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< Back Pamela White-Hanson Pamela White-Hanson Navajo/Diné Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete/Coach 2025 Born and raised on the Navajo Nation, where the sport of running has ancestral connections, Pamela White-Hanson began running, and developed the strength and endurance throughout the years to help her high school team win four consecutive State Cross Country Team titles. With this passion and success, Pamela was provided the opportunity to run with a team called Wings of America, a non-profit youth development program, during her sophomore year and traveled to New York City to compete in the USA Track and Field National Cross-Country Championships where her team placed runner-up. There, she was in awe of a collegiate team who won the national title which inspired her to attend Adams State College without any knowledge of where or what this school was about. Ready to spread her wings, Pamela White-Hanson left home from the comforts of family, community, and culture two years later to join an elite class of collegiate athletes, who became her second family at Adams State College, an NCAA Division II school in Alamosa, Colorado. As a member of the Adams State cross country team, she helped her team to three NCAA Division II National Championships becoming a six-time All- American and managed to complete two undergraduate degrees in Elementary Education and Exercise Physiology and a Masters in Bilingual Education. In 2000, Pamela received a prestigious Giants Steps award with the National Consortium for Academics and Sports as a Courageous Female Student-Athlete alongside other inductees such as Muhammad Ali and Pat Summit as well as being featured in two magazines, Native Peoples Magazine and the Santa Fean. Pamela worked with the Native youth, one of the most at-risk populations in the United States through Wings of America with the Earth Circle Foundation and gained proficiency to facilitate summer running and fitness camps to Native communities throughout the country. Wings of America used running as a catalyst to empower the youth which also empowered Pamela White-Hanson to become an educator. After running professionally for a couple years with Sports Warriors co-sponsored by ASICS, Pamela begin her education career in Flagstaff, AZ where she joined a unique trilingual school, Puente De Hozhó. Pamela returned to her home language and taught the Diné (Navajo) Language to indigenous students for 16 years. She received Arizona’s Rodell Exemplary Teachers Award for 2010 in Flagstaff and was also nominated for Arizona Teacher of the Year. Today, Pamela White-Hanson continues her passion for working with the Native youth at Sinagua Middle School as well as coaching high school Cross Country and Track at Northland Preparatory Academy (NPA). Last fall, her girl’s NPA cross country team won a State Title and the NPA Boys received runner-up with her youngest son on the team. Pamela White-Hanson’s legacy continues and is married to college sweetheart, Brent Hanson and is currently raising three beautiful sons and have been foster parents to many children. Her eldest is in the workforces, one who is currently running collegiately for Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO and her youngest is running in high school at Northland Prep where she currently coaches. <Back

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 2025 North American Indigenous Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet Saturday, June 7, 2025 Oneida, WI USA Learn More Athletes Coaches Builders Teams Media Officials Trainers Inductee Search

< Back Apollo Hess Apollo Hess Blood Reserve, Kainai Nation Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2025 Apollo Hess is a member of the Blood Reserve, Kainai Nation. He grew up in Lethbridge, Alberta and was raised by his mother, Ingrid Hess. Apollo participated in many different activities in his youth. He played soccer, hockey, football, and competed in swimming, cross country and triathlons. He took speech and drama lessons, and also played the cello in a youth orchestra in Lethbridge. It wasn’t until he was 12 years old that Apollo fully committed himself to the sport of swimming. He suffered a series of concussions in football and hockey, which led him to this decision. Apollo began his journey as a dedicated swimmer by reaching the podium at provincials as a 14 year old, to then winning bronze at Canadian Nationals as a 16 year old in the 16-18 age category. He then signed to swim for his hometown University of Lethbridge Pronghorns, where he would go on to break 11 program records, one Canadian record, two USports records and three Canada West Conference records. He was also awarded in his rookie season the Canada West Rookie and overall Swimmer of the Year. In September of 2023, Apollo moved across the country to swim at the High Performance Centre - Ontario, located in Toronto. He then qualified for his first Olympic team where he would place 5th as part of Canada’s 4x100m Mixed Medley Relay, becoming the first indigenous person to represent Canada in swimming at an Olympic Games. He also became the first member of the Kainai Nation to go to the Olympics. <Back

