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< Back Alwyn Morris Alwyn Morris Kahnawake Mohawk Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Alwyn Morris was born on the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake. At the age of fourteen, he became interested in the Onake Paddling Club that operated on the Mohawk territory despite questions about why he didn’t want to pursue hockey or lacrosse. Morris excelled in the sport quickly, and at the age of 18 moved to Vancouver to train, where he met Hugh Fisher, his future kayak partner. In 1977, he won the K-1 1,000-metre and the K-1 500-metre junior national championships. That same year he was named the recipient of the Tom Longboat Award for the first time and one of the most prestigious awards for Aboriginal athletes in the country. In 1980, Alwyn Morris earned a spot on the Canadian Olympic team. He did not compete that year, but Alwyn and Hugh Fisher teamed up and continued to train in preparation for the Los Angeles Olympics. They raced in the 1984 Summer Olympic paddling competition in the K-2 event (kayak pairs) winning gold in the 1,000-metre competition and bronze in the 500 meter event. Alwyn was once again named as the recipient of the Tom Longboat Award, was later inducted into the Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame and appointed to the Order of Canada for outstanding service and achievement. Alwyn proudly raised an eagle feather on the Olympic podium. This gesture was an important symbolic moment about honouring lessons he had learned from his grandfather including perseverance and dedication. Following his career as a high-level and influential athlete for Team Canada, Morris has focused much of his time and energy in addressing barriers for Indigenous athletes. He established the Alwyn Morris Education and Athletic Foundation and continues to coach the youth of Kahnawake in kayaking, canoeing, and hockey. He was influential in the development of and continues to serve with the Aboriginal Sports Circle and has served with the Canada Games Council, the Canadian Sport Secretariat, and as a Special Policy Advisor for Aboriginal People and the Constitution to the Rt. Hon. Joe Clark during the Meech Lake and Charlottetown processes. In 1988, 2004 and 2010, Alwyn had the honour of bearing the Olympic torch through the Kahnawake Territory for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. On June 21, 2022, Western University bestowed an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Indigenous sports in Canada. <Back

< Back Mike Chavez Mike Chavez Crow/Northern Cheyenne Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2025 Mike Chavez was one of the few indigenous men to play basketball at the NCAA Division I level in Montana, and he was honored at the 2023 University of Montana Nike N7 Celebration basketball game. Chavez was a three-time "USA TODAY" all-class player of the year for Montana from 2000- 2002. He was a Street and Smith High School All-American and a McDonald's All-American Nominee. He was also a four-year All-State and All-Conference selection. Chavez played high School basketball for the Heart Butte High School Warriors and the Browning High School Indians from the Blackfeet Indian reservation. He was named State Tournament Most Valuable Player three years in a row and a three-time state champion in 2000, 2001, and 2002. In 2002, Chavez had multiple offers from colleges. He chose the University of Montana Grizzlies over Oregon State, Oregon, Montana State, UMASS and New Mexico. Chavez played in the NCAA tournament with the nation’s elite as the Griz made it into the second round in 2006 before losing to Boston College. Out of all the Big Dance teams, he was the only Native player in the tournament. In 2007, Chavez won the prestigious Naseby Rhinehart Award. Chavez also made the All-Decade team for 2000-2010 with the University of Montana Basketball Program. He had his difficulties with culture shock, but with perseverance, hard work and his culture, Chavez finished an illustrious career at the University of Montana. Following his graduation from college. Chavez was drafted into The Continental Basketball Association CBA by the Great Falls Explorers. He played professional basketball across the world in FIBA Pro leagues including the Latin Pro League (LNBP) in Guadalajara. Chavez is currently the Athletic Director/Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College in New Town, North Dakota. He lives with his wife Lisa Chavez (Cree/Lakota). <Back

