Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 15, 2004)
Smoke Signals Nike's Indian Point Man Talks To Tribal Youth Fort Peck Tribal member Sam McCracken presents some principles for success. 4 AUGUST 15, 2004 By Ron Karten and Jack Ham Sam McCracken (Fort PeckSioux and Assiniboine) Nike's Native American Business Manager, wrote his own ticket at Nike. He arrived at the company to work in the warehouse but the job could not hold him. He wrote his own busi- tives in the same way. He used the acronym SMART as a starting place. Objectives have to be spe cific, measurable, achievable, re sults oriented and time bound. He told about growing up on a ranch on a Reservation, about the "I was very well impressed with his pre sentation. I liked his focus on the kids to walk in the paths of their dreams. " Tribal Council member Jack Giffen, Jr. ness plan for serving the Native American community. They liked the idea. After three years pack ing boxes, he said, he is now the only Native American Business Manager among the entire corps of Fortune 500 companies. And at the end of July, he shared his secrets with about 25 Grand Ronde Tribal youth. "All of you have a gift," he said. "All you need is a dream." He passed out rubber DREAM wrist bands to the group. Each let ter has a dif ferent mes sage: dedi cation, re sponsibility, education, attitude and motivation. "I'm going to create the path for you," said McCracken, "but if you don't have the vision and the dream, it won't happen." "I thought it was cool that this guy came out of his busy schedule to talk to us," said Tribal youth Josh Wilson. McCracken talked about objec- influence his Uncle Joe had on him, about his mother who died of dia betes and finally about life in cor porate America. "I left the Reser vation to work in the white man's world when I was 19," he said. And today, he bridges the two worlds, putting Native America on Nike's radar, and keeping Nike's name, products and goodwill in Native communities. To date, he has made the connection with Tribal communities throughout America. Tribal youth Cristina Lara said, I; j Dreamers Sam McCracken, (right) Native American Business Manager for Nike, shakes hands with Tribal Council member Jack Giffen, Jr. while Tribal Mentorship Program coordinator Denise Ripley watches. McCracken was in Grand Ronde to speak with Tribal members about the importance of following oneb dreams. incentives like the wrist bands, Nike leverages its prestige and in fluence to make diabetes programs stronger on reservations. Currently, McCracken has helped initiate and "I left the Reservation to work in the white man's world when I was 19." Sam McCracken "It was very touching, inspira tional." "I was inspired," said Tribal youth Hope Lafferty. "We defi nitely need more (like him)." "He inspired me to play football," said Tribal youth Travis Trambell. Through McCracken, Native sports teams get outfitted with Nike gear at special prices; and using 1 ' " 'tw 1 1 I j, v'y . or strengthen 79 Tribal dia betes pro grams, in cluding the one in Grand Ronde. "I was very interested because I play sports," said Tribal youth Maria Ramirez, who also had an other touchstone for the talk. "He talked about helping other people with diabetes," she said. "My other foster parent was diabetic and it was very hard to watch her take her medi cine. She al most died." "I was very well impressed with his pre sentation," said Tribal Council mem ber Jack Giffen, Jr. who stopped in for the pre sentation at the Tribal Education Division. "I liked his fo cus on the kids to walk in the paths of their dreams." Nike Among Corporate Sponsors To Raise Money To Fight Cancer Yellow, 'Live Strong' wristbands to raise $5 million for the Lance Armstrong Foundation. By Ron Karten Four years ago, Nike was encour aging the country to wear yellow in support of bicyclist Lance Armstrong's bid for a second Tour de France victory. Today, Armstrong is still riding and still at the top of his game as he won an unprecedented sixth victory at the French classic at the end of July, but Nike has something different in mind this year. The company is among a host of corporate sponsors encouraging Armstrong fans and cancer fight ers across the country to purchase and wear a special yellow wristband engraved with the Armstrong man tra, 'Live Strong,' as a way to help raise $5 million for the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF), dedi cated to fighting cancer. The leader on each leg of the Tour de France traditionally wears a yel low jersey. Armstrong has been among that elite group in each of the most recent six races, including of 0 course the 2004 race just completed. Armstrong also is one of the world's most famous cancer survi vors, and that is the reason for the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF), recipient of a $1 million grant from Nike this year, and hopefully, recipi ent of $5 million more raised through the sale of 'Live Strong' wristbands, which cost con tributors $1 each. "On a personal level," said Sam McCracken (Fort PeckSioux and Assiniboine) Nike's Native Ameri can Business Manager, "I wear the yellow band in memory of my uncle, Joe Day (Fort Peck Sioux), who died of stomach cancer. I wear it in honor of him." Presidential nominee, John Kerry, as well as President Bush ? I : -? limn i r ilVL..V -1 4r "V Lance Armstrong have also been spotted wearing the wristbands. According to the Asso ciated Press, celebrities such as Bono, Alec Baldwin, Bruce Willis, Robin Williams, Matt Damon