Month: September 2025

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NDN All-Stars: The Recording Sessions – Vol. 1 Is Here!

NDN All-Stars: The Recording Sessions - Vol. 1 album cover art graphic

I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time. Today, I finally get to share something brand new with you—something that brings our NDN All-Stars stories to life in a whole new way.

Introducing NDN All-Stars: The Recording Sessions – Vol. 1.

This is more than an album. It’s twelve original songs about some of the greatest Native athletes of all time. From Jim Thorpe to Shoni Schimmel, from Louis Sockalexis to Johnny Bench, each track tells a story in rhythm, melody, and soul.

You’ll hear a mix of styles—country rock, blues, ballads, even a little yacht rock flavor—that make each athlete’s story stand out. And just like the blog and podcast, every song celebrates Native pride, history, and achievement.

Here’s the lineup (click each one to hear a sample):

Each original track was written to capture the energy, legacy, and spirit of these legends. Whether you’re a lifelong sports fan, a music lover, or just someone proud to see Native athletes get their shine—you’re going to want this album.

So here’s the ask: Go grab your copy today. Every download helps us keep telling these stories the way they deserve to be told.

👉 Click here to get NDN All-Stars: The Recording Sessions – Vol. 1 now!

Let’s celebrate. Let’s sing it loud. And let’s keep proving what we already know—Native athletes have been out here dominating for generations.

NDN All-Stars Logo

Promoting Great Native Athletes – Past & Present!

– Bill Black
General Manager
NDN All-Stars

Bill Black, founder of NDN All-Stars with his father, Bill Black, Sr. (Quah-Lee-Lah).
Bill Black(l), founder of NDN All-Stars with his father, Bill Black, Sr.

Bill Black is the creator and “General Manager” of NDN All-Stars, dedicated to celebrating great Native American athletes past and present. A first-generation descendant of the Okanogan Band of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, he makes his home in Omak, WA.

👉 Every purchase from the NDN All-Stars Shop helps us keep these stories alive for future generations.

#NDNAllstars #music #TomLongboat #JimThorpe #BillyMills #RossAnderson #JackDempsey #LouisSockalexis #ShoniSchimmel #CharlesBender #SonnySixkiller #JohnnyBench

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NDN All-Star Info Onondga Track & Field Video Archeology

Video Archeology: Tom Longboat

NDN All-Stars "Video Archeology" Movie Of The Week graphic

I want to share a short film with you that shines a light on the life of  NDN All-Star #8 Tom Longboat (Onondaga). It’s about five minutes long, and every second is worth it. If you haven’t seen it yet, you can watch it here:

The film tells the story of Longboat’s rise from the Six Nations of the Grand River to becoming one of the most celebrated long-distance runners in the world. Born in 1887 and given the Onondaga name Cogwagee—meaning “Everything”—Longboat endured a hard childhood. He was forced into the Mohawk Institute Residential School, a place built to erase Indigenous identity. He refused to let that define him. Longboat ran away, found his way back home, and discovered that running would be his path forward.

The video highlights the moment he stunned the world by winning the Boston Marathon in 1907. His stride was smooth, his endurance unmatched, and his victory made headlines around the globe. But fame didn’t protect him from racism. Reporters and promoters often painted him with stereotypes, calling him undisciplined or unreliable, even while he was setting records. The film doesn’t shy away from showing that tension—how he could be both celebrated and disrespected at the same time.

It also reminds us of his service in World War I, where he worked as a dispatch runner for the Canadian Expeditionary Force. That meant carrying messages on foot across dangerous battlefields. It was grueling, but it was also a role only someone with his endurance and courage could take on.

What I appreciate most about this short film is the way it centers Longboat’s humanity. He wasn’t just a runner or a record-setter. He was a man who lived through hardship, who carried pride in his identity, and who kept moving forward despite how the world tried to label him. The filmmakers give us more than highlights—they give us a sense of who he was as a person.

Today, NDN All-Star #8 Tom Longboat’s legacy continues through the Tom Longboat Awards, which celebrate Indigenous athletes across Canada. But watching this five-minute film is a reminder that his story is still alive, still relevant, and still inspiring. It asks us to see beyond the headlines and honor the fullness of his journey.

So take a few minutes to watch it. Let it sink in. Then think about the other Indigenous athletes whose stories deserve to be told this way. That’s why I created this Video Archeology series—to make sure our NDN All-Stars aren’t forgotten, but remembered for everything they gave to the world.

Bill Black, founder of NDN All-Stars with his father, Bill Black, Sr. (Quah-Lee-Lah).
Bill Black(l), founder of NDN All-Stars with his father, Bill Black, Sr.

Bill Black is the creator and “General Manager” of NDN All-Stars, dedicated to celebrating great Native American athletes past and present. A first-generation descendant of the Okanogan Band of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, he makes his home in Omak, WA.

👉 Every purchase from the NDN All-Stars Shop helps us keep these stories alive for future generations.

#NDNAllstars #running #TomLongboat #Onondaga #marathon #BostonMarathon #VideoArcheology