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< Back Niki Gashing Goodwin Niki Gashing Goodwin White Earth Nation Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Niki Gashing Goodwin, an enrolled member of White Earth Nation, has been gifted the journey of being a professional athlete. He was born in Bagley, MN and grew up on and near Ojibwe country. His parents, Duane and Theresa Goodwin, are Native artists who still live in that area. Through his family connections and longtime relationship with horses, Nik’s passion was in the horse racing industry. At a very young age he developed the dream to be a professional horse jockey. In 1991 he started riding races in Barnum, MN, recording his first victory in the 100th running of the Carlton County Derby. From this point in his journey, he never looked back. His confidence that he would succeed in this career path allowed him to pass up a full ride academic scholarship at Bemidji State University. He started his professional career in Winnipeg, Manitoba in August of 1993 when he was just 16. By his senior year in high school he had a professional career started and still graduated with honors. Nik won his first professional race in his 13th start on his father's horse Moidore. After that race he quickly won more races and his career was under way leading him to California. Nik’s nationwide racehorse career was just beginning. Nik received the opportunity to ride at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, which is one of the premier horse racing tracks in the country. He spent a short time there riding with hall of fame jockeys and learning a lot about his career. Early in 1995, he moved his riding business to Maryland. In Maryland and surrounding tracks, he excelled and became a top rider for years in an extremely competitive mid-Atlantic racing circuit. Since then his riding career has taken him to many places around the United States. Nik has recorded over 1000 thoroughbred wins and multiple quarter horse leading rider titles in a career that has expanded over three decades. He has become the all-time leading quarter horse rider at Canterbury Park in Shakopee Minnesota. Nik spends the winter months now in Florida where he helps get young racehorses ready for their careers. His work was an important part in the development of champion and Kentucky Derby winner, Nyquist, along with Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. Other great horses that he worked with have been Nadal, Dortmund, Palace Malace, and Competitive Edge. Now in his mid-forty’s Nik rides a little less and dedicates the rest of his time to his family. He lives in Ocala, Florida with his wife and three boys. Even though he is at the sunset of his career he still enjoys riding and is looking for the next champion. Photo Credits: Coady Photography and Heather R. Grevelis <Back

Ernie Stevens Jr. Category Athlete Tribe Oneida Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 7/5/1959 Ernie Stevens, Jr. is Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) out of Washington, DC. Serving in his 11th consecutive two-year terms. Stevens serves as Chairman and National spokesman for the Indian Gaming industry working with Tribal Leadership in shaping policy initiatives that have the potential to impact the industry. Stevens served as elected Councilman for the Oneida Nation from 1993 to 1996. His career in Washington, DC began in 1995 as the First Vice-President of the National Congress of American Indians. He serves as a board member of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, Nike N7 Foundation, Center for American Indian Youth, and Native American Graduate Center. In 2008, Stevens was inducted into the National Indian Athletic Association Hall of Fame. In 2012, he was inducted into the Boys & Girls Club Alumni Hall of Fame. In 2013, he was inducted as Lifetime Member of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium’s Alumni Association. In 2015, Stevens was inducted into the American Gaming Association Gaming Hall of Fame, and has received several national accolades. Ernie’s boxing career started in his teens. At 16, along with boxing icon Louie Askinette, he co-founded the Soaring Eagle Boxing Club in Oneida in 1975. His accolades include 4-time State Heavyweight Champion in 1976, 1977, 1978 & 1979. He is also a two-time National Indian Heavyweight Champion out of Carson City, NV in 1977 & 1978. In 1977, he was 17 years old fighting seasoned men to win the Championship. Stevens received an Associate Degree from Haskell Indian Junior College, 1983, a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Mount Senario College,1996 and a Masters in Management from the University of Phoenix, 2021. Stevens is married to his wife and best friend of 43 years, Cheryl. Together they have 5 kids and 17 grandchildren. Home 2025 Banquet 2025 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

