Journal of American Indian EducationVolume 10 Number 3
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BY 61 AMERICAN INDIAN ATHLETES The Indian Hall of Fame selection board has named 61 Indians to its Hall of Fame. This action was made possible when the board amended its constitution to allow three years of unlimited appointments to the Hall of Fame, soon to be established at Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas. Previously the two-year-old board had selfimposed constitutional limits of five appointments per year. Members of the board felt, however, that the limit was much too stringent to allow for the inspiring list of possible candidates they had compiled. Included in the list are names recognized by family and tribe but not much beyond that. It is hoped that by this method these outstanding athletes may receive the recognition of the total Indian community that they deserve. The all-Indian board members appointed by former Commissioner Robert Bennett, Bureau of Indian Affairs, are Harold Shunk, Elijah Smith, Albert Hawley, Billy Mills, George P. La Vatta and Clarence Acoya. The Commissioner of Indian Affairs is a standing member of the board. The board hopes to broaden its purview to include Indians such as the Alaskan groups who have thus far been overlooked. It will also consider allowing athletes who excelled in sports such as hockey, which have so far not been considered. There are three guidelines established for selection to the Hall of Fame: unanimous board approval, an outstanding record in athletic competition, and 1/4 degree Indian. The appointees will have their pictures and stories framed and displayed in a special room at the Haskell Institute. The board also plans to publish the information in book form so that Indian people can easily identify the past impact Indians have had on the sporting world. -By Harold Shunk, NC10 NEWS, February, 1971
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