BISMARCK – Four individuals and one college basketball team will be inducted into the North Dakota Native American Hall of Honor at the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum in Bismarck on Friday. The event is open to the public and will begin with a ceremony in the Russell Reid Auditorium at 3 p.m., according to a news release.

The 2024 inductees are being honored for achievements in the sports and leadership categories.

The sports inductees are:

– Rusty Gillette, Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation.

– Terry Kraft, Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation.

– 1997-98 United Tribes Technical College men’s basketball team, multiple federally recognized tribes.

The leadership inductees are:

– Thomas W. Fredericks, Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation.

– Marc Bluestone Sr., Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation.

“The North Dakota Native American Hall of Honor celebrates the remarkable contributions of Native Americans in arts and culture, leadership, athletics and military service,” said Brad Hawk, executive director of the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission. “This year we have selections in the categories of Leadership and Athletics. These inductees have profound and unique stories to showcase the strength, resilience and achievements for Indigenous people in North Dakota.”

The Native American Hall of Honor is a partnership of the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission, the State Historical Society of North Dakota and the State Historical Society Foundation.

This event will coincide with Native American Heritage Month activities coordinated by the N.D. Native Tourism Alliance.