< Back Oliver “Cap” Bomberry Sr Oliver “Cap” Bomberry Sr Cayuga Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete/Builder 2023 Cap Bomberry played for the Oshweken Warriors from 1959 to 1973 and won the President's Cup in 1964, 1967 and 1968. He was involved in minor organization from 1975 to 1988 and was a Team/General Manager with the Jr. A Arrows from 1990 to 1992 winning the Minto Cup in 1992. This was the first indigenous team to win the Minto Cup. He was also the GM for the Six Nations Chiefs from 1993 to 1997 winning the Mann Cup in 1994, 1995, and 1996. Cap was President and GM of the Six Nations Rivermen from 2013 to 2019 winning the President's Cup in 2015 and 2019. Bomberry has been a builder of the sport of lacrosse in the Six Nations minor organization, coach of Pee Wee and Bantam national championships, and Midget provincial championship. He traveled to Australia when Six Nations athletes competed for Team Canada in the World Field Lacrosse Championships and with the Iroquois Nationals when Ontario hosted the World Indoor Championships. Bomberry has been inducted into the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1997 in the Builder Category. He was also inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2001 as a Builder, became an Ontario Lacrosse Association (OLA) Life Member in 2006 and was presented with the OLA President's Award. <Back

< Back Aidan Howry Aidan Howry Comanche Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Aidan Howry is a proud member of the Comanche Nation. He is the great-great-grandson of Ethel Michobey-Howry, the grandson of John Henry Howry, and the son of John and Lori Howry. Aidan is the most accomplished Junior World Raw Power Heavyweight Lifter in AAU history, as well as the most accomplished multi-organizational Raw Powerlifters in the United States as a whole. Aidan has won the OFBCA State Championship, N.A.S.A. State Championship, AAU State Championship and AAU 13-15 Year Old Champion raw power all at 242 lbs. From ages 12 and 13, Aidan had 315 lbs. Squat, 365 lbs. Deadlift, and an American Full Power total of 850 lbs. all of which he earned A.A.U. American records for. From 14 to 15 years old, Aidan had 264 lbs. Bench Press, 468 lbs. Deadlift, and a total lift amount of 1,157.4 lbs. He proceeded to win the A.A.U. World Championship and set 3 World Records, USPL National Championship, N.A.S.A. National High School Championship, and the OFBCA State Championship at 308 lbs raw power. From 18-19 years old, he won the OFBCA State Championship, the A.A.U. Junior Olympic Championship, an A.A.U American and A.A.U. World Record also weighed in at 308 lbs. raw power. Aidan had a deadlift of 617.5 pounds at the A.A.U. Junior Olympics. This lift earned an American and World Record. Aidan holds four American records, four World records, and one National Record. He was named the Oklahoma All-District Class A Player from 2019-2021, 2021 Class A Lineman of the Year, VYPE Magazine Class A All-State player 2019-2021, Top 100 player in the Daily Oklahoman, and Tulsa World All Metro Offensive Lineman of 2021. Aidan was also invited and participated in the prestigious NBC Sports All American Combine. Aidan has been awarded many football accolades and honors throughout the duration of high school, but currently as an active scholarship student athlete. He received an offer to play Division 1 at University of Central Arkansas where he played in one game as a true freshman. Aidan went on to enter the transfer portal where he received a scholarship to play football at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. At SOSU, he played every game of his Red Shirt freshman year regular season, as well as the Live United Bowl Game. Photo Credits: Dan Hoke and Lori Howry <Back

