< Back Cynthia Yerby Cynthia Yerby Seminole Tribe of Oklahoma Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2026 Cynthia Yerby, a proud member of the Seminole Tribe of Oklahoma, was a 10-time Women’s Arm-Wrestling Champion, a student counselor/advocate, and a cultural artist. Cynthia was a dedicated and inspirational professional with 35 years of experience as a college counselor, empowering students – especially those from Indigenous and underrepresented backgrounds – to pursue higher education and personal growth. Cynthia had been recognized globally for her athletic excellence, cultural representation, and unwavering commitment to mentorship and leadership. Cynthia received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology/Psychology and her Master of Education in Counseling and Student Services from East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma. She was an inductee of the Seminole State College Hall of Fame and an inductee of the National Arm-Wrestling Hall of Fame and Oklahoma Sports Museum. Cynthia was a recipient of the AARP Indian Elders Award. She was also awarded the SSC Emeritus Status. As an advisor/college counselor for Seminole State College, Cynthia advised and mentored thousands of students across three decades, with a strong focus on first-generation, Indigenous, and underserved populations. She partnered with tribal education offices and national organizations to increase college access for Native youth. Cynthia received multiple university and community service awards for excellence in counseling and mentorship. Cynthia is the founder and lead designer for Native Designs by Cynthia Yerby: Seminole Patchwork & Fashion. She creates hand/machine-sewn, custom patchwork garments rooted in Seminole tradition with contemporary flair. Her work has been worn in fashion shows, powwows, stomp dances, and cultural celebrations across the U.S. and Canada. Cynthia’s patchwork has also been published in “Piecework Magazine”. Cynthia’s athletic achievements included being named the 1997, 1998, and 2001 USWA/USAA World Wrist-Wrestling Champion. She was named the 1998 and 1999 World Arm-Wrestling Federation Ladies Masters Champion. Cynthia was the 10-time USA Women’s World Champion, an international competitor and represented Team USA worldwide including Russia, Japan, Finland, Sweden, and Canada. Inducted into the New York Wrestling Hall of Fame, she was an 11-time United States National Champion and holds 31 state championships across the country. Notable opponents Cynthia defeated includes country music/acting star Tim McGraw, blues legend B.B. King, and former football coach Barry Switzer. <Back

< Back Alissa Pili Alissa Pili Inupiaq/Samoan Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2025 Alissa Pili was born in Anchorage, AK in June 2001. On her mother’s side, Alissa is of Inupiaq descent, from the North Slope region of Alaska. On her father’s side, she is of Samoan descent, rooting from the village of Aua, American Samoa. For the first seven years of her life, she lived in Utqiagvik, aka Barrow, the northernmost city in the United States. Alissa spent the rest of her childhood in Anchorage, where she enjoyed outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, fishing and playing sports. Alissa compiled 13 state titles during her athletic career at Dimond High School including four in volleyball, four in shot put, two in discus, two in basketball, and one in wrestling. She was named the Max Preps National Female Athlete of the Year two years in a row, and is a three-time Gatorade Player of the Year for girls’ basketball. She went on to play basketball for the University of Southern California, where she was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. Injuries were an issue during sophomore and junior year, and she felt like she needed a new start, so she entered the transfer portal and landed at the University of Utah. From there, her career took off, earning Pac-12 player of the year and all Pac-12 honors her first year with the Utes and she led her team to the conference title. In her second year as a Ute, during a showcase game featuring the #1 South Carolina Gamecocks, she scored 37 points with WNBA scouts in attendance, and her WNBA draft stock soared. She was drafted #8 overall in the 2024 WNBA draft to the Minnesota Lynx, and landed an endorsement deal with Nike’s Indigenous focused N7 brand, where she was the face of their 2024 Native American Heritage Month campaign. Alissa looks forward to her continued success in the WNBA and being a representative of not only the Native American and Polynesian communities around the world, but to all who love women’s sports and aspire to uplift one another. <Back

