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Walter and Verna Fontaine Sagkeeng First Nation Induction Category: Year Inducted Builder 2024 <Back Walter and Verna Fontaine were from the Fort Alexander Reserve also known as Sagkeeng First Nation. They are both residential school survivors. They had one child a daughter Darlene. The Fontaine’s were founders of the Sagkeeng Oldtimers Hockey Club. They supported each other and worked countless hours fundraising by organizing weekly Bingo in the community of Sagkeeng. With their fundraising efforts the Sagkeeng Oldtimers were able to travel and compete in tournaments sponsored by the Canadian Oldtimers Hockey Association (COHA). They traveled nationally in Canada and across Europe. They were able to purchase uniforms, pay team registrations and players travel. The Fontaine’s also helped their community of Sagkeeng. They gave many donations to the local schools, sports groups, senior care home and many bereaved families over the years. They were proud of who they were and where they came from the Sagkeeng First Nation. Walter passed away in 2000 and is remembered as the team godfather. He was the founder, coach, manager, a player of defense and forward and goalie at times. He served as a Board of Director from 1984-1989. He received the Sportsmanship Award in 1988 at the national tournament in Montreal. Verna passed away in 1989. She was posthumously inducted in 1990 into the Canadian Oldtimers Hockey Association Hall of Fame for outstanding contribution to the Sagkeeng Oldtimers Hockey Club and to the COHA. It is through their efforts in fundraising and club management that the Sagkeeng Oldtimers existed. It is through their efforts that the name “Sagkeeng” became more well known and respected throughout Manitoba, Canada and various parts of the world.

< Back Janee’ Kassanavoid Janee’ Kassanavoid Comanche Nation of Oklahoma Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Janee’ Kassanavoid, member of the Comanche Nation of Oklahoma, is the daughter of Janet and Ron Kassanavoid. Youngest of 6 siblings, she grew up with three all NCAA Division I athletes. Born and raised in Lawson, MO and graduated from Lawson High School. A multi-sport athlete, lettering in softball, volleyball, basketball, and track & field. In 2013, Janee’ attended Johnson County Community College on a Track & Field scholarship for one season. She became an Indoor NJCAA Runner-up in the weight throw and an Outdoor NJCAA Champion in the hammer throw. In 2014, she attended Kansas State University on a Track & Field scholarship, becoming a 3x Big 12 Champion and a 4x All-American during collegiate career. She is the current K-State weight throw 21.81m (71.60 feet) and hammer throw 68.21m (223.09 feet) school record holder. In 2018, Janee’ graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics. She is currently a professional Nike Track and Field athlete, representing Team USA and as a Nike N7 ambassador she is representing culture and sharing the journey to gold as a Native Athlete. A history making moment was becoming the first Indigenous woman to medal at the World Athletics Track and Field Championships by claiming the bronze medal. Her personal best throw with the hammer was 78.00m (255.91 feet) becoming the third best in the USA All-Time and the sixth best in the World All-Time. This throw in May was named the USATF Athlete of the Week honors. Janee’ was the 2022 Indoor National weight throw Champion and the 2022 Outdoor National runner-up in the hammer throw. Closing out the 2022 season, claiming the GOLD medal as the NACAC Champion in the hammer throw. As an elite athlete competing on the biggest stages; the main goal is to inspire and empower the next generation of athletes. She is continuing to break barriers, to be a leader and pave the way for youth, women, and fellow natives both on and off the field and to create spaces where we never thought were possible before. Photos: 2022 World Athletics Track and Field Championship Hammer Throw Bronze Medalist First Indigenous Woman to medal at the World Athletics Track & Field Championships; Photographer: Getty Images <Back

< Back Autumn Apok Ridley Autumn Apok Ridley Inupiaq and Tlingit Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Autumn Apok Ridley is from Anchorage, Alaska. She is a descendant from Wales, Alaska. She currently holds three world records in the Traditional Indigenous Northern Games. Her records are the Alaskan High Kick at 83”, the Two-foot High Kick at 79”, and the Traditional One-foot High Kick (Alaskan style) at 74”. She also shares the Traditional One-foot High Kick record with two other women, Erica Carson and Carol Hull. Autumn first started participating in the traditional games at the age of 6. She was influenced by her Uncle Gregory Nothstine since he was heavily involved in the games. She broke her first world record in The Alaskan High Kick in 2012 at the Native Youth Olympics at 82”. Two years later she went on and broke her record by one inch in the Alaskan High Kick at the same competition. The next day she went and broke a 25 year old record formerly held by Nicole Johnston in the Two-foot High Kick by one inch. In July of 2014 she tied the world record in The Traditional One-foot High Kick with Erica Carson (Meckel) at the World Eskimo Indian Olympics. Autumn still practices and participates in the games for fun and coaches when she has time. Photo Credit: Wayde Carroll Photography <Back

