November 27, 2023
Gonzaga University News Service
What started with the rhythmic sound of a forklift turned into a story of passion and purpose.
In 1997, Sam McCracken, a proud member of the Sioux and Assiniboine tribes, began working for Nike in a busy warehouse center in Oregon. Driven by a love of sports and a vibrant community, Sam told his boss a story that was more than just a business strategy. Armed with confidence and a talent for storytelling, he proposed a sports-based business plan that addressed health disparities in tribal communities. Years later, this effort would be called his N7.
N7 sponsored Gonzaga State’s men’s and women’s basketball teams, and the players wore turquoise jerseys, the uniform color of the Native American community, representing friendship and fellowship with N7.
During this year’s Native American Culture Month, McCracken accompanied Gonzaga University alumnus Izzy Yasana Hawley (’22) for a fireside chat with College of Business students about the origins of N7 and the initiative’s internship opportunities. talked about. Holly earned her MBA in American Indian Entrepreneurship (MBA-AIE), which prepares leaders to support and manage sustainable businesses in indigenous communities. Her more than 50 graduates of the Gonzaga AIE program have gained skills to positively impact reservations and tribes. Hawley was N7’s Unite/Value Brand Manager, Nike and Young Athlete Brand Specialist and helped connect N7 with Gonzaga.
During a fireside chat, McCracken told the N7 story. The “N” technically stands for “Nike,” but he prefers to interpret it as “Native.” The number 7 represents the Native American principle of considering the impact of our generation on the next seven generations, and McCracken urged students to learn from their ancestors and those who came before them.
His vision and sense of duty to serve his community led to the Air Native shoe, designed based on the specific morphology of the Native American foot. This shoe features a roomier toe box, fewer seams, and a thicker sockliner for added comfort. He also established a fund to “encourage and enable Indigenous youth to participate in sport.” A supporter of athletes and sports, his N7 Foundation has invested more than $10.8 million in nearly 300 organizations since 2009, with a focus on supporting access to youth sports and uplifting Indigenous communities. I did.
N7 sponsored Gonzaga State’s men’s and women’s basketball teams in honor of Native American Heritage Month. The team wore turquoise jerseys, the Native American community’s unifying color, representing friendship and fellowship to the N7.
Learn more about recent celebrations of Gonzaga’s connection to Native communities.