< Back Marcus Oliveira Marcus Oliveira Menominee Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete/Builder 2025 Marcus Derwin Oliveira, “The Phenom Menom,” was born on March 18, 1979, and raised on the Menominee Indian Reservation in Keshena, Wisconsin. He began boxing at the age of seven years old and went on to have a very impressive and decorated amateur record of 375+ fights and only lost 30 times. With his impressive skills, aggressiveness and unmatched strength inside the ring, he earned himself a spot training at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado. Marcus went on to make it to the Olympic Trials, losing by only one point to make the USA Olympic team. In April of 2006 Oliveira made his much-anticipated professional debut with a knockout win against Daniel Russell. Marcus went on to win his next six fights by knockouts, five of them being in the first round. Due to Marcus’ extraordinary boxing skills he was approached in 2010 by legendary boxing promoter Don King and was immediately signed to Don King Promotions. He went on to fight some of the top fighters in his light heavyweight division to become ranked #1 in the world for two years. Marcus held several titles and belts, including ABF, WBA fedebol, and NABA. In his professional career he had an impressive record of 38 fights, with 28 wins and 22 by way of knockout, nine losses and one draw. Marcus retired from boxing in 2023 and currently resides in Lawrence, Kansas and focuses his time raising his son and daughter, and working for the environmental protection agency on the Prairie Band Potawatomi Indian reservation in Mayetta, KS. He is married to Shiloh LeBeau-Oliveira, 2023 NAIAHF inductee. In his spare time he and his wife travel for speaking engagements and hosting boxing workshops on different Native American reservations to inspire, motivate and encourage the youth to live a positive healthy lifestyle while helping them to build confidence, discipline, and skills through the sport of boxing. <Back

< Back Aloysius “Al” Waquie Aloysius “Al” Waquie Walatowa Pueblo of Jemez Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2026 Al Waquie is known as “King of the Mountains,” one of the best of America’s high-country runners. His Indigenous name is Sho-Nee-Toe, the name of his father’s favorite hunting ground. Al ran as a way of gaining harmony with the land and environment, an ideal that is the spiritual foundation of his tribe’s culture. Al is quoted saying, “My grandfather always told me, ‘Whenever there is a big crowd, just stay away. Be on your own.’" He nearly always ran alone, often heading into the mountains and not emerging for five days. Al lives at 6,000ft elevation and would regularly run at Redondo Peak which sits at over 11,000ft elevation. In 1971 Al was a Cross Country All American at Haskell Jr. College. He was an eight time winner and record holder of the La Luz Trail Run at Sandia Peak near Albuqerque, NM. The grueling La Luz Trail Run is a nine-mile climb up a 12% grade to the top of 10,678-foot Sandia Crest. He was the five time winner of the Empire State Building Run. He negotiated the 86-story, 1,050-foot climb by taking the 1,575 steps two at a time until he reached the finish line on the observation deck and beating his opponents to the top by 26 seconds. Al dominated the 80’s and is currently tied for the second-most men’s victories, winning 5 consecutive times between 1983 and 1987. Al was a two-time winner of Pikes Peak Marathon and record holder; his record is at 3:26:17, a numbing 28-mile trek to the summit of the 14,110-foot mountain and then back down. Other accomplishments was being named the AAU Athlete of Month – August, 1978 and received the Sports Illustrated Merit Award – 1980 and Popay Tricentennial Award – 1980. He was inducted into the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame. He was also featured article in Sports Illustrated and the Los Angeles Times along with numerous other publications. Each time Waquie won a race or conquered the skyscraper, it has been a reaffirmation that, for him, the Indian way is better than modern life. “Running is a religion with my people. It is part of our century-old spiritual ceremonial. It is part of my soul, my reason for being,” Al said in a previous interview. <Back

Sianneh Mulbah Ojibwe Induction Category: Year Inducted Builder 2024 <Back Sianneh Mulbah enters her 13th season with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx and her fifth as Chief People Officer. Mulbah is responsible for developing and executing the organization’s comprehensive human resources strategy and is integral to the Executive Team. During her tenure, Mulbah has played a crucial role in transforming the organization’s culture. In 2019, Mulbah became the first Timberwolves and Lynx employee to receive the prestigious Sports Business Journal “Game Changers” award. She was among forty women nationwide honored in New York City for transforming the industry and leading the next generation of women in the sports business. In 2018, Mulbah was named to Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s prestigious “40 Under 40” list, which recognizes high-achieving business leaders in the community. Mulbah was also named a Twin Cities Business 2021 Notable BIPOC Executive for her leadership throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Mulbah leads the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx Women in Sports Leadership Council, which focuses on women's professional growth and development in the workplace. She also serves on the Advisory board of directors for the Twin Cities chapter of Women in Sports and Events (WISE). Before her Advisory role, Mulbah held the position of VP of Mentorship for WISE. In January, Mulbah began her most recent community-focused role when she assumed a board of directors’ role with Volunteers of America. In addition to WISE and VOA, Mulbah also holds a board position on the Ceridian Cares Charity, based out of Toronto, Ontario, and is in her second term as Secretary of School District 196’s (Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan), Native American Parent Advisory Committee, which purpose is to serve in an advisory capacity for planning and implementing programs and events that support District 196 American Indian students and their families. A graduate of Bemidji State University, Mulbah received a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She received a double master’s degree in organizational management–HR and Business Administration from Concordia University-St. Paul. Mulbah resides in the Twin Cities with her son, a senior at the University of MN – Duluth majoring in Journalism, and daughter, a seventh grader and avid soccer player.

