The MASRC Announces the Class of 2024 Inductees for the Manitoba Indigenous Sports Hall of Fame

With great pride, the Manitoba Aboriginal Sport & Recreation Council (MASRC) is thrilled to announce the esteemed individuals joining the ranks of the Manitoba Indigenous Sports Hall of Fame. As an organization dedicated to the promotion of Indigenous sport and recreation, our objective aligns with the Trust and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's 87th Call to Action. We aim to showcase Indigenous talent and skill in a manner that honors the resiliency, dedication, and consistency of Indigenous Peoples across Canada.

For us, this endeavor is more than just recognizing athletic achievement. It's about using sport as a platform to empower Manitoba's Indigenous communities, demonstrating that success is not only attainable but also purposeful. By celebrating the achievements of our inductees, we highlight the invaluable contributions of Indigenous Peoples to our society and nurture the emergence of future leaders within these communities.

As we unveil the Class of 2024 Inductees, we invite you to join us in celebrating their remarkable achievements and honoring their enduring legacy. Together, let us recognize and elevate the outstanding contributions of Indigenous athletes, coaches, and leaders who continue to shape the landscape of sports in Manitoba and beyond.

Terry Fox (Métis)

Terry Fox, born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is a Métis athlete and cancer research advocate, who at eighteen, lost his right leg to cancer. In 1980, Fox began training for the Marathon of Hope, and ran 5,375 kilometers in 143 days to raise money for cancer research. In 1981, Terry Fox passed but not before raising 24.17 million for cancer research. That same year, the Terry Fox Run debuted in more than 750 locations, and in 1988, the Terry Fox Foundation was established, cementing Fox's legacy as a humanitarian and advocate for cancer awareness and research.

Ida Sutherland (Peguis First Nation)

Ida (Clemons) Sutherland played for the Lord Selkirk Regional Comprehensive Secondary School Royals, one of the most successful high school volleyball teams in Manitoba's history. A member of Peguis First Nation, Sutherland rostered for Lord Selkirk between 1976 and 1978, and in her final season of play, led the team to a 58-0 record. In 1979, Sutherland was offered a scholarship to play volleyball at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), an NCAA Division 1 school. In her rookie year, UTEP made an appearance at the NCAA tournament, and by her third year, she was named captain.

Kerri (Buchberger) Kendrioza (Métis)

Kerri Kendrioza, a Métis volleyball athlete born in Russell, Manitoba, represented Canada at the 1996 Summer Olympics. From 1988 and 1991, Buchberger played for the University of Regina women's volleyball team where she was named a Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) All-star twice. Buchberger played for the Canadian National Women's Volleyball Team for eight seasons, competing in two Pan American Games and a World Cup. She also played five years of professional volleyball in Holland, Belgium, and France, and was inducted into the Saskatchewan Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2018.

Norbert Ross (Pine Creek First Nation)

Norbert Ross, a member of Minegoziibe Anishinabe (Pine Creek First Nation), has coached football, track and field, soccer, and hockey. He was an assistant coach with the Swan Valley Tigers, and coached the East Side Eagles football team, winning a few championships. Ross also served as a coach for the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG). He has frequented coaching seminars at the University of North Dakota and Bemidji State University, and traveled to England to learn soccer and middle-distance running, speed-skating in Amsterdam, and nutrition in Germany. Ross has committed his life to empowering Indigenous youth.

Kerry Goulet (Métis)

Born in Winnipeg, Kerry Goulet, a Métis athlete, played with the Winnipeg Grasshoppers who represented Manitoba at eight National Ball Hockey Championships, bringing home gold in 1989. Goulet also played ice hockey in Germany for sixteen seasons, and was also a general manager, and coach, where he earned 312 wins in 452 games. His jersey was eventually retired by the ETC Timmendorfer Eisbars. Goulet is the co-founder of StopConcussions, a platform dedicated to concussion awareness and education, and the organizer of the Australian Ice Hockey Classic, an initiative to support ice hockey around the world.

In conclusion, the induction of the Class of 2024 into the Manitoba Indigenous Sports Hall of Fame marks a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to celebrating Indigenous talent and promoting positive role models within our communities. These remarkable athletes not only excel in their sports but also embody the resilience, dedication, and spirit of Indigenous Peoples in Manitoba. As we honor their achievements, we also reaffirm our dedication to empowering Indigenous youth through sports and promoting active, healthy lifestyles. Let us continue to support and uplift our Indigenous athletes, recognizing their contributions and inspiring future generations to reach new heights of excellence.

To learn more about the Manitoba Indigenous Sports Hall of Fame or to nominate someone for the next class of inductees, feel free to visit www.masrchof.com, or to reach out to Carriera Lamoureux, our Director of Special Projects. Just drop her a line at 204-925-5737. Let's keep celebrating Indigenous excellence together!