Atlanta Flames, 64 games with the 1974 Omaha Knights scoring 10 goals and 26 points, three games with the 1975 Calgary Cowboys in the World Hockey Association, and 52 games with the 1975 Baltimore Clippers in the American Hockey League. His next stop was Stockholm, Sweden with the Hammarby IF in 1976. There he played 18 games, scoring five goals and 14 points. He returned home to the successful career with two seasons in the Pacific Hockey League playing 42 games with the 1977 Phoenix Roadrunners, scoring 16 goals and 40 points and 29 games with the 1978 Tucson Rustlers, scoring 8 goals and 28 points. Mercredi finished his career with the 1979 Delta Kings in the British Columbia Senior Hockey League. <Back

< Back Bo Tyler Vocu Bo Tyler Vocu Northern Cheyenne/Oglala Lakota Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2025 Bo Tyler Vocu is a member of the Northern Cheyenne and a descendant of the Oglala Lakota Tribe, with deep roots in rodeo culture. Growing up on his family’s ranch on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, Bo was immersed in the world of rodeo from an early age. His grandfather, Clinton Small, was one of the most decorated rodeo cowboys of all time, and both his father, Michael, and his grandfather, Dale, were accomplished bull riders. This rich legacy set Bo on a path to becoming a rodeo champion in his own right. From a young age, Bo exhibited a fierce competitive spirit, competing in every event he could at youth rodeos. His passion for rodeo and his determination to succeed propelled him to excel in rough stock events, including bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, and bull riding—some of the toughest and most dangerous sports in the world. Notably, Bo may be the only rodeo athlete in the nation to have qualified for the Junior High, High School, and College National Finals Rodeos in all three rough stock events. Bo attended New Mexico State University on a rodeo scholarship, where he earned multiple regional titles and contributed to the university’s team championships. His rodeo achievements continued to grow as he qualified for the Indian National Finals Rodeo (INFR) every year since 2010, when junior events were first introduced when he was nine years old. He qualified in the junior breakaway and junior bull riding, and captured the INFR Tour Championship in the junior bull riding. At the age of 15 he qualified in the open bull riding for the first time. Bo has qualified for the INFR in all three rough stock events throughout his career. In 2023, he earned the title of World Champion All Around Runner-Up and continues to win titles at many of the top rodeos across the country. Bo’s success extends beyond the INFR; he is also a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) member. In 2024, he finished in the top 50 in the world standings for bull riding and won several professional rodeo titles, including the Xtreme Bulls event in Buffalo, Wyoming. At the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals, Bo qualified in saddle bronc and bull riding, ultimately earning the All Around Championship. His sights are now set on qualifying for the PRCA National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, with much more to come in his rodeo career. With a legacy rooted in tradition and a future filled with promise, Bo Tyler Vocu’s rodeo story is far from over. His dedication, skill, and competitive drive continue to inspire fans and fellow rodeo athletes alike. <Back

< Back Earl Sargent Earl Sargent Red Lake Band of Ojibwe Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2022 Earl excelled in high school sports for Bemidji High School, lettering in football, hockey and baseball. In 1973 he was pitcher for the Lumberjacks baseball team, he threw a no hitter first game of the tournament, and they then went on to win the State Tournament. His high school resume includes four trips to the state baseball tournament. Hockey was his first love, and after High School he pursued his hockey career. He signed with the Fargo/Moorhead Sugar Kings 1973-1975, where he was selected to play on the U.S. National Hockey team in Leningrad, Russia. He played one year each in the minor hockey leagues as a winger for the Minnesota North Stars, Detroit Red Wings and Albuquerque Chaparrals. He also played with teams in San Diego and Pennsylvania. <Back

Six Nations Arrows 1992 Minto Cup Champions 2026 Team Induction Category: Year Inducted <Back In 1992, the Six Nations Arrows became the first Indigenous team to win the prestigious Minto Cup – emblematic of Junior Lacrosse supremacy for Canada. Success in Minor Lacrosse - a Peewee A and a Midget A provincial championship and a Bantam A national Championship - were early indications greater things were in store for these young talented players. A few players spent three or four years away from their home community of Six Nations of the Grand River, to gain valuable experience in the Junior A circuit. It was during these years the Six Nations Junior B club worked to become a Junior A franchise. In 1990, the Six Nations Arrows entered their first competitive season as a Jr. A team. In their first season, they did not make the playoffs and in their second season, they were eliminated in the Ontario finals by St. Catharines who went on the win the Minto Cup. In their third year as a franchise, the Six Nations Arrows won the Minto Cup. Six Nations Arrows may not be the first, nor are they likely to be the last team, to win a significant sports championship, in only three years of existence. They got to hold ‘the Cup’ for a year but they will inspire players and teams on Six Nations for years and decades to come. 1992 Six Nations Arrows Minto Cup Junior A Canadian Champions Team Roster: Brian Staats, Lewis Staats, Jack Hill, Wayne Miller, Cap Bomberry, Dave General, Scott Cavan, Trevor Brennan, Doyle Bomberry, Tim Bomberry, Pete Skye Jr., Miles General, Cam Bomberry, Neil Bomberry, Dallas Squire, Arlie LaForne, Ken Sandy, Claude Sault, Pete Skye Sr., Bob Henry, Chad Squire, Daren Wilson, Brandon Hill, Jason Johnson, Randy Renaud, Scott Ranson, Ed Vyse, Travis Hill, Art Smith, Wayne VanEvery, Yul Baker, George Baker, Keith Martin. Credit: Brantford and Area Sports Hall of Recognition

Perry William Kelly <Back Metis Induction Category: Media/Athlete Year Inducted 2024 Over the past thirty-five-year period, Perry William Kelly has written literally hundreds of thousands of words on the subject of martial arts and combat sports. Kelly has been a feature writer for: Martial Arts Professional; Martial Arts Experts; Ultimate Grappling; and, Ultimate MMA, and is currently the Canadian and MMA Correspondent for MA Success magazine. During his lengthy career covering stories around the globe, he has interviewed multiple Olympic coaches and Gold Medalists, countless UFC champions and their trainers, World Kickboxing and Jiu-Jitsu Champions. He is one of the few MMA writers to have interviewed many of the CEOs of the world’s top MMA promotions, i.e. UFC, Bellator MMA, ONE Championship, Professional Fighters League and Combate Global. In addition, he has interviewed martial arts action film stars including the late David Carradine (Kill Bill) and Alain Moussi (Kickboxer). In 2017, Kelly won the World Police and Fire Fighter Games Karate Gold Medal - Over 50 Middleweight Division. The following year, he was dubbed “The Fighting Writer” by the Editor of Black Belt Magazine, the world’s oldest martial arts publication, when he won a Silver Medal at the famed Battle of Atlanta while taking on double duty by also reporting on the event. For over ten years, Kelly provided his master level knowledge of five martial arts while writing on law enforcement officer safety in articles featured in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Gazette. This work was featured in a book entitled The Thinking Officer's Guide to Police Defensive Tactics published with a forward by the former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, the Honourable Herb Gray and an introduction by former RCMP Commissioner and Interpol President Norman D. Inkster. Kelly’s other combative sports books include a biography of Bruce Lee’s protégé entitled Dan Inosanto: The Man, the Teacher, the Artist with a forward by the first martial artist elected to the NFL Hall of Fame Randy White and the biography ICEMAN: Kickboxing Legend Jean-Yves Theriault. Kelly is currently the Tribal Representative for the Metis Nation of Ontario for the Native American League of the U.S. Muay Thai Association.