Inductees

“We are what we imagine. Our very existence consists in our imagination of ourselves. Our best destiny is to imagine, at least, completely, who and what, and that we are. The greatest tragedy that can befall us is to go unimagined.”

– N. Scott Momaday (Kiowa)
   Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author

Woman with glasses and earrings
Astronaut posing with a cheerful smile.

MEET THE 2026 INDUCTEES!

The National Native American Hall of Fame is pleased to announce the six outstanding individuals receiving induction into the 2026 Hall of Fame.  Click here to read the Press Release.

2026 INDUCTEES

Smiling man in suit with American flag

TOM COLE
CHICKASAW NATION

2026 – GOVERNMENT
Smiling elderly woman with short gray hair.

CAROL JUNEAU
MANDAN, HIDATSA AND ARIKARA NATION

2026 – EDUCATION
Smiling mature woman with glasses and gray blazer

ARLINDA LOCKLEAR
LUMBEE TRIBE OF NORTH CAROLINA

2026 – LAW
Smiling older man in suit and tie

RICHARD MILANOVICH
AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF CAHUILLA INDIANS

2026 – GOVERNMENT
Man in suit with medallion and U.S. flag

ERNIE STEVENS, JR.
ONEIDA NATION OF WISCONSIN

2026 – GAMING
Portrait of man in navy lacrosse jersey

LYLE THOMPSON
ONONDAGA

2026 – ATHLETICS

2025 INDUCTEES

Smiling elderly man in a black suit.

W. RON ALLEN
JAMESTOWN S’KLALLAM TRIBE

2025 – GOVERNMENT
Man with medals holding colorful ski.

ROSS ANDERSON
CHEYENNE & ARAPAHO TRIBES OF OKLAHOMA / MESCALERO-CHIRICAHUA APACHE

2025 – ATHLETICS
Man smiling in suit with tie.

NOTAH BEGAY III
NAVAJO NATION & SAN FELIPE / ISLETA

2025 – ATHLETICS
Elderly man in suit with American flag.

DWIGHT W. BIRDWELL
CHEROKEE NATION

2025 – MILITARY
Person with long hair and beaded necklace.

DEB HAALAND
LAGUNA PUEBLO

2025 – GOVERNMENT
Woman wearing colorful jewelry and patterned clothing.

LYNN VALBUENA
YUHAAVIATAM OF SAN MANUEL NATION

2025 – GOVERNMENT

2024 INDUCTEES

A man with white hair and wearing a suit.

STANLEY CROOKS
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX

2024 – GOVERNMENT
Smiling man in a formal gray suit.

FRANKLIN DUCHENEAUX
CHEYENNE RIVER SIOUX

2024 – LAW
A woman with white hair and blue jewelry.

VERONICA LEE HOMER
COLORADO RIVER INDIAN TRIBES – MOHAVE

2024 – ADVOCACY
A woman with long hair and a checkered scarf.

JULIE KITKA
CHUGACH

2024 – ADVOCACY
A woman with white hair and wearing feathers.

HENRIETTA MANN
SOUTHERN CHEYENNE

2024 – EDUCATION
A black and white photo of an old woman.

Te Ata | Mary Thompson Fisher
CHICKASAW NATION

2024 – ARTS

2023 INDUCTEES

A man in a suit and tie speaking into a microphone.

JOE DE LA CRUZ
QUINAULT INDIAN NATION

2023 – GOVERNMENT
A man in a cowboy hat and jacket.

WILL SAMPSON
MUSCOGEE CREEK

2023 – ENTERTAINMENT
A woman with long hair wearing a blue shirt.

LESLIE MARMON SILKO
LAGUNA PUEBLO

2023 – WRITING
A man in a suit and glasses smiling for the camera.

MARK TRAHANT
SHOSHONE-BANNOCK

2023 – JOURNALISM
A man with white hair and wearing a black jacket.

RICHARD TRUDELL
SANTEE SIOUX NATION

2023 – LAW
A woman with long black hair wearing a necklace.

LANADA WAR JACK
SHOSHONE-BANNOCK

2023 – ADVOCACY

2022 INDUCTEES

Man in formal attire with flag backdrop.

Bill Anoatubby
Chickasaw Nation

2022 - GOVERNMENT
A young girl holding onto a basketball on the court

Ryneldi Becenti
Navajo

2022 - ATHLETICS
Smiling man in a suit with long hair.

John Echohawk
Pawnee

2022 - LAW
Gentleman with spectacles and a hat.

Tim Giago
Oglala Lakota

2022 - JOURNALISM
Woman wearing a dotted shirt and beads.

Suzan Shown Harjo
S. Cheyenne & Hodulgee Muscogee

2022 - ADVOCACY
Smiling man wearing a suit and tie.

Marshall McKay
Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation

2022 - GOVERNMENT
Elder in traditional headdress against cloudy sky.

Earl Old Person, Sr.
Blackfeet Nation

2022 - GOVERNMENT
Woman with guitar and long hair

Joanne Shenandoah
Oneida

2022 - ENTERTAINMENT
Smiling woman with flowing blonde hair

Patricia Zell
Arapaho / Navajo

2022 - LAW

2021 INDUCTEES

Happy man wearing glasses and an apron

DAVE ANDERSON
CHOCTAW / LAC COURTE OREILLES OJIBWE

2021 - Business
A man with long hair and wearing a suit.

