The National Native American Hall of Fame has announced its 2026 class of inductees, honoring six Native leaders whose contributions have had a lasting impact on Indian Country through government, law, education, economic development, athletics, and advocacy.
The six inductees will be formally enshrined during the National Native American Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Gala on November 21, 2026, at the OKANA Resort & Hotel in Oklahoma City.
The 2026 class includes U.S. Congressman Tom Cole (Chickasaw Nation), educator and former Montana legislator Carol Juneau (Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation), pioneering attorney Arlinda Locklear (Lumbee Tribe), longtime tribal leader Richard Milanovich (Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians), Indian gaming advocate Ernie Stevens Jr. (Oneida Nation of Wisconsin), and lacrosse superstar Lyle Thompson (Onondaga Nation).
Tom Cole has represented Oklahoma’s Fourth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2003. A citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, Cole is the longest-serving Native American member of Congress and currently serves as chair of the House Appropriations Committee. Throughout his career, he has been a prominent advocate for tribal interests and Native American issues while maintaining a leading role in national politics.
Carol Juneau is widely recognized for her decades of service in education and public policy. An enrolled member of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, Juneau served in both chambers of the Montana Legislature and was the principal sponsor of Montana’s landmark Indian Education for All Act, which requires the inclusion of Native history and culture in public school curricula. Her career has also included leadership roles in tribal higher education and community advocacy.
Arlinda Locklear made history as one of the first Native American women to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court. A citizen of the Lumbee Tribe, she successfully defended tribal jurisdiction in the landmark case Solem v. Bartlett and later helped secure a major legal victory protecting Oneida tribal lands. For more than two decades, she also championed federal recognition efforts for the Lumbee Tribe.
Richard Milanovich is remembered as one of the most influential tribal leaders of the modern era. During nearly three decades as chairman of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, he guided the tribe’s transformation into a major economic force through successful gaming and hospitality enterprises. Under his leadership, revenues from tribal businesses helped fund education, healthcare, housing, and cultural preservation programs while strengthening tribal sovereignty.
Ernie Stevens Jr. spent more than two decades leading the Indian Gaming Association, helping tribal gaming become one of the most significant economic engines in Indian Country. A citizen of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, Stevens was a tireless defender of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and advocated for tribal self-determination through economic development. His leadership helped ensure gaming revenues supported essential government services and opportunities for tribal citizens across the country.
Lyle Thompson, a member of the Hawk Clan of the Onondaga Nation, is widely regarded as one of the greatest lacrosse players in the history of the sport. During his collegiate career at the University at Albany, he became the first men’s player to win the Tewaaraton Award in consecutive years. Thompson has continued to excel professionally while using his platform to promote the Indigenous origins of lacrosse and inspire Native youth through community outreach and mentorship.
The National Native American Hall of Fame was established to recognize Native American leaders whose achievements and service have enriched their communities, strengthened tribal nations, and contributed to the broader American story. The organization honors individuals from diverse fields whose work reflects the resilience, innovation, and leadership found throughout Indian Country.
The induction ceremony on November 21 will celebrate the accomplishments of the 2026 class and their enduring legacy for future generations.