< Back Shayna Powless Shayna Powless Oneida Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2022 Shayna Powless is a member of the Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin, a USA Cycling-certified coach and a professional cyclist for DNA Pro Cycling. She grew up in Roseville, California and currently resides in Jacksonville, Florida. She graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2016 and was a member of the UCLA cycling team for four years. She co-founded the Dreamcatcher Foundation with her fiance, Eli Ankou, who is a professional football player and member of the Dokis First Nation in Canada. The foundation aims to empower Native youth through sports by providing equipment and camps. The foundation also aims to raise awareness of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) crisis in North America, as well as raise funds for organizations actively fighting this crisis. Shayna has domestic and international professional race experience in road, track, gravel, mountain biking and virtual (Zwift) racing. She also has experience racing at events such as the World Championships, National Championships, Pan Am Games, World Cups, Swiss Cups, criteriums, one-day races, and stage races. <Back

< Back Lauren Schad Lauren Schad Cheyenne River Lakota Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Lauren Schad is a citizen of the Cheyenne River Lakota Nation and raised in He Sapa (The Black Hills) located in Rapid City, South Dakota. She was recruited by the University of San Diego (USD) and in her sophomore and junior seasons, she earned a spot on the USA Collegiate National Volleyball Team roster. She also received All-American Honors. Schad ranked second best in single season hitting percentage in USD history, nationally third ranked in hitting percentage at .410 in the NCAA out of all seniors, was #1 in the WCC in hitting percentage and tenth all-time in career blocks at USD. Following graduation with a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and a minor in English, she was invited to be a Nike N7 Ambassador and played professionally for five seasons in the top league in France, where she and her team won silver in both the Coupe de France and the Championship of France and receiving bronze her following two seasons. She competed in the Champions League for three seasons out of five in France competing against world renowned athletes. During Lauren’s off seasons, she has remained active in her home and tribal communities organizing and hosting camps for Indigenous youth throughout the US and Canada. In 2019, the Red Ribbon Skirt Society asked her to be their first Healing the Globe Ambassador for MMIWG2S. Following her retirement from volleyball in the summer of 2022 she began her textile business, Wicahpi Rugs & Textiles, where she uses Lakota star knowledge and stories to inspire modern art. Lauren hopes through these efforts she will help to increase the visibility and opportunities for youth living in rural areas while shedding light to issues facing Indigenous communities. Action Photo Credit: Alexandrine Maguer Spilers Profile Photo Credit: Taylor Schad <Back

Claudia Jimerson Cayuga Nation, Bear Clan Induction Category: Year Inducted Builder 2024 <Back Claudia Jimerson is an influential steward of the game who has contributed to the growth and development of Women’s lacrosse. A former lacrosse player and coach herself, Jimerson has spent many years dedicating her life and heart back to the sport that has brought her so many joyous experiences. Jimerson is currently a Senior Human Resource Executive at Seneca Gaming Corporation with 20 years of successful experience in the hospitality industry. She brings a wealth of knowledge in organization development, talent acquisition and training that she incorporates into the women’s program to promote a positive environment for continuous learning, inclusion and personal growth. She was a High School US All American and SUNY Fredonia Women’s Lacrosse All American Honorable Mention. Jimerson participated in the 2013 Women’s World Championships where she was a team captain for the Haudenosaunee Nationals. She exemplified leadership, inspiration, and heart that helped lead the way for team Haudenosaunee to their highest finish yet. Since then, Jimerson has transitioned to an important role as the Director of Women’s Lacrosse Operations and Board Member of the Haudenosaunee Nationals. She has contributed a great deal of time and energy back to the game and her people. In the last three years, she has worked with others to lead the Haudenosaunee Nationals Women’s team to compete in three international competitions where they have placed first, eighth and seventh respectively. Jimerson has demonstrated passion for the game throughout the years and more importantly, she has shown all Haudenosaunee women what it means to be empowered. Jimerson is someone who is confident and leads with her heart. She is filled with passion and love; and sets an example of what the game can cultivate in women if you allow yourself to learn and honor it in all the right ways. She has used the game as a tool to inspire those around her to believe in themselves and be confident in who they are. Jimerson finds joy and importance in educating others on the history and importance of lacrosse - she uses her role to not only spread the culture of the Haudenosaunee people and where the spirit game comes from; but also to spread awareness on Indigenous issues.

