Nike N7 Celebrates 2016 Native American Heritage Month on the Hardwood
November 11, 2016
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For 2016, Nike N7 is proud to partner with nine colleges (across men's and women's programs) to honor Native American Heritage Month.
During select men and women’s basketball games throughout November and December, Florida State, Gonzaga, Haskell Indian Nations University (the only all-native school in the country), Nevada, New Mexico, Marquette, Oklahoma State, San Diego State and Stanford will each wear N7-inspired turquoise uniforms. Turquoise represents harmony, friendship and fellowship in Native American culture.
Since the N7 turquoise uniform was first worn in 2010, participation in the program has grown organically — building from a single school to nine.
While all partner programs support Native American Heritage Month on the hardwood, each school also initiates its own outreach to local Native communities. This includes basketball camps at Gonzaga, Marquette and Nevada; a Native youth spring field day at Oklahoma State; and Seminole Tribe of Florida youth programs with Florida State.
San Diego State works with N7 Fund grantee Inter Tribal Sports to highlight its Native youth sports program, hosting an a basketball camp in the spring. Additionally, the New Mexico men’s and women’s teams auction their uniforms and donation proceeds to local Native American youth organizations.
The uniforms also complement the Nike N7 Spirit of Protection Collection, encouraging resilience against adversity and inspiring youth to “Dare to Rise” against obstacles. NCAA teams in N7 turquoise uniforms this month will have the option of wearing the collection’s N7 2016 Hyperdunk. Marquette will wear the N7 Jordan 31.
About N7
N7 is Nike’s long-time commitment and mission to inspire and enable two million Native American and Aboriginal youth in North America to participate in sport and physical activity. The N7 philosophy embraces the Native philosophy: “In every deliberation we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations.”
The N7 collection considers the lasting impact our decisions have on the planet and embodies Nike’s commitment to sustainable innovation by creating product engineered for superior athletic performance and lower environmental impact.
After nearly a decade of partnership with Native American and Aboriginal communities across North America to support programs aimed at physically active lifestyles, Nike deepened its connections with these communities in 2007 with the launch of N7 beginning with the Nike Air Native N7 shoe. The N7 Collection followed in 2009, to celebrate Native American and Aboriginal culture and to raise awareness for the N7 Fund, which has contributed more than $4 million for Native American and Aboriginal youth sport programs.
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