N7 Board

Jacoby Ellsbury

Jacoby Ellsbury is a rising star and the first Major Leaguer of Navajo decent. The Red Sox leadoff hitter is an Honorary Board Member for the N7 Fund. The 2007 World Series Champion is a member of the Colorado River Indian Community. Jacoby has been endorsed by Nike since 2007.

Jacoby grew up in Madras, Oregon and played college baseball at Oregon State University. He vaulted to national recognition during a strong 2007 postseason with the Red Sox. Proud of his Native American heritage he is happy to serve as honorary board member on the N7 Fund.

Sam McCracken

Sam McCracken has been achieving outstanding results for Native Americans ever since joining Nike in 1997. In July of 2004, he received Nike's Bowerman Award, named after influential Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman by embodying his legacy of tireless motivation, innovation and inspiration. He also received accolades nationally and from the Native American community.

By instituting various health promotion programs, Sam was honored for promoting an understanding and appreciation for our country's rich heritage and unique freedoms by the Freedom Foundation at Valley Forge and awarded the George Washington Honor Medal. Nike's commitment to health promotions and disease prevention under his guidance was also recognized by the National Indian Gaming Association, which called Nike a corporate change maker. Today Sam is the General Manager of Nike's N7 Program and Chairman of the N7 Fund.

Jackie Blackbird

Jackie Blackbird is a member of the Gros-Ventre and Assiniboine tribes on the Fort Belknap Reservation. Blackbird has worked tirelessly to get Nike's N7 Program in Canada up and running. She works with Aboriginal communities to get them involved in exercise with Nike's Air Native N7. Through this she has been fighting Diabetes and other problems plaguing the Aboriginals across Canada. Before moving to Nike Canada, Blackbird worked at Nike World Headquarters in various roles and formed a relationship with Nike's N7 Program General Manager and N7 Fund Chairman Sam McCracken. Together they have worked to breakdown barriers to Native youth access to sport. Blackbird has been with Nike for seven years.

Peter Buffett

Influenced by Native American culture, Peter has impacted the world musically. He contributed to the Academy Award winning score for Dances With Wolves. And his production of "Spirit - The Seventh Fire" was featured on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. at the opening of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian. Peter currently co-chairs the NoVo Foundation.

Jack Burns

A graduate of the University of New Hampshire, Jack has been at Nike for 22 years serving in many capacities from Sales to Operations and everything in between. Ten years ago when he first met Sam McCracken, he was one of many who helped develop the Native American Business model from the ground up. His current role is as North American Director of Sales Operations and Technology.

Tex Hall

A nationally recognized Native American leader and spokesperson, Tex is a two-term past President of the National Congress of American Indians. A member of the North Dakota Amateur Sports Hall of Fame, he's also been the recipient of the North Dakota Indian Educator of the Year Award. Tex founded and runs the Inter-Tribal Economic Alliance.

Frank King

As the founder and publisher of the Native Voice Newspaper, Frank helps shine a light on Native American issues. He is a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. The Native Voice is one of just two weekly Native American publications in the United States today.

Wilson Pipestem

Wilson is the Managing Partner and co-founder of Ietan Consulting. Otoe-Missouria and Osage, his professional career has been dedicated to advocacy on behalf of Native Americans and tribes.

Orson Porter

Before coming to Nike, Orson served as a Special Assistant to President Clinton as the White House Midwest Political Director. He advised the President on national and local issues with particular emphasis on the Midwest region of the country. At Nike, Orson puts that expertise to use in his role as Deputy Director of Government Affairs.

Crystal Shawanda

Crystal, a full blooded Ojibway from the Wikweikong Reservation of Canada, is RCA Nashville's newest edition to the country music scene. She is a dynamic and talented performer who began to hit the airwaves in 2008.

Stacey Thunder

Stacey Thunder, an Obijwe Indian from the Red Lake and Lac Courte Oreilles Nations, has made a career in law, business, and entertainment. A graduate of William Mitchell College of Law, Thunder has served in the Native Community for over 12 years in several legal positions, including tribal attorney for the Red Lake Nation and corporate attorney for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Indians. Currently, Thunder serves as general counsel for Red Lake Nation, Eagle Thunder Entertainment, and Native Rock recording artist, producer, and director, Robby Romero. Thunder is an owner of Eagle Thunder Entertainment, a Native-owned music and film entertainment company through which she has been the executive producer for several CDs. Additionally, Thunder is an experienced actress. Most recently she was cast in the Starz series “Crash” as Judith Turandot. Additionally, she is the host and co-producer in the PBS series “Native Report” which airs across the United States.

Ernie Stevens

Ernest L. Stevens, Jr. is the Chairman and national spokesman for the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) in Washington, DC. Elected in 2001, Stevens is beginning his second term as the organization's leader. From 1993 to 1999, Stevens was an elected councilman for the Oneida Nation. He is a former First Vice-President of the National Congress of American Indians. As a respected leader in Indian Country, he also serves on the Executive Board to the Native American Rights Fund, the National Indian Child Welfare Association, the Boys and Girls Club of America (Native American Advisory Board), the National Indian Telecommunications Institute, and is Honorary Chair of the Institute of American Indian Art National Indian Support Committee. Stevens has earned an Associate's degree from Haskell Indian Nations University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Mount Senerio College. He is an enrolled member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin.

Victoria Wright

A Vice President for Merrill Lynch, Victoria manages Multicultural Marketing and Field Communications. She is a member of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head, Aquinnah located on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.