BEN NIGHTHORSE CAMPBELL
NORTHERN CHEYENNE

2021 - Government
A woman in red shirt standing next to brick wall.

JOY HARJO
MUSCOGEE (CREEK) NATION

2021 - Writing
Smiling woman in military attire

MARCELLA LEBEAU
CHEYENNE RIVER SIOUX

2021 - Medicine
A man in suit and glasses is smiling.

EMIL NOTTI
ATHABASCAN

2021 - Advocacy
Elderly woman with curly white hair and scarf.

KATHERINE SIVA SAUBEL
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS

2021 - Culture
Thoughtful man in formal attire.

ERNIE STEVENS, SR.
ONEIDA

2021 - Government
A man in suit and tie standing next to a feather headdress.

W. RICHARD WEST JR.
CHEYENNE / ARAPAHO TRIBES

2021 - Arts

2019 INDUCTEES

Joyful woman in a vintage photograph.

LUCY COVINGTON
COLVILLE TRIBES

2019 – Advocacy
A woman with gray hair outdoors.

ADA DEER
MENOMINEE

2019 – Advocacy
Woman with apple in a denim jacket.

LOUISE ERDRICH
TURTLE MOUNTAIN CHIPPEWA

2019 – Writing
A man in a blue and gray jacket standing next to water.

BILLY FRANK, JR.
NISQUALLY TRIBE

2019 – Advocacy
A man in a suit and tie.

FORREST GERARD
BLACKFEET NATION

2019 – Government
A woman with brown hair wearing a blue shirt.

HATTIE KAUFFMAN
NEZ PERCE TRIBE

2019 – Journalism
A man in native american costume standing outside.

OREN LYONS
ONONDAGA NATION

2019 – Spiritual
Man with long hair in a sweater.

RICHARD OAKES
MOHAWK NATION

2019 – Advocacy
Older woman with a stylish haircut.

ELIZABETH PERATROVICH
TLINGIT NATION

2019 – Advocacy
An older man wearing a military uniform.

PASCAL POOLAW
KIOWA TRIBE

2019 – Military
Serious older woman in elegant attire.

MARY GOLDA ROSS
CHEROKEE NATION

2019 – Science
A man holding up an award at the oscars.

WES STUDI
CHEROKEE NATION

2019 – Arts

2018 INAUGURAL INDUCTEES

Elderly man with long silver hair

LIONEL BORDEAUX
ROSEBUD SIOUX

2018 – Education
Woman in red jacket gazing into distance.

ELOUISE COBELL
BLACKFEET NATION

2018 – Advocacy
Senior man with gray hair and glasses.

VINE DELORIA, JR.
STANDING ROCK SIOUX

2018 – Writing
A woman with grey hair sitting on top of a table.

LADONNA HARRIS
COMANCHE NATION

2018 – Advocacy
Smiling astronaut ready for space.

JOHN HERRINGTON
CHICKASAW NATION

2018 – Science
A man is helping children with their homework.

ALLAN HOUSER/HAOZOUS
CHIRICAHUA APACHE

2018 – Arts
A woman in a suit sitting against a wall.

WILMA MANKILLER
CHEROKEE NATION

2018 – Government
A man holding a baseball bat in front of people.

BILLY MILLS
OGLALA LAKOTA SIOUX

2018 – Athletics
A man wearing glasses and a cowboy hat.

N. SCOTT MOMADAY
KIOWA TRIBE

2018 – Writing
A woman in fatigues smiling for the camera.

LORI PIESTEWA
HOPI TRIBE

2018 – Military
A woman in a tutu is dancing on stage.

MARIA TALLCHIEF
OSAGE NATION

2018 – Arts
A black and white photo of a man with short hair.

JIM THORPE
SAC AND FOX NATION

2018 – Athletics

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Every candidate considered for the Native American Hall of Fame must be Native American or Alaskan Native.  Candidates must either be federally-enrolled, part of a state-recognized tribe or have verifiable Native descendancy with strong and verifiable ties to their respective communities.
 
Leadership —Tribal Leader or leader of an effort that earned respect and regard for their accomplishments.
​Sacrifice —Sacrificed themselves or their own personal interests for the greater good.
​Contributions to Indian Country —Their work or efforts benefited Indian country or benefited understanding to those outside of Indian Country.
​Mentorship —Contributed to youth, fellow professionals, elders or other tribal members due to their work for the betterment of Indian Country and serving as a role model.
​Legacy —Their work or efforts benefited policy, public regard, tribal relationships or other national regard in a way that bettered Indian country for generations that followed or will follow.
​Accomplishments —They made a nationally recognized or well-warranted accomplishment that brought Indian country into a national or international positive spotlight. They could have been the first in their field or profession.

AWARD CATEGORIES

1. Advocacy
2. Art
3. Athletics
4. Business
5. Culture
6. Education
7. Entertainment
8. Gaming
9. Government
10. Journalism
11. Law
12. Medicine
13. Military
14. Science
15. Spiritual
16. Writing

SELECTION PROCESS

Once eligibility has been determined, the list of potential inductees is compiled by the National Native American Hall of Fame Board of Directors. This list is entered into a matrix which includes consideration for gender, geographic balance, deceased or living, reputation and category of achievement.  After review and discussion, the results are confirmed by the Board of Directors.