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- NAIAHF Builders
Builders 7G Foundation Pauma Band of Luiseño Indian Darlene Ahmo Sagkeeng Anicinabe Nation Ernie St. Germaine Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe Matt Roberson Wichita/Keechi Sianneh Mulbah Ojibwe Alfred Jacques Onondaga Denise Tsadeyohdi Waterman Oneida John Alexander Hunter Muscogee Creek Rick Brant (Teho:ka) Mohawk Walter and Verna Fontaine Sagkeeng First Nation Bennae Calac Pauma Band of Luiseño Indian Dennis Parrish Stewarts Point Rancheria of Kashaya Pomo John Lyall Kwakwaka’wakw Ryan Salmon Ojibwe Wilton Littlechild Cree Claudia Jimerson Cayuga Nation, Bear Clan Dr. Rosalin Miles Lytton First Nation Kathy Smith Mohawk Sam McCracken Sioux and Assiniboine Curt Styres Mohawk, Wolf Clan Dustin Quinn Martin Navajo Krista Hodder Mi’kmaw from Membertou First Nation Scott Daniels Mistawasis Nêhiyawak
- NAIAHF Coaches
Coaches Alex “Askie” Askenette Menominee Cherlyn Dawn Billy Shuswap Nation Fern Spencer Hopi/Navajo Jacqueline Lavallee Metis Jason Peters Mi’kmaw Kelvin Sampson Lumbee Mark Burnam Mohawk Orin Lou Askenette Menominee Athena Aitken Anishinaabe/Hocąk Craig Berube Cree Gerald “Jerry” Tuckwin Prairie Band Potawatomi Jason G. Montoya Santa Ana Pueblo Jonathan Harmon Hopi Kerry Danforth Oneida Marty Ward Cherokee Rick Baker Hopi August Wesley Narragansett Dano Thorne,’kwaliquinum’ Coast Salish Cowichan and Nez Perce Greg Henhawk Mohawk Jason Johnson Onondaga Nation, Wolf Clan Kellen Sampson Lumbee Malcolm Blacksmith Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Michael Daney Choctaw Terry Ware Kiowa
- NAIAHF Trainers
Trainers Marty Ward Onondaga Nation, Snipe Clan Harold Ladouceur Cree Gerald (Jerry) Gourneau Turtle Mountain Chippewa Chamisa Goodwin Ojibwe Dominic Tiger-Cortes Muscogee Creek Tim Moccasin Cree Thomas Gardipy Jr. Beardy’s and Okemasis’ Cree Nation
- NAIAHF Media
Media Cuyler Frank Navajo Mark D. Williams Choctaw Theodore Niizhotay Fontaine Sagkeeng Anishinaabe First Nation Dallas Soonias Nehiyaw/Anishinaabe Matthew Sakiestewa Gilbert Hopi Eugene Oree Foster Navajo Perry William Kelly Metis LA Williams Diné Sunnie R. Clahchischiligi Diné (Navajo)
- NAIAHF Teams
Teams 1899 Carlisle Indian Industrial School 2017 NIFA Ladies Team Indigenous Canada Can Am Warriors Iroquois Nationals 2003 World Indoor Lacrosse Championships Silver Medalists Iroquois Nationals 2015 World Indoor Lacrosse Championships Silver Medalists Onondaga Redhawks 2014 President’s Cup Champions Six Nations Arrows 2007 Minto Cup Champions 1999 Iroquois Nationals AlgonCrees Haudenosaunee Nationals Women’s Box Lacrosse Iroquois Nationals 2007 World Indoor Lacrosse Championships Silver Medalists Kahnawake Hunters 2025 Founder’s Cup Champions Sagkeeng Old Timers The North Americans 2015 Team Canada Women's Soccer Anishnabe Iskwewak IIJL WORLD U16 LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIP (WU16LC) Iroquois Nationals 2011 World Indoor Lacrosse Championships Silver Medalists Onondaga Redhawks 2010 President’s Cup Champions Six Nations Arrows 1992 Minto Cup Champions
- Gary Sargent, Red Lake Ojibwe
< Back Gary Sargent Gary Sargent Red Lake Ojibwe Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2022 Gary played and excelled in sports at the high school, college and professional levels. At Bemidji High School in Bemidji, MN, Gary was an NCAA DI prospect in football, baseball, and hockey. He turned down an offer from the Minnesota Twins baseball team after high school graduation to pursue a career in hockey. Gary played hockey at Bemidji State College for one year. During this time Gary was named to the World Cup team and played collegiate hockey in Graz, Austria. This team won a silver medal. He was named a college All American while playing at Bemidji State College. Gary played junior hockey with the Fargo Moorhead Sugar Kings for one year before turning professional. He played in the American Hockey League before joining the Los Angeles Kings for three seasons. In 1977 Gary signed with the Minnesota North Stars and played there until his retirement from professional hockey in 1983. During his tenure with the North Stars he was selected to the NHL All Star Team twice, and played in 402 games in the NHL. <Back
- Michael “Bo” Vocu, Oglala Sioux