Delby Powless Category Athlete Tribe Mohawk Year Inducted 2022 Delby Powless is member of the Mohawk Nation. He is a Youth Counselor in his home community, Six Nations of the Grand River, in Ontario, Canada. He graduated from Bellevue University with a Bachelors degree in Child Protection and Juvenile Justice and from Wilfred Laurier University in Children’s Mental Health. In high school Powless participated in multiple sports including lacrosse, hockey, football and wrestling. In wrestling he was a Provincial Champion and a Canadian National Silver Medalist. Powless played five seasons with the Six Nations Junior A Arrows lacrosse club and is currently the franchise’s all-time leading scorer with 686 total points. While attending Herkimer County Community College, Powless was twice named All-American. He transferred to D1 Rutgers University where he led the Scarlet Knights in scoring both years and was a 2x All-American, while leading Rutgers to 2 NCAA tournament appearances. Powless also won a Canadian University lacrosse championship with Brock University and was named All-Canadian. Powless represented the Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team as a player at six World Championships, and at the first-ever World Indoor Lacrosse Championships, he was selected to the All-World Team. In 2003 Powless was named the recipient of the Tom Longboat Award as Canada’s Top Aboriginal Athlete. He was drafted 1st overall in the 2004 National Lacrosse League entry draft by the Buffalo Bandits and helped them win the Champions Cup in 2008. Powless also played in Major League Lacrosse with Toronto Nationals winning the Steinfeld Cup in 2009. Powless was the head coach of Hagersville Secondary School Men’s Lacrosse teams for 8 seasons leading them to 5 consecutive Provincial Championships. He also coached the Iroquois Nationals U-19 Men’s Lacrosse team at the 2012 World Championships to a Bronze medal in Turku, Finland. Powless recently released his first novel about lacrosse titled “Medicine Game”. Home 2025 Banquet 2025 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

Introduction: The North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame (NAIAHF) honors and recognizes the indigenous sport cultures of 27 countries of North America by recognizing outstanding leadership and achievement in individual and team athletics. By honoring and celebrating the empowered journey of the annually inducted individuals and teams, the hope is their stories may inspire future generations to follow their dreams in athletics and life. Nomination Process: Nominations for individuals and teams to be considered for induction into the annual North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame are accepted throughout the course of the year until the October 21st noon central time deadline. Nominations are accepted for individuals or teams in the following categories: • Athlete • Coach • Team • Builder • Media • Official • Trainer Inductee eligibility: Inductees are recognized and honored, past and present, as Indigenous to North America including but not limited to Tribal, First Nation, Métis, Inuit including federally recognized and self-identified descendant in the listed categories throughout the year. Inductee’s may also be considered who are indigenous to North America and compete outside of North American and those who are indigenous outside of North America and compete in North America. The inductee’s credentials need to include being at the highest state, provincial, region, national or international sport recognition, and/or being recognized in college or professional athletic realms. To receive a nomination form or for additional information, contact Dr. Dan Ninham at 218.368.6430 (text preferred) or coach.danninham@gmail.co m . The annual nomination deadline is noon central time on October 21st for the next year induction. The inductee’s credentials need to include being at the highest state, provincial, region, national, international sport recognition, and/or being recognized in college or professional athletic realms. Induction Recognition: There may be a virtual banquet recognition to be determined. There will not be a hall of fame facility or in person awards banquet. Each inductee will receive a certificate. The stories of the inductees will be produced in online print and video in addition to being in a curriculum to be provided to schools and recreation communities. The induction announcement will be made on January 2nd of each induction class year.

Terae Briggs Category Athlete Tribe Crow Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 4/3/1997 Terae Briggs is from Pryor, Montana, and it is on the Crow Reservation. Her Indian name is Brings Spring Water. She belongs to the Ties in the Bundle Clan and is a Child of the Big Lodge Clan. Her parents are Terry Briggs and Janel Spotted Bear, and her grandparents Max and Dorothy Spotted Bear helped raise her. She has five siblings, Crystal Briggs, Joshua Briggs, Marcus Spotted Bear, Kimberly Briggs, and Terrilyn Briggs. Briggs played varsity basketball for four years and graduated from Plenty Coups High School in 2015 as the Valedictorian and served as student council president. She earned first team All State and fist team All District 6C her senior year. She went on to play college basketball at United Tribes Technical College (2015-2016), where she was voted the first-ever Most Valuable Player as a freshman for the basketball program at the Region XIII Tournament. She helped lead the UTTC team to win the District’s and the Regional Basketball Tournament. It was UTTC’s first appearance in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Basketball Tournament. She averaged 22.4 points per game and 12.1 rebounds per game and earned second team NJCAA DII All American honors. She received a full basketball scholarship to the University of Nevada (2016-2019) where she played three years and graduated in 2019 with a Bachelors in Human Development and Family Studies. While playing at the University of Nevada, she tallied 993 points and 692 rebounds. Her total rebounds ranks seventh for program history, her career field goal percentage of 51.2 ranks fourth, and 279 made free throws ranks sixth all time. As a senior she started all 31 games, averaged 13.9 points per game and 7.8 rebounds per game, led the team with 10 double-doubles and was named Mountain West All Conference Honorable Mention. Brigg’s went on to play professionally, as a rookie in Sweden for the club Mark Basket until it was shut down mid-season due to COVID-19. She is now playing in Norway for the club Ulriken Eagles. Basketball has taught her so much about life that she can’t wait to share her knowledge and experience with her niece and whomever from my reservation that wants to follow in her path of using basketball as a tool to get a college education. Her goal is to get more opportunities for basketball players who want to further their game. Photos: The University of Nevada Photography and The Ulriken Eagles Photography Home 2025 Banquet 2025 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

