Michael Linklater, pictured here with fellow-professional basketball player Jude Schimmel. (submitted photo/Nike)

By Martin Martinson

Just Do It

Sask. Indigenous basketball player named face of Nike N7 campaign

Jul 4, 2019 | 5:00 PM

Growing up in Saskatoon and standing under six-feet tall to this day, Michael Linklater may not have the typical story of a professional basketball player, but that’s never discouraged him from following his dream.

Now 36 and a member of the Saskatchewan Rattlers of the newly-formed Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), Linklater has been named the new face of Nike’s N7 sneaker and athletic wear collection.

Linklater called the honour “very humbling,” adding that he is it is “a tremendous honour to be recognized and to be able to help them in achieving Nike’s goal in encouraging youth to be active.”

He said he is grateful for the opportunity to offer Indigenous youth across the province a similar role model.

“Growing up as an Indigenous person within Saskatchewan, I didn’t see billboards or news articles that were highlighting Indigenous athletes or success,” Linklater said. “Now the times have changed so we’re highlighting a lot of successful Indigenous business people, athletes, and academics. Exactly what Nike speaks about – the N7’s specifically – are looking forward to seeing the seven generations to come and how we’re going to leave this earth for them.”

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Linklater, whose family is from Thunderchild First Nation, said he was about 12 years old when he first picked up a basketball. Taking to the sport immediately, it wasn’t long until he was spending countless hours with friends on the freshly paved court outside his childhood school.

“My first sport was actually soccer, [but] it was the novelty of something new that got me into basketball,” he said. “[It was] the atmosphere; I picked up the ball and fell in love with the game, and I have been playing ever since.”

Away from the court, Linklater enjoys spending time giving back to the community, volunteering his time and resources to help empower the next generation. For him it’s on or off the basketball court. One cause is Boys with Braids, an initiative started by Linklater, in support of Indigenous youth who choose to grow their hair out to honour their culture.

Linklater said he is proud to be an ambassador for Nike, because of its dedication to the Indigenous community.

They understand the importance of the first peoples of North America and acknowledging them,” he said. [They are] creating material, clothing, and designs with First Nations people at the heart of it. I think it is a great accomplishment for our people. Not only for this one specific moment and me becoming an ambassador, but for the company and brand of Nike to establish a department specifically geared towards Indigenous peoples.”

Nike’s N7 fund helps enable Indigenous youth to be active through the power of sport. The fund provides access to product and support for sport and physical activity programs.

Since 2009 the N7 fund generated over $5 million to support Indigenous youth programs.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1