< Back Mariah Bahe Mariah Bahe Navajo Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Mariah Bahe is an accomplished amateur boxer with six national boxing titles including the 2016 Ringside World Tournament Championship, 2017 USA Jr. Olympic National Championship, 2018 Eastern Olympic Qualifier National Championship, 2018 Western Olympic Qualifier National Championship, 2019 Silver Gloves National Championship, and 2020 Silver Gloves National Championship. Bahe has competed in over 60 bouts in USA boxing with a 70% win record. She has also won over 15 Arizona State boxing championships, over 10 Regional titles, and four All Indian National titles. Bahe trains in a small gym called Damon-Bahe Boxing, with males as her sparing partners. She would travel 2.5 hours and more to spar with females her age and weight. Bahe qualified for the Arizona High School State Cross Country Championships placing in the top 20 all three years of high school. She also qualified in the Arizona High School State Track and Field Championships all three years. Bahe has been recognized in 2018 in the Arizona State House of Representatives for her accomplishments in the sport of boxing. She is featured in boxing documentaries and “Mariah: A Boxers Dream” is on the Olympic Channel and it has won two WEBBY awards. She was also in the 2019-2020 A Puma Campaign with four advertisement commercials. Bahe has spoken to schools on the topic of “Never Give Up and Anything is Possible.” She wants to show younger women and girls there is no limit on what they can accomplish no matter where they come from. Bahe enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and will continue to box in the military. <Back

< Back Cory Bomberry Cory Bomberry Mohawk Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2016 Cory Bomberry was a member of the Mann Cup-winning Six Nations Chiefs in 1994 and 1995. He was also a member of the Iroquois Nationals World Indoor Championship Silver Medal teams in 2003, 2007, and 2011. Bomberry had a 14-year career in the NLL playing with the Rochester Knighthawks between 1997 and 2003, Arizona Sting for one year and Buffalo Bandits for three years. He scored 235 goals, was an NLL champion in 2008 with the Buffalo Bandits and he was in six NLL Finals. Bomberry had more than 40 assists in four consecutive seasons from 2001-2004. He had over 400 assists in his career. He also won almost 50% of over 1,500 face-offs in his career. In 2009, he returned to the Rochester Knighthawks and played one more season before ending his career. During his 13 years as a pro, Cory was twice named the National Lacrosse League Native American MVP. This award was given by the Turtle Island News. <Back

< Back Katie Taylor Katie Taylor Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2022 Katie Taylor is a member of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Ojibwe. She is a six-time All American and a National Champion. In high school, she competed in basketball and track for Hayward High School (WI). In 2014, she was the Wisconsin Division 2 State Runner-up in the shot put and discus. She graduated from college in 2021 with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, which focuses on three areas of study including Math, IT, and Indigenous Studies. Her future goals include becoming fluent in her native Ojibwe language and relearning cultural significances she has lost over the years. Katie is in her senior season at Minnesota State University – Mankato. In the 2021 Outdoor season, she was named First Team All-American in the discus throw after finishing fifth at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships while also competing in the shot put and finishing 14th. She earned all-conference honors in the shot put, hammer throw and discus throw, finishing fourth in all three events at the NSIC Outdoor Track and Field Championships. She set career bests in the discus throw at 49.85m (163'6") and hammer throw at 55.54m (182'3") at the Maverick Classic. During the 2021 Indoor season, she earned the national championship in the weight throw, setting a school record with a throw of 21.17m (69'5.5") at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships. She earned first-team All-American honors in the shot put, finishing seventh at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships. She also earned all-conference honors in the shot put and weight throw, finishing fourth and second respectively at the NSIC Indoor Track & Field Championships. During the 2020 Indoor season, she earned all-conference honors in the shot put and weight throw, finishing fourth in both events at the NSIC Indoor Track & Field Championships. In 2017, Katie was Indoor Shot Put NSIC Champion while attending Winona State University. She was the 2017 Indoor Weight Throw 3rd place at NSIC Championships, the Outdoor Shot Put 3rd place at NSIC Championships, the Outdoor Discus 3rd Place at NSIC Championships and 2017 Outdoor Shot Put 3rd Place at the NCAA Championships. <Back

< Back Kayla Gardner Kayla Gardner Eagle Lake First Nation Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2022 Kayla Gardner was a two-time girls’ hockey state champion with the Warroad Warriors, earning back to back titles in 2010 and 2011. Gardner was a contributing member of five section 8A championships. Off the ice, Gardner was a member of the National Honor Society. After graduating from Warroad High School, Gardner attended the University of North Dakota from 2013-2017, where she received a full hockey scholarship. During her time at UND, Gardner was a three-time WCHA Scholar Athlete. After earning her Bachelors of Science degree in Criminal Justice in 2017, Gardner went on to play professional hockey with the Calgary Inferno of the CWHL. After a successful year with the Calgary Inferno, Gardner continued her professional hockey career in Sweden, playing with the Brynäs IF in the SDHL. <Back