Governing Body
HNIRC
Horse Nations Indian Relay Council
Authority & Governance
Horse Nation Indian Relay Council (HNIRC) is the governing organization for Indian Relay Racing (IRR) events across Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington State, Oregon, Arizona, Wyoming and Canada. They organize, promote, and govern IRR championship qualifications and rankings.
HNIRC Leadership
Officers
Calvin Ghost Bear
President, HNIRC
Calvin Ghost Bear has been involved with horse and relay racing for over twenty years, competing across North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Oklahoma and Texas.
His goal is to build a long-lasting, sustainable event for all Native Nations and Relay members, keeping teams and Nations informed on all matters pertaining to the organization.
Carol Tatsey-Murray
Vice-President, HNIRC
Carol Tatsey-Murray is a tribal member from the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in northwestern Montana. She serves as Provost/Vice President of Academic Affairs for Blackfeet Community College. Her family has deep roots in on-reservation horse racing, including Indian Relay and Straight Track Racing.
In 2010, Carol coordinated the Pikuni Indian Relay Series on the Blackfeet Reservation and assisted with the North American Indian Days Relay for five years. She continues to support her grandsons on the Young Money Indian Relay Team, competing across the U.S. and Canada.
Jamie Howard
Secretary, HNIRC
Jamie Howard is a racehorse breeder and owner from Wayne, Oklahoma, operating Running Colors Equine, Inc. with his wife Wendy. He raises and races Paint horses, competing in South Dakota, Montana, Colorado, Texas and Oklahoma.
Jamie's interest in Indian Relay began when one of his racehorses was placed on a relay team. Since then he has assisted at races and bred horses specifically for the sport.
Carla Ghost Bear
Treasurer, HNIRC
Carla Ghost Bear is a member of the Oglala Lakota Nation from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in Porcupine, South Dakota. She grew up in a family that ranched, rodeoed and raced horses, and competed in barrel racing and 4-H through her teenage years.
Carla graduated from Oglala Lakota College and has operated family-owned businesses on Pine Ridge for many years. Her lifelong background in ranching and rodeo informs her commitment to Indian Relay and horse racing in Indian Country.
Diana Volk
Official Photographer, HNIRC
Diana Volk holds a degree in Agriculture Journalism and has spent her career documenting the western lifestyle. Her grandfather, Archie Nash, was a premier photographer for Western Horseman, Outdoor Life and National Geographic — an influence that shaped her passion for the craft from an early age.
Over the past ten years Diana has covered Indian Relay Racing events across the country, capturing the endurance, family tradition and cultural pride at the heart of the sport. She is proud to serve as HNIRC's Official Photographer and to help promote Indian Relay Racing.