< Back Michael G. Robinson Michael G. Robinson White Earth Ojibwe Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Michael G Robinson grew up in Cass Lake, Minnesota, on the Leech Lake Indian Reservation. He is Anishinaabe, and an enrolled member of the White Earth Nation. Sports have always been important to Michael. In junior high school, Michael discovered boxing. By the age of 16, he won the Regional Golden Glove Championship, along with the Best Boxer award. In his teens his family moved to Tacoma, Washington and he continued fighting. He represented the Tacoma Boxing team regionally and in the Seattle Golden Gloves. Michael returned to Minnesota, boxing for Minneapolis South Central Gym and Leech Lake. In his career Michael had 152 fights. He won the Regional Golden Gloves tournament eight times, eight Minnesota State Indian Boxing Tournaments and the 1981 and 1984 National Indian Boxing Championships. Michael has been a coach, judge, and promoter of boxing. In both the amateur and professional ranks, Michael has been a positive role model for fighters throughout the Midwestern United States. Michael has always been a positive mentor, giving freely of himself, for benefit of his community. This includes his knowledge of traditional wild rice harvesting. Every fall, he freely passes on what he knows to the next generation of ricers. His devotion to Indian Country public safety paralleled his fighting career. He has been an officer in Mescalero, New Mexico, Red Lake, White Earth and finally, at home for the Leech Lake. Michael recently retired from Law Enforcement after serving for 32 years. <Back

< Back Jana Williams Jana Williams Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Jana Williams got her start in tennis the summer before seventh grade. Her older sister wanted tennis lessons, and Jana golf lessons; so they agreed to take them together. After playing in her first tournament, the captain from the high school team convinced her to try out for the varsity team as a seventh grader, playing #4 singles and 8-12th #1. She was in the top 5 in the Northwest section throughout her junior career, qualifying for Jr. Nationals and then in her sophomore year was awarded a scholarship to Nick Bollettieri’s Tennis Academy in Bradenton, FL. After high school she got pregnant with twins. When they were six months old she returned to school at North Hennepin Community College and played on the tennis team for two years, going undefeated both years and qualified for the NJCAA National tournament. The first year she made it to the semifinals before losing, the following year the quarterfinals. After both years she was offered scholarships to play tennis, but instead of moving away from family, she decided to walk on to the University of Minnesota’s tennis team during the 1993-1994 season. Jana became involved with the organization called the North American Indian Tennis Association (NAITA). She was the Jr. Singles champion in 1987, and Open Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles champion and Runner-up in many NAITA Tournaments. She was a past President in 2016. She also directed tennis clinics at UNITY Conference in Oklahoma City and Washington DC along with Riverside Indian Boarding School, Anadarko OK. It was Jana’s goal to bring tennis to the Native communities across the country and brought the NAITA’s tournament to Minnesota in 2016. She now actively competes in Women's NPC Bodybuilding and teaches anyone who wants to learn a healthy lifestyle how to work out and improve their overall health. Her awards included the 2017 NPC FIGURE Master's 35+ 1st place and Overall Champion, the IRON VIKING, Battle of The Falls Overall Champion and the 2019 Master’s Nationals and NPC Women's Open Physique Brew City and Minnesota State 3rd and 4th places. <Back

