(Oneida, Verona, NY – April 28, 2014) The Oneida Indian Nation announced that 71-year-old Wolf Clan member Ray Fougnier (pronounced Foon-YAY) will compete in the worldwide powerlifting championship in Johannesburg, South Africa this June.
Fougnier, who grew up on the Oneida Nation’s homelands in central New York and now lives in Tennessee, is a retired teacher and former head of the American Indian program at Cornell University. While Fougnier has always prioritized fitness and healthy living, he only last year tried powerlifting for the first time. He views his competitive weightlifting as an opportunity to be a positive role model for Native Americans, in particular children, whose community is beset by many ongoing health issues.
The Oneida Indian Nation is proud to sponsor Fougnier and is wishing him great success in South Africa.
Despite coming to the sport later in life, Fougnier has already achieved amazing success since joining U.S.A. Powerlifting, the nation’s leading, drug-free powerlifting association, in 2013. The Oneida Nation member won the first competition in which he competed and a silver medal in the second. Later, at a national event in Orlando, he not only won his age bracket, but also broke records in the squat, bench press and deadlift categories. His achievements at the national event qualified him for the upcoming worldwide competition, the 2014 International Powerlifting Federation Championships.
“I am honored to lead by example and display the many benefits of a fit lifestyle,” said Fougnier. “With the vast health issues facing Native peoples today, I sincerely hope that my participation in the upcoming world championships and the success I have achieved in sport will inspire Native Americans of all ages, and especially our children, to get active and stay healthy.”
Oneida Indian Nation Representative Ray Halbritter said: “The Oneida Indian Nation is thrilled to help make it possible for Ray Fougnier to travel to South Africa and compete in this prestigious worldwide championship competition. Ray is an outstanding Native American role model and a shining example of the values of the Oneida Indian Nation. We are very proud to have him representing us on an international level.”