ABOUT US

Who We Are

Our Story since 2015

FOunded by a champion, built for a community

Tribal Adaptive was founded in 2015 by Noah Blue Elk Hotchkiss — a Navajo-Lakota athlete paralyzed at age 11 who went on to become a National Champion adaptive skier, First Team All-American wheelchair basketball player at the University of Illinois, and adaptive sports professional with the Chicago Park District.

Co-founded with Olympic legend Billy Mills, Tribal Adaptive grew from one athlete's personal journey into the only national organization exclusively focused on providing adaptive sports access to Native American communities.

Based in Kirtland, NM in the heart of the Four Corners, Tribal Adaptive now operates a residential high-performance training campus — the AWH House — and the ThunderBirds, Indian Country's first competitive para-sports club.

"Our environment has no borders and neither does the human spirit. Sport connects us to who we are, it restores identity, builds community, and creates pathways to independence."

- Noah Blue Elk Hotchkiss

sport connecting us to our spirit

Mission, Vision & Purpose

From Personal Recovery to a Movement Across Indian Country

To use sports as a tool to improve the health, wellness, and independence of Native Americans with physical disabilities.

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Native Americans with disabilities face compounding barriers

The Challenge We Face

High Disability Rates: 25% of Native Americans living on reservations have a physical disability—double the U.S. national average.
Lack of Access: Most live in rural, underserved areas with little to no access to adaptive athletic equipment, specialized coaching, or accessible recreation centers.

Our Solution

Tribal Adaptive is the only organization in America exclusively serving Native Americans with disabilities through adaptive sports.
Every dollar invested goes directly to athletes, equipping them with adaptive gear, peer mentorship, leadership training, and collegiate pathways.

Leadership & Board

Working alongside Tribal elders, physical therapists, parasport coaches, and community advocates to ensure all programming honors tribal sovereignty, cultural traditions, and community wellness.

leadership & board

Community Leadership & Guidance:

Working alongside Tribal elders, physical therapists, parasport coaches, and community advocates to ensure all programming honors tribal sovereignty, cultural traditions, and community wellness.