< Back Dolly Johnson Dolly Johnson Pawnee Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete/Coach 2026 Dolly Johnson is an enrolled member of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma and is the daughter of the late Wilbur M. Johnson (Pawnee/Wyandotte) and Augustina K. Johnson (Lake Pyramid Paiute). She was born in Claremore, Oklahoma and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She and her five siblings all played sports while growing up in Tulsa. She is a graduate of Union High School where she played basketball and fastpitch softball. While at Union High School, she won a 6A State Fastpitch title, was a 6A Fastpitch All-State member and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1994. After graduating from Union, she played softball on a full athletic scholarship at the NAIA softball powerhouse Oklahoma City University. As a pitcher at OCU, she was a three-time First Team NAIA All-American, three-time NFCA All-American, 1999 NAIA Pitcher of the Year, won a NAIA National Championship in 1996 and 1997, and was part of the NAIA National All-Tournament Team in 1997. She also won several pitcher of the week awards throughout her career at OCU. Dolly holds two pitching records at OCU, season lowest pitching ERA of 0.32 set in 1996 and 5 career saves set in 1996-1999. In 1996, she was part of the OCU National Championship Team that played an exhibition game against the U.S. Olympic Softball Team at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. After her collegiate career, she played on several Native American women’s fastpitch teams that played at various tribal festivals in Oklahoma, All-Indian State women’s fastpitch tournament that was held at Wheeler Park in Oklahoma City, OK and at the National Indian Athletic Association Nationals that was held in New Mexico, California, Nevada and Canada. She was named to several All Tournament teams and MVP of several tournaments. After a successful softball career, she coached softball at the high school level and the amateur level. She was an assistant coach at Pawnee High School in Pawnee, Oklahoma for two years. She helped coach an amateur fastpitch softball team that won an USSSA National Championships in 2018. Dolly has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in counseling psychology. She has one son and one grandson. In her spare time, she likes to spend time with her grandson, watch OU softball and other “grandma stuff”. <Back

< Back Evan James Evan James Métis and Dene Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Evan James was born in Edmonton, Alberta and raised in Edmonton and area. Evan is of Métis and Dene heritage. He began life with some health challenges including failure to thrive and stayed with a few different families before becoming a part of his family at 2 and a half years old. Growing up Evan was always physically active but until finding Special Olympics in 2004, unable to find the support and opportunities to participate and compete with others at his level. Evan has participated in a multitude of sports with Special Olympics Alberta Spruce Grove & District. He has competed at eight Special Olympics Provincial Games in four different sports, two Western Canada Summer Games, one Canada Summer Games and five Special Olympics National Games in three different sports earning 60 medals. Evan’s dream of representing Canada at the Special Olympics World Games came true in Austria in 2017 as a speedskater. Evan won gold in the 777m at worlds. Evan has embraced the opportunities he has been given to travel across the province, country, and around the world. Now at 36, Evan is still active in many sports including floor hockey, cross country skiing, softball and soccer. Evan is currently an Athlete Ambassador spreading the message and power of Special Olympics. The opportunities that sport has given Evan have helped him become the determined, multi talented athlete and individual he is today. <Back

< Back Dr. Chuck Foster Dr. Chuck Foster Navajo Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Dr. Chuck Foster was born and raised on the Navajo Reservation in Fort Defiance, Arizona to the late Harold Y. Foster, who was a Navajo Code Talker and Margaret Foster. He comes from the Kinyaa’aanii (Towering House Clan) born for Dzil’ta’ahnii (Mountain Cove Clan) and his grandfather, Ta’baabi’ (Edge Water Clan) and grandmother, Hona’gha’ahii (One Who Walks Around Clan). Marie Foster, his wife of 46 years have four adult children and four grandchildren. He was a distinguished student/athlete from Window Rock High School in Fort Defiance, Arizona. He received his AA Degree from Central Arizona College, his BS Degree from the University of Arizona and his MEd and Doctorate Degrees from Brigham Young University. His experience in teaching at the high school and being a school administrator was met with outstanding achievement awards. He was a three sport all state and state champion athlete in high school and competed at the highest level in Arizona’s most prestigious track & field and cross country meets to win his gold medals. At the collegiate level, he was a four-time Collegiate First Team All-American in both track & field and cross country and was a former NJCAA National three-mile record holder. He was also a four-time Arizona Community College Athletic Conference Champion in track & field and cross country, where he held records both in the mile (4:06) and three-mile (13:56) events. At the D1 level his mile (4:04) and 5,000 meters (13:56) was commendable for a personal and collegiate record. He was coached by George Young, a four-time Olympian. He also competed with the Southern Arizona Track Club to continue his athletic journey before becoming a high school teacher and coach. Because of his accomplishments he has received many prestigious awards as a former athlete, teacher, coach, and school administrator. He was also a recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King Humanitarian Award in Utah, and was inducted into the National American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame and Central Arizona Athletic Hall Fame, and has been honored by the Utah State Board of Education for his employment. He also sits on several state education committees and is an advocate for the American Indian populations in Utah. <Back

