Montana Indian Athletic Hall of Fame: Fort Peck inductees
Montana Indian Athletic Hall of Fame’s Don Wetzel, left, approaches the mic after inductee Kayla Lambert spoke about her accomplishment. Lambert is the top point-getter and set a state record that has never been broken. She was inducted in 2016.
During a special recognition part of the ceremony, Ramey Escarcega Growing Thunder speaks about her late father Tom Escarcega Sr.. She said her father would use sports lingo in his regular every day vernacular,.
Family members of inductee Joe Bergie said he was schooled in a government boarding school and he took to basketball very young. He was inducted in 2020.
Desi Lambert shares a laugh about her daughter Kayla being inducted into the Montana Indian Athletic Hall of Fame.
Maureen Dion hugs Don Wetzel after a plaque presentation. Dion made a special beaded horse necklace for Wetzel as a way to say thank you.
Family members of Montana Indian Hall of Fame inductees listen to an address from Don Wetzel at an honoring for the Fort Peck tribal inductees.
Family members of the 1936 Brockton Warrior Bighorn Brothers Leonard, Ernie, and Alpheus, picked up a plaque presented to the family. The three brothers were inducted into the Montana Indian Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008.
The induction ceremony started with an honor song at the new Wellness Center gym.
Jackie Small puts down rodeo photos of Ernest Bighorn for his display at the Montana Indian Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Small said she was told to find athletic photos, and although the display features sports she wanted to show his other passion.
Displays of achievements and media coverage for the Montana Indian Athletic Hall of Fame were set up and family were encouraged to bring in whatever they could for the display. This year, the MIAHF emphasized story telling about these individuals before they are lost to time.
Mae Archambeau walks past the display for her grandpa Ernest Bighorn.