Bennae Calac Category Builder Tribe Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 11/16/1969 Bennae is a strong Native woman, mother, business owner, mentor, teacher, and leader. Over the last 35 years, Bennae Calac has represented Pauma in various political, cultural, and administrative capacities. She has served as the repatriation chair since the age of twenty-one and her life’s work is to preserve the culture and traditions of her people. She is dedicated to the preservation and revitalization of Luiseño songs and dances and works with her own children and local youth programs to ensure that this traditional knowledge is instilled in the younger generation. Bennae was elected as Committee Member to the Pauma Band’s Tribal Council in December 2008 and served another two-year term as Secretary and Treasurer. Through her various Tribal roles, Bennae interacts with the youth, culture, public and political relations. Bennae continually answers the community’s call to speak on topics ranging from native wellness, health advocacy, domestic violence, women’s issues, and cultural preservation. Bennae serves on numerous boards and committees, including as the Co-Founder of the 7G Foundation , a (501)(c)(3) organization providing Native Americans, and other Indigenous people and communities, assistance in reaching their goals through Athletics, Education, Health-Mind-Body Practices, and Community. She has also established and serves as Board Chair for Onoo Po Strategies , a multifaceted consultancy and holding company with capabilities in Economic Development, Technology, Procurement and Distribution, Business Strategy and Marketing, and Environmental and Agricultural Management. Photo: Mom (left) and daughter at the US Bank Stadium, Minneapolis. Home 2025 Banquet 2025 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

< Back Roy Old Person Sr. Roy Old Person Sr. Blackfeet Induction Category: Year Inducted Roy Old Person Sr. grew up on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Montana. He is a graduate of Browning High School, Haskell Institute and attended Wichita State University. Browning HS didn’t compete in cross country when Old Person Sr. was there and the longest competitive distance was one mile. He began his running career as a senior in high school and placed third in the mile at the 1964 Montana State Track Meet. At Haskell Institute, Old Person Sr. was provided with coaches with extensive experience and fellow athletes with long distance running experience that helped him mature to the elite level. He won his first college race and his career began at a record pace. In 1965 he became the only runner from Haskell to ever win the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Championship setting a new national record of 15:02.1 in the three mile distance, and he ran it 26 seconds faster than the runner the previous year and today his time is still the second fastest in the history of the Junior College Championship meet. He also represented Haskell at the Kansas Relays running against many of the top runners in the country including the Olympic Champion Jim Ryan and Billy Mills. He received an athletic scholarship to Wichita State University and competed in the three and six mile cross country distances, and steeplechase, 5,000 and 10,000 meters track distances. At Wichita State University Old Person Sr. earned Cross Country All Conference in 1967. He was the 1967 Four Mile Individual Champion in a time of 19:46.7, All-Time Men's Cross Country Individual Missouri Valley Conference Champion, 1969 Cross Country All Conference, and All-Time All Conference Honoree in 1967 and 1969. In 1967 he ran a personal best 29:49 six mile race at the Midwest Federation race. He ran a Shocker record three mile race in 14:02.5 on October 25, 1969. He also set personal track bests a 4:20.2 mile and 9:12 two mile. In the 1960’s Old Person Sr. ran in many of the major university track meets including the University of Kansas Relays, University of Texas Relays, University of Oklahoma Relays, Drake Relays, Oklahoma State Relays, University of Missouri Relays, and National Track Meet at Garden City, KS. <Back

Iroquois Nationals U19 World Lacrosse Games Category Team Tribes Iroquois Confederacy Year Inducted 2022 In the summer of 1999, the Iroquois Nationals participated in the U19 World Lacrosse Games in Adelaide, Australia. It was a privilege to represent our community, Akwesasne, as well as the Iroquois Nationals on the world platform playing Tewa’a:raton or lacrosse. Drew Bucktooth, Delby Powless and myself were co-captains and it was a great honor not only to help lead the incredible talent that was comprised of our team, but to also stand alongside players who I have incredible respect for on the lacrosse field. As young men, this was the first time for many of us to be able to participate in playing the game we love, the gift from the Creator, on the international level. That year we brought home the bronze, and a big component of that was the amazing coaching staff from some of the greatest in the game, along with the natural talent that the team was comprised of. This is evident as many of the players from that team went on to have successful and long careers in lacrosse on a professional level. While in Australia, we were truly overwhelmed at the amount of support we received from many of the teams across the world, but particularly the Australian Aboriginal community. This is just a prime example of how lacrosse can truly unify people; regardless if it is between neighbors playing the game together or people who live on opposite sides of the world and have entirely different cultures. I am forever thankful for my experience that I had participating in the games and the lifelong friendships that were forged. Nia:wen to all that continue to support our young Onkwehonwe lacrosse players. I am so proud of how much the game has grown and the amazing talent that is on display from our people. I am confident that one day the Iroquois Nationals will bring home the gold to our people and the entire world will recognize the original creators of the medicine game. -written by Freeman Bucktooth Home 2025 Banquet 2025 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