Drew Bucktooth Category Athlete Tribe Oneida Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 2/3/1981 Drew Bucktooth is a lacrosse and hockey player from the Onondaga Nation in upstate NY. As a member of the Syracuse Stars hockey team he played against the highest level and won back to back state championships, a national championship and a world championship and was MVP of the world championship game. As a 16 year old, Drew was selected for the United States National team but was drafted and played in the OHL instead but still played for Team USA in international competitions and was named the team captain. In lacrosse, the first goal Drew ever scored was on his own goalie, but he made sure to do it correctly after that. As an eighth grader Drew led the varsity lacrosse team in scoring, as a ninth grader he led his league in scoring. As a 10th grader Drew once again led his team in scoring and earned All American, one of only two lacrosse players in NY state history to earn the title of All American as a 10th grader. When Drew was 15 he competed with the Iroquois Nationals in the U19 world lacrosse championships in Japan, although Drew was the youngest player there, he led the tournament in scoring and was named to the All World Team. A few years later the Lacrosse World Championships were held in Australia, and again Drew was named to the All World Team and has the distinction as the only person in history to make the U19 All World Team twice. As a member of the Onondaga RedHawks, his team captured the Presidents cup twice, which is the Canadian National box lacrosse championship. These days Drew can still be found in and out of hockey rinks and lacrosse fields coaching his four sons, Blake, Gavin, Dylan and Cruze. Home 2025 Banquet 2025 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

< Back Bernard Clark Bernard Clark Koyukon Athabaskan Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2025 Bernard Clark, an Alaskan born and raised Koyukon Athabaskan, started his sports journey in 2010 with his Native Youth Olympics debut. In 2011 with the support of his high school team Bernard tied the men’s world record for One Hand Reach at 69”, previously held by 2023 NAIAHF inductee Jesse Frankson. This marked the beginning of Bernard’s journey. He then continued to compete in the World Eskimo Indian Olympics (WEIO) held annually in Fairbanks, Alaska. In the several years to follow, Bernard supported and paralleled his wife in becoming the NYO coaches of Wasilla High School. With coaching from past and current generation Alaskan athletes like Nicole Johnson, Carol Hull, Casey Ferguson, Kyle Worl, Alexavier Covey and Nick Hanson, Bernard was sure to succeed. In 2013, 2020, and again in 2024 Bernard set new records in the One Hand Reach (71”) and Swing Kick (65”). He also earned medals in several other events including the Blanket Toss, High Kicks, and distance jumping contests. In between competitions Bernard loves to share, volunteer and commit his time and experience to keeping the Alaskan traditional games alive, from radio talk show interviews, filming a segment for BBC, to interviews with a Smithsonian reporter to his yearly stage performances at the Alaska State Fair. Bernard shares his passion for the events in the hopes of the games continuing to grow and thrive. Photos: Teyah Clark and Greg Lincoln <Back