< Back Eden Wilson Eden Wilson Métis Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2026 Eden Wilson is a Canadian bobsleigh athlete from mixed ethnic parentage, of Black, European and Indigenous ancestry. Although born in Manitoba, Eden grew up in Calgary, Alberta, where she attended Mount Royal University and received a bachelor’s degree in Sport and Recreation Management in 2019. Eden earned her spot on the Canadian National Bobsleigh Team in 2020 and has competed in both the pilot and brakeman positions. Over the past six years, Eden has competed in numerous race circuits each year including North American Cups, (a 4x Gold Medalist, 6x Silver and 6x Bronze Medalist), Pan-American Cup Championship (Silver Medalist), the Europe Cup in Germany and Austria and the World Cup in Lillehammer. Eden continues to race on the World Cup Competition circuit again in the 2025/26 season in Italy, Austria, Germany, Norway and Latvia, as she accelerates towards her goal of representing Canada at the 2026 Olympic Games in Cortina, Italy. Off the ice, Eden combines her passion for athletic excellence with a deep commitment to community empowerment. She actively supports youth development through her full-time work with the non-profit organization, KidSport, helping to remove financial barriers enabling children to experience the benefits of organized sport. As a Classroom Champions mentor, Eden shares her journey and life lessons with students across Canada, encouraging them to set goals, stay active and believe in their potential. Since 2021, as an RBC Olympian Ambassador, Eden’s travels throughout Canada attending speaking engagements as keynote, motivational and guest speaker where she advocates for inclusive and fair opportunity in Sport for Indigenous Athletes. In addition, she also visits remote communities throughout Canada including Alberta, BC, northern Manitoba and the NWTs through RBC Training Ground to find athletic potential in young individuals who would otherwise not have the same access to participate. Driven by her heritage and the power of sport to unite and uplift, Eden continues to be a role model for Indigenous youth and a champion for inclusive opportunities in athletics. <Back

< Back Carey Terrance Jr. Carey Terrance Jr. Mohawk Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2026 Hearing his name called early on Day 2 of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, the 6-foot-1, 186-pound forward Carey Terrance’s excitement to join the Anaheim Ducks was the first major step of a lifelong dream of playing at hockey’s highest level. Terrance’s second season as a member of the Ducks organization gives him valuable experience with players and coaches at the top level. Moreover, the selection represented his entire home community of Mohawk Nation at Akwesasne – with the territory holding a widely-attended watch party for Terrance’s anticipated pick. With great pride in his heritage, Terrance hopes to be the second Mohawk actively playing in the NHL in the near future. Traded to the Rangers on June 12, 2025, from Anaheim, and eventually one of 11 players assigned in September to the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Hartford Wolf Pack. The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the AHL since the team’s inception in 1997. The Wolf Pack are the top player-development affiliate of the NHL's New York Rangers. Carey Terrance spent the 2024-25 season skating for the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey league (OHL) while serving as the team’s captain, notching 20 goals and 19 assists for 39 points. Among OHL leaders, he tied for third in shorthanded goals (5), led the Otters in both goals and shorthanded tallies, and ranked fourth on the team in points. In 2022–23, he tallied 30 goals and 17 assists for 47 points in 67 games, leading all Erie skaters in goals and tying for the team lead in points. Terrance totaled 89 goals and 73 assists for 162 points, along with 81 penalty minutes, in 230 career OHL games with Erie. Representing Team USA, he helped them win back-to-back gold medals at the 2024 and 2025 World Junior Championships and helped them earn gold at the 2023 U-18 World Championship. NY Rangers bio: https://www.nhl.com/rangers/player/carey-terrance-8484236 Photos: Hartford Wolf Pack <Back