< Back Becki Wells-Staley Becki Wells-Staley Blackfeet and Blood Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2022 Becki Wells-Staley established herself as one of the most elite female Native American Athletes in history while running Track and Field and Cross Country. Becki is a 20-time North Dakota State Champion. She graduated from Dickinson High School holding the fastest times in the country for the High School Girls 1600m and 800m in 1993. She was the US Jr. National Champion in the Girls 1500m in ‘93. Wells-Staley went on to represent the US in the Jr. Pan American Game in Winnipeg where she was a silver medalist. Wells-Staley signed with the University of Alabama to run Track and Field and Cross Country. She was the Southeastern XC Conference winner in her first season with the Tide. She was the Jr. National XC Champion in 1994. In 1995 Wells-Staley transferred to the University of Florida. Wells-Staley was the Commissioner Trophy Award winner twice while running for the Florida Gators. The Commissioner’s Trophy goes to the highest point scorer at the SEC Track and Field Championships. She ended her career with the Gators winning the NCAA DI National Title in the Indoor Women’s Mile and the Outdoor Women’s 1500m. She held the school record for over a decade at 4:12.88. She is a 10 X All American in Track and Field and XC. She went on to represent Nike, Reebok and The Native American Sports Council as a professional athlete in Track and Field. Wells-Staley qualified for the 2000 US Olympic Trials in Track and Field in the 800m and 1500m. Becki still holds the North Dakota State record for high school girls at 4:44.44. She was inducted into the Dickinson High School Hall of Fame, the ND State Athletics Hall of Fame and also the University of Florida Hall of Fame for Athletics. Becki currently lives in North Mankato, MN with her husband Maurice Staley who played football for the University of Tennessee (94’-96’). The Staley’s have four boys: Eleazar, Ephraim, Nahshon and Nathan. <Back

< Back Neal Powless Neal Powless Onondaga Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2022 Neal Powless played for the Iroquois Nationals in 6 World Lacrosse Championships and made the tournament’s ALL-World Team as an Attackman in 2002 and won a Silver Medal in 2003. Mr. Powless is a Professional (1), NCAA (1) and Canadian (3) National Champion. He was a 3x All-American at Nazareth College and held the Single Season goals (57 in 15 games) record for 18 years, which is still second all-time even though the seasons are now 18 games. Neal played professionally for 7 seasons amassing 53 goals and 39 assists in 41 games. Neal is the current Head Coach of the Men’s Dutch National Box Lacrosse Team that is ranked #8 in the World. He began coaching the Netherlands in 2014-16, where they finished #17 in the World and #7 in Europe in Field lacrosse. In 2017 he transitioned to box lacrosse where they progressed from #17 in Europe to their current World rank. Neal was inducted into the Nazareth College Sports Hall of Fame in 2009 and the US Lacrosse, CNY Chapter Hall of Fame in 2017, one of the most prestigious chapters in the USA. He also produced the Major Motion Picture Crooked Arrows, which featured lacrosse. <Back

< Back Juwan Nuvayokva Juwan Nuvayokva Hopi Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2024 Juwan Nuvayokva, a member of the Hopi Tribe, has a storied career in the sports of Cross Country, Track and Field and Long Distance Running. He grew up in the Hopi Village of Oraivi located in Arizona. Oraivi dates back to 1150 A.D., with the claim of being the oldest, continuous, inhabitant village in the United States of America. Oraivi continues to have no running water and electricity. Juwan was able to solidify a career that comes from humble beginnings. Nuvayokva grew up running in traditional races. Falling in love with the sport of running in high school, he became a six-time Arizona State Champion in Cross Country and Track & Field. He ran one of the fastest times in the state of Arizona in Cross Country during his time, a 14:56, running under Coach Rick Baker at Hopi High School. Hopi has won 27 consecutive state team titles, a national record. He continued his running career at the NCAA Division 1 level at Northern Arizona University (1997-2002). Nuvayokva never looked back under Coach Mann’s guidance. As a Native American, he was one of the first athletes to be on four Cross Country Big Sky Championship Teams and four Big Sky Track & Field Championship Teams and he won the Big Sky 10,000 meter event in 2002. Nuvayokva is honored to share that he accomplished obtaining one of the highest achievements and honors in NCAA Division 1 collegiate running, becoming an NCAA Division 1 All-American. With this honor, he ran in four NCAA Cross Country Championships, in which NAU made the podium in 2001, finishing in fourth place. After college, he continued to run professionally for six years with a Saucony shoe contract. He competed in numerous races including the USA Half Marathon Championships. He also finished seventh overall in the 2012 Arizona Rock and Roll Marathon. He continues to serve as an assistant coach at his alma mater Hopi High School. <Back

