Nike partners with Choctaw Nation and Texas Rangers for youth event

On July 13, Choctaw Nation Youth enjoyed an exciting opportunity to partner with the Texas Rangers, Southeastern Oklahoma State University and Nike.

This group came together for the Nike N7 Diamond Experience, held on the campus of Southeastern in Durant, Oklahoma.

Choctaw athletes, ages 8 to 18, of all genders, abilities and experience levels, had the opportunity to attend camp with top national and local coaches.

The Nike team set up stations around the Mike Metheny Field on the Southeastern campus for athletes to practice various skills and talk to experienced players and coaches.

Athletes were split into groups, and the groups rotated through each station, where they had a chance to hone their abilities with specialized coaches.

According to Javen White, Program Manager with the Choctaw Nation Youth Activities, seeing an organization like Nike highlight Choctaw kids was great.

According to Nike, N7 was founded in 2000 with the mission “to fuel positive change by celebrating the strength of Indigenous culture through the power of sport.”
Sam McCracken (Sioux and Assiniboine) is the General Manager and Visionary of Nike’s N7 programs and founder of the N7 Fund.

In 1999, Sam proposed a business development strategy targeting Native American communities to increase health and wellness through physical activity.

He became the Manager of Nike’s Native American Business in 2000 and has led the development of the Nike Air Native N7 shoe, the N7 retail collection, and the N7 Fund, which helps to create access to sports for Native American and Indigenous youth in the United States and Canada.

According to White, it was important for the kids to see McCraken as the head of such a large organization.

“He may not be from our tribe, but how amazing for these kids to get to see leaders in those capacities who are also Indigenous,” said White.

Photos

Photo by Christian Toews

A group of students sitting on a baseball field at the N7 Diamond Experience.

Photo by Christian Toews

A group of students participating in a warm-up drill at the N7 Diamond Experience.

Photo by Christian Toews

An attendee swings at a practice ball thrown by a coach at the N7 Diamond Experience.

Photo by Christian Toews

A baseball player swings at a ball on a practice tee at the N7 Diamond Experience.

Photo by Christian Toews

A coach pitches a ball to a young camper at the N7 Diamond Experience.