North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame (NAIAHF) Banquet Sponsorship Information Saturday, June 7, 2025 Oneida Hotel and Conference Center; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA 2025 Sponsorship Information: The deadline to receive sponsorship payment and copy ready logos is noon central time on June 1, 2025. Payment can be sent to PayPal to code: coach.danninham@midco.net or postal mailed in a check or money order to Empowered Youth Development Initiatives, PO Box 652, Red Lake, MN, USA, 56671. Contact Dr. Dan Ninham at 218.368.6430 or coach.danninham@gmail.com to receive additional details about the 2025 NAIAHF Banquet sponsorship opportunities. Sponsorship provides a Nike red bag, 2’x4’ banner and gift to attending inductees. If you want any of these items you can purchase them: Nike red bag for $45 USD each, 2'X4' banner for $45 USD each or a 4'6' banner for $110 USD each. These costs may change depending on the size of the order. These can either be purchased by the individual inductee, or the inductee can find a sponsor and send Dr. Dan a logo in a vector pdf file format to be placed on the bottom left space opposite the QR Code. The deadline to order is Friday noon central time, May 2, 2025 and a shipping cost will be added to the billing invoice. DON’T SEND PAYMENT UNTIL YOU ARE GIVEN A COST AND OTHER PROCEDURES. Contact Dr. Dan if you want to see a sample bag and banner. Note: No one is allowed to use the NAIAHF logo to print on a product without written consent from Dr. Dan and Susan. Dr. Dan and Susan Ninham, NAIAHF Gold Sponsor $5,000 Three reserved VIP banquet tables for 10 per table and 30 total Logo on the Welcome signage Logo on both sides of the Autograph Card Logo and website link on the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame webpage 2’x4’ banner at the banquet One sponsor spokesperson will speak for five minutes at the afternoon banquet session Announcement of Gold, Silver and Bronze sponsors at the banquet Silver Sponsor $3,000 Two reserved VIP banquet tables for 10 per table and 20 total Logo on the Welcome signage Logo on both sides of the Autograph Card Logo and website link on the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame webpage 2’x4’ banner at the banquet One sponsor spokesperson will speak for five minutes at the afternoon banquet session Announcement of Gold, Silver and Bronze sponsors at the Banquet Bronze Sponsor $1,000 One reserved VIP banquet table for 10 total Logo on the Welcome signage Logo on both sides of the Autograph Card Logo and website link on the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame webpage Video screen logo at the banquet One sponsor spokesperson will speak for five minutes at the afternoon banquet session Announcement of Gold, Silver and Bronze sponsors at the Banquet Hall Of Fame Table Sponsor $400 per 10 seat table Logo or words on the bottom of both sides of the Autograph Card Sponsor may designate who will be seated or allow Dr. Dan and Susan to seat people Announcement as a Table Sponsor at the Banquet Hall of Fame Banquet Drawing Prize Sponsor $500+ retail value of drawing prizes Logo or words on the bottom of both sides of the Autograph Card Announcement as a Drawing Sponsor at the Banquet 2024 Sponsors

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.

NAIAHF Film Screenings Oneida Casino Hotel Three Clans Conference Center Green Bay, WI, USA Saturday, May 30, 2026 Free and Open to the Public Featuring the films of NAIAHF inductees in the Media category The Long Walk/A Dance with Humanities 2:00pm, 66:00 runtime Filmmakers: Edison Eskeets, Diné and Philip Lawrence The Long walk is a documentary created to remember the experiences of the Navajo people during a historic event that forced men, women, elderly and children over 330 miles Medicine Ball 3:15pm; 57:00 runtime Filmaker: Leaya Hale, Sisseton/Wahpeton Dakota, Diné "Medicine Ball" follows Native college athletes, Lexus Redthunder and Leroy Fairbanks IV, as they navigate college life and basketball at the University of Minnesota Morris located on the site of a former Native boarding school. Their journey reveals how basketball became a powerful symbol of resilience, hope, and cultural pride in Native communities. My Native America 4:20pm, 75:00 runtime Filmaker: Jim Warne, Oglala Lakota This production is a long-term dream to create a show that share stories and perspectives from a wide representation of Indigenous Tribal Nations. Join me as we learn about an America you may not know... Indian Country... the indigenous communities within the hundreds of Tribal Nations throughout the US. Wopila Carley Buckets 5:45pm, 25:00 runtime Filmaker: Mark Williams, Choctaw A small Choctaw reservation gets behind Tribal member Carly Keats, as she overcomes hardships and adversity in taking her basketball journey to the University of Arkansas.