2019 Haudenosaunee Nationals Women Team 2024 Induction Category: Year Inducted <Back The Haudenosaunee Nationals women's team won the gold medal in the Pan-American Lacrosse World Qualifiers in Auburndale, Florida. The team started the tournament defeating Columbia 17-3. Next, they defeated Jamaica 21-3 to advance to the semifinals against Mexico. After defeating Mexico 14-4, the Haudenosaunee Nationals met Puerto Rico in the championship game, winning by a score of 16-6 to sweep through the tournament unbeaten. Top row left to right: WL Competition Chair Fiona Clark; HL Asst. Coach Leah Gallagher; Taylor Frink, Onondaga; Victoria Thompson, Mohawk; Tsiotenhariio Herne, Mohawk; Lois Garlow, Seneca; Mirabella Lazore, Mohawk; Enahaogwahs Schindler, Cayuga; Fantasy Jimerson, Seneca; Amber Hill, Cayuga; Gawehegyeho Thomas, Cayuga; HN Head Coach Katie Rowan; WL President Sue Redfern; HN Manager Tia Schindler, Cayuga Bottom row left to right: Kimberly Gibson, Cayuga; Jacelyn Lazore, Mohawk; Jalyn Jimerson, Cayuga; Katie Smith, Mohawk; Wadatawi Bomberry, Mohawk; Kohen Schindler, Cayuga; Trystyn Miller, Oneida; Dana Isaacs, Onondaga; Awehiyo Thomas, Cayuga; PALA President Katherine Loh

2023 Haudenosaunee Nationals Women Team 2024 Induction Category: Year Inducted <Back The Haudenosaunee won the women’s competition at the 2023 PALA Sixes Cup in Kingston, Jamaica. The Haudenosaunee were dominant in the tournament and defeated previously unbeaten Puerto Rico 22-11 in the gold medal game. The Haudenosaunee finished with a 5-0 record and won by at least 11 goals in every game. Back row left to right: Bean Minerd, Onondaga; Paige Crandall, Onondaga; Tallis Tarbell, Mohawk; Lois Garlow, Seneca; Jalyn Jimerson, Cayuga; Allie Trice, Oneida; Fawn Porter, Cayuga; Liz Beville; and Tim Bomberry, Cayuga. Front row left to right: Paisley Cook, Mohawk; Sierra Cockerille, Mohawk; Avery Doran, Mohawk; Jordan Coulon, Onondaga; Olivia Hoffmann, Mohawk; and Lottie Gill, Tuscarora.

2021 Haudenosaunee Nationals Women Team 2024 Induction Category: Year Inducted <Back The international lacrosse tournament featured 10 teams from seven Pan American countries. Florida hosted the 2021 PALA tournament showcasing World Lacrosse’s new Sixes discipline. The Iroquois Nationals team were victorious in the women’s division, and had dominated the sport and remained undefeated the entire tournament. The Iroquois Nationals defeated Puerto Rico in the championship by a score of 17-9. The women finished the tournament with a plus 64 goal differential and an amazing accomplishment for the Haudenosaunee women. Top row left to right: Cassandra Minerd, Onondaga; Jalyn Jimerson, Cayuga; Lois Garlow, Seneca; Sierra Cockerille, Mohawk; Taylor Frink, Onondaga; and Jacelyn Lazore, Mohawk Bottom row left to right: Ewehegwahs Williams, Cayuga; Lynnzee Miller, Cayuga; Beretta Santana, Seneca; Ivy Santana, Seneca; Jordan Coulon, Onondaga; and Jenna Haring, Seneca