< Back Nakola Bad Bear Nakola Bad Bear Crow Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2025 Nakola Bad Bear, Crow, was raised in Pryor, Montana and her parents are Curtis and Nadia Bad Bear. Nakola attended Montana State University-Bozeman (MSU-Bozeman) and was on the basketball team for four seasons. She graduated with a degree in Community Health. At MSU-Bozeman her team won two Big Sky tournament championships, three Big Sky conference titles, and appeared in the national tournament. She was named a two-time all conference and an all-tournament honoree. Nakola was the co-president for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP) Student Association for two years and they held annual MMIP awareness basketball games. She grad-transferred to MSU-Billings to play her final year of eligibility and they won the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) championship and made it to the NCAA DII Final Eight. She was named the Newcomer of the Year, Second Team All Big Sky Conference as a senior and Third Team as a junior, two-time All Big Sky Academic Team, GNAC Player of the Year, D2 CA All Region First Team, WBCA All American First Team and CSC Academic All American. Nakola plans to start graduate school in Occupational Therapy in the fall of 2025. She hopes to continue to inspire the next generation, continuing to lay a foundation for the future kids to grow and thrive on. She hopes to open a therapy clinic on her reservation to help eliminate generational trauma, and break the cycle of poverty. <Back

< Back Kelly Babstock Kelly Babstock Anishinaabe from the Unceded Territory of Wikwemikong Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Kelly Babstock fell in love with hockey at a very young age, her desire and want to play the sport grew naturally. Kelly always made it very clear to her parents how much she loved the sport before even knowing how to play it. It was when she asked her father to take her out skating, without ever skating before. She put on her first pair of skates and naturally glided on the ice and that was the night where Kelly Babstock took her first step in becoming the natural born athlete she is today. Kelly is a native to Toronto, Ontario. Once she became of age she joined the Jr. league and she had started her career with the Toronto Jr. Aeros, and continued on to Quinnipiac University. In her four years with the team she would become the program’s all-time leader in goals (95), assists (108) and points (203). She helped lead the team to their first NCAA tournament berth in program history and was also the finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award. After her collegiate career, Kelly would move to the professional ranks and join the Connecticut Whale of the NWHL in 2015, and be named to the 2017 and 2018 NWHL All-Star games. She is currently playing in her seventh season in the league with the Metropolitan Riveters. Kelly was featured in Sports Illustrated following her outstanding college hockey career. Kelly was inducted into the LNHL Hall of Fame. Kelly has always been an inspiration for the indigenous community by having hockey camps and creating awareness on her social media platforms. With Kelly’s continuous growth she strives to create a stronger Indigenous platform, influencing the youth to find their love for the sport and to flourish from it. <Back

Sam McCracken Sioux and Assiniboine Induction Category: Year Inducted Builder 2022 <Back Sam McCracken, is a member of the Sioux and Assiniboine tribes in northeastern Montana on the Ft. Peck Indian Reservation and the General Manager of Nike N7. He also serves as the Vice Chair of the board for the Center for Native American Youth. McCracken started with Nike in 1997. He became the Manager of Nike’s Native American Business in 2000 and led the development of the Nike Air Native N7 shoe, the retail collection and the fund which provides access to sport for Native American and Indigenous youth in North America. Since 2009, the fund has awarded more than $8 million in grants to Tribal communities, reaching more than 500,000 youth. McCracken received Nike’s Bowerman Award in 2004, named after Nike co-founder and track and field coach Bill Bowerman. He was honored by the Freedom Foundation at Valley Forge with the George Washington Honor Medal in 2004. In 2007, he was coined a "corporate change maker" and named among the 20 most innovative global “Intrapreneurs” by sustainability.com. He worked with Nike to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Indian Health Service in 2003 and 2009, and with the Bureau of Indian Education in 2010 bringing access to sport for Native American communities. He was appointed by President Barack Obama to the U.S. Department of Education’s National Advisory Council on Indian Education in 2010 and received the President’s "Leadership Award" from the National Indian Gaming Association in 2010. More recently, McCracken and N7 received the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development’s 2019 Corporate Business of the Year award and in 2020, McCracken was inducted into the Montana Indian Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2022, McCracken was honored by the World Economic Forum as the Schwab Foundation’s Social Intrapraneur of the Year.