Honoring and recognizing the empowered journey of North American Indigenous athletes. North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame By honoring and celebrating the empowered journey of these individuals and teams, the hope is their stories may inspire future generations to follow their dreams in athletics and life. Read About NAIAHF 2026 North American Indigenous Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet Saturday, May 30th 2026 Oneida, WI USA Learn More Athletes Coaches Builders Teams Media Officials Trainers Inductee Search

Oren Lyons Category Athlete Tribe Onondaga Nation Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 3/5/1930 Oren Lyons, Faithkeeper of the Turtle Clan, Onondaga Nation. He serves on the Grand Council of Chiefs of the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy –Haudenosaunee. Oren holds the title of Professor Emeritus at SUNY Buffalo, has a Doctor of Laws Degree from his Alma Mater, Syracuse University and Lyons Hall at SU is named in his honor. Chief Lyons is an All-American Lacrosse Hall of Famer, and Honorary Chairman of the Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse Team. He is an accomplished artist, environmentalist, author, and global presenter and holds the title of Wisdom Keeper. He is a leading voice at the UN Permanent Forum on Human Rights for Indigenous Peoples, serves on the Executive Committee of Spiritual and Parliamentary Leaders for Human Survival, acts as Chairman of the Board for both the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development and Seventh Generation Fund. Recipient of several prestigious awards including Green Cross International Environmental Icon Award, founded by Mikhail Gorbachev. The United Nations NGO World Peace Prize, the Ellis Island Congressional Medal of Honor, The Rosa Parks and George Arents Award for Environmental and social activism and receiving Sweden’s prestigious Friends of the Children Award with his colleague the late Nelson Mandela, also included in his list of acknowledgments are the UN World Peace Prize, Ellis Island Congressional Medal of Honor, Native American Hall of Fame Chief Lyons is a constantly sought-after speaker, a subject of several documentaries, films and a tireless advocate for American Indian causes and Indigenous rights. Oren is a founding member of One Bowl Productions and serves as a constant reminder of humanity’s responsibilities to the earth and our future generations. Home 2026 Banquet About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

2015 NIFA Indigenous Women's Soccer Team Canada Category Team Tribes Team Canada Year Inducted 2022 NIFA Women’s Indigenous Team Canada won the inaugural World Indigenous Games soccer championship in 2015. The World Indigenous Games is a multi-sport event with over 2,000 athletes from 30 countries. Indigenous Team Canada, with nine of its 17 players from First Nations communities across BC, played six games against teams from Brazil, Peru and Chile. In the Championship Final, the Canadian team played the host Brazilian Indigenous Nation of Xerente in front of 10,000 local supporters. Regulation play ended 0-0, the Canadian team becoming champions by scoring on three penalty kicks to one. The team repeated its achievement at the 2017 World Indigenous Games.On their return, the team received a letter from Canada Soccer, in which President Victor Montagliani expressed Canada Soccer’s congratulations and pride in this “monumental victory” of Indigenous Team Canada. BC Soccer Hall of Fame and Heritage Archive Web-Site – Click on Full Biography: Home 2026 Banquet About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

< Back Asa Shenandoah Asa Shenandoah Lumbee/Tuscarora/Onondaga Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2024 Asa Shenandoah, Daiaweñdodeh, represents two bloodlines. Her mother’s people, the Lumbee and Tuscarora Tribes of North Carolina, are river, swamp and coastal folk. Her father’s people welcomed the Peacemaker into Haudenosaunee territory on the Onondaga Lake. Though Shenandoah was adopted by her father’s nation at birth, her call to water comes from both sides. Shenandoah attended St. Andrew’s School in Delaware where she discovered rowing. She was moved to the top varsity boat as a sophomore, one of two underclassman on an all senior boat. That year she competed in the most prestigious high school rowing competition in the world, the 2004 Stotesbury Regatta. The team won with a time of 5:29:05 in the 1500m sprint. Their success secured them entry into the Henley Royal Regatta in England. Henley attracts Olympic and elite intercollegiate competitors from around the globe. Few high school programs participate. Her team set a divisional course record during the semifinals. They placed second in the finals. After college Shenandoah was approached to help create a Native crew team in Onondaga. At one time the lake had become one of the most polluted lakes in the world. She saw this as an opportunity to help to repair her community’s relationship with, and bring exposure to, the water. Shenandoah began coaching for the Syracuse City School crew team and Syracuse Chargers Rowing Club.These programs gave her the experience, certifications and support to grow the first indigenous crew team. Under her leadership the team gained representatives from across the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. She built connections that brought the team instruction from the head coach of Colgate University, training with Virginia Commonwealth University Women’s team and use of Syracuse University’s training facilities. They competed in several regattas within the first year. This crew of mothers, grandmothers, college students and aunties advocated for women and promoted wellness within their community. Since COVID, however, they are on hiatus. The goal for Shenandoah having a boathouse on the lake would be the first time the Onondaga People would occupy a place on the water in a very long time. <Back