Sunnie R. Clahchischiligi <Back Diné (Navajo) Induction Category: Media Year Inducted 2022 Sunnie R. Clahchischiligi is a longtime storyteller from the Navajo Nation. She spent over a decade as sportswriter for the Navajo Times, telling stories of high school, college, and professional Navajo athletes. Clahchischiligi, a former athlete, developed an admiration for sports and storytelling at a young age. She completed six internships in three years, one at Sports Illustrated magazine in New York City. Clahchischiligi earned multiple awards for her writing in sports, editorial, community coverage, elder coverage, and investigative reporting. She wrote for the St. Cloud Times, the Albuquerque Journal, the Santa Fe New Mexican, the Osage News, Searchlight NM, and the Salt Lake Tribune. From her extensive coverage of basketball on the Navajo Nation, she has been dubbed an expert in rezball, a fast-paced style of basketball played throughout Indian Country. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and The Guardian, to name a few. Clahchischiligi has a bachelor’s degree in print journalism from the University of New Mexico, a master’s degree in rhetoric, writing, and digital media studies from Northern Arizona University, and is currently a PhD candidate in rhetoric and writing at UNM. She also teaches composition in the English department.

Rob McClain Category Athlete Tribe Muscogee Creek/Red Lake Ojibwe Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 10/11/1998 Rob McClain started his athletic career in Red Lake, Minnesota. There he was a three sport athlete that excelled in Football, Golf and especially Basketball. Red Lake High school is where Rob played on the team varsity team for four years and went to the state tournament each of the four years. In his final two years of high school his team finished with a top four finish at state. He concluded his high school career with over 1500 points and 1300 rebounds. Rob played junior college basketball at United Tribes Technical College the next two years. He scored over 1000 points, was named all-conference two years in a row and also named an All-American in his second year playing there. He played well enough to garner attention from many NCAA Division I and II schools. He played his final two years of college basketball for the NCAA Division 1 school University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) coached by the late Lew Hill. Rob graduated from UTRGV in May of 2021 with his degree and is now back at United Tribes as an assistant coach on the Men’s Basketball team. Home 2025 Banquet 2025 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

< Back Dennis Eastman Dennis Eastman Crow Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete/Coach 2025 Dennis Eastman was born December 23, 1960 in Crow Agency, Montana. He was enrolled in the Crow Tribe of Montana and was a descendent of the Chippewa Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy, MT. He attended high school in Wahpeton, North Dakota (ND) where he participated in football, basketball, track, and baseball, and was the ND High School Athlete of the Year in 1979. He played basketball and football at NDSCS in Wahpeton, and football at Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM). Eastman had a remarkable quarterback career at MSUM in the early 1980’s. He was a two year starter, piloted the Dragons to an undefeated regular season in 1981 and a number one spot on the final NAIA I regular season polls. He led the Dragons to consecutive conference titles and post-season playoff trips; he was named to the All-Conference and All-NAIA District 13 teams in 1981 and voted the Most Valuable Player in the NIC as a senior. In 1993, he was inducted into both schools’ Athletic Halls of Fame. After graduating from MSUM, Dennis received his teaching certificate from Mayville State University. In 1990, Dennis and his family moved to Brainerd, Minnesota where he began his teaching and coaching career at Central Lakes College. He held a number of roles in his 26 years at CLC, including men’s football coach, women’s basketball coach, women’s softball coach and Athletic Director. In his 17 seasons as the Raiders women’s basketball coach his teams had two trips to the Region 13 national tournament, won the NJCAA Division III National Championship in 1996, and qualified for nine state tournaments. He received the Region XIII Coach of the Year in 1996. His Raider women’s softball teams went to national tournaments in 2000 and 2001, finishing seventh both times. Eastman was passionate about coaching and teaching, and worked to instill values that would help his students and athletes be successful later in life. Eastman passed away on April 8, 2017 and is deeply missed by all that knew him. <Back