< Back Michael “Bo” Vocu Michael “Bo” Vocu Oglala Sioux Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete/Builder 2025 Michael “Bo” Vocu is a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, originally from Kyle, SD, and has made a significant mark in the rodeo world. Raised on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, Bo was inspired by the rodeo legends around him, especially his father, Dale, and aspired to follow in their footsteps. His dedication to the sport led him to a successful career in bull riding, earning him numerous accolades. Bo qualified for the South Dakota High School Rodeo Finals all four years and was named runner-up state champion in 1992. Bo later attended Chadron State College on a rodeo scholarship, where he continued to refine his skills and build his legacy in the sport. Bo’s professional career took off in 1994 when he qualified for the Indian National Finals Rodeo (INFR) for the first time. This marked the beginning of 14 INFR qualifications over the course of his career. In 1997, Bo moved to Arizona, where his bull riding career flourished. He won numerous titles and was crowned the All Indian Professional Rodeo Association World Champion in 2000. Bo takes pride in competing and winning at major Indian rodeos across the country and the lifelong friendships he’s formed along the way. He also participated in the PRCA and PBR, retiring in 2010 at the INFR. Beyond his competitive success, Bo’s impact on rodeo deepened when he became a commissioner of the INFR in 2007. He played a crucial role in relocating the INFR to Las Vegas, NV, and in developing programs for rodeo officials and stock contractors. In 2010, Bo and his fellow commissioners made it mandatory to include both junior and senior events at all INFR rodeos and Finals, preserving the family legacy of the sport. He was also instrumental in establishing the INFR Hall of Fame to honor the achievements of legendary athletes and contributors. As president of the INFR for the past decade, Bo has overseen the crowning of 228 INFR World Champions. Under his leadership, the INFR has grown into one of the largest rodeo organizations in North America and continues to grow every year. Bo’s favorite moment remains to see junior contestants receive their back numbers—a symbol of their entry into the sport and fulfilling dreams that inspire him daily. He knows the sport of rodeo will live on! In addition to his personal achievements, Bo also helped establish and coach the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Team Wolves, an all-Indian team that competed for three years in the PBR Global Cup, further solidifying his legacy and commitment to advancing Native representation in rodeo and bull riding. Michael “Bo” Vocu’s influence on the rodeo world extends far beyond his impressive list of personal accomplishments. Through his leadership, vision, and dedication to preserving the traditions of the sport, Bo has become a key figure in the rodeo community, particularly in promoting Native American involvement and representation. His contributions to the INFR, the PBR Team Wolves, and the next generation of rodeo athletes ensure that his impact will continue to inspire and shape the future of the sport for years to come. With an unwavering commitment to family, tradition, and community, Bo Vocu’s legacy in the rodeo world is one of enduring excellence. <Back
- Alicia Guerrero, Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation
< Back Alicia Guerrero Alicia Guerrero Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2025 Alicia Guerrero is an enrolled member of the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation who has grown up and attended school on the Yakama Reservation. Guerrero lost her left leg in 2005 at the age of two years old. Beginning her Para Athletics career in 2018, she broke multiple Washington State records as a high school freshman and has since competed nationally in the F64 category for shot put and discus. Guerrero competed in wheelchair basketball and throwing events at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign before transferring to San Diego State University in 2024 to fully dedicate herself to her competitive throwing career. Beyond the field, Guerrero is passionate about education, with aspirations to become an elementary school teacher serving Native American communities. Guerrero’s drive stems from a commitment to representation—both for disabled athletes and strong Indigenous women. She proudly incorporates her heritage into her competitions, wearing beaded earrings and bold, creative makeup as a testament to the spaces where Indigenous excellence belongs. Guerrero was named to the 2022 National team for shot put. In 2023, she made her international debut at the Para Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, earning her first international medal: bronze in the F64 discus throw. When not competing, Guerrero channels her creativity into beading jewelry, spending time withher dogs and birds, and finds peace by the ocean. <Back
- Darris Kilgour, Tuscarora
< 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
- Ron Powless, Oneida
< Back Ron Powless Ron Powless Oneida Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2025 Ron Powless was born on March 17, 1931, in Milwaukee Wisconsin and passed away September 9, 2011, in Marietta, GA while enroute to his winter home in Ft. Myers, FL. His father was Merville Powless from the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. His mother, Jesse Snow Powless, was from the Red Lake Chippewa Nation. Ron, the oldest of three brothers, was highly motivated and an athletically talented youth. He played high school football at Morgan Park, Chicago, IL and Washington High School, Milwaukee, WI. His success as a receiver and punter led to his recruitment and scholarship offers. Ron attended Indiana University on an athletic scholarship playing football for the Hoosiers in the Big Ten. Following his time at Indiana, Ron served in the military stationed in Tokyo, Japan, where he was selected to the U.S. Army All-Star football team and played in the first American football game in Tokyo Stadium against the Marine All-Star’s. After his time in the military and playing for the U.S. Army All-Star football team, he continued his education in Mexico City at Mexico City College and later graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Marketing and Economics. Ron’s competitive nature led to successful careers with companies like Xerox and Itek before founding his own corporation, International Data Systems. His success allowed him to contribute to American Indian causes and enjoy homes in Wisconsin and Florida. Ron’s legacy lives on as he had a son and daughter both of whom followed him with successful careers and healthy families. <Back
- Matthew Sakiestewa Gilbert, Hopi
Matthew Sakiestewa Gilbert <Back Hopi Induction Category: Media Year Inducted 2024 Matthew Sakiestewa Gilbert is Professor of History and American Indian Studies at the University of Arizona. He is an enrolled member of the Hopi Tribe from the village of Upper Munqapi. Centering his research and teaching on Native American history and the history of the American West, he examines the history of American Indian education, the Indian boarding school experience, and American Indians and sport. Over the years, Gilbert has published extensively on Hopi long-distance running, including an article titled “Hopi Footraces and American Marathons, 1912-1930” (American Quarterly, March 2010) and “Marathoner Louis Tewanima and the Continuity of Hopi Running, 1908-1912” (Western Historical Quarterly, Autumn 2012). He is, however, best known for his book, “Hopi Runners: Crossing the Terrain between Indian and American” (University Press of Kansas, 2018), which won the 2019 David J. Weber-Clements Prize of the Clements Center for Southwest Studies. In it, he examines the ways Hopi marathon runners navigated between tribal dynamics, school loyalties, and a country that closely associated sport with U.S. nationalism. He calls attention to Hopi philosophies of running that connected the runners to their village communities and to the internal and external forces that supported and strained these cultural ties when Hopi people competed in U.S. marathons. He argues that between 1908 and 1936, the cultural identity of Hopi runners challenged white American perceptions of modernity and placed them in a context that had national and international dimensions. This broad perspective linked Hopi runners to athletes from around the world, including runners from Japan and Ireland, and caused non-Natives to reevaluate their understanding of sport, nationhood, and the cultures of indigenous people. His work and expertise on Hopi running have been featured in an ESPN documentary film, “Run Hopi” by Scott Harves, and various media outlets, including the KUYI Radio Station (88.1 FM) on the Hopi Reservation. A sought-after speaker on Hopi and indigenous running, he has given lectures for academic audiences, tribal organizations, primary and secondary schools, and Native American cultural centers and museums, including the Heard Museum, Amerind Museum, and Tohono O’odham Cultural Center and Museum.
- Wilton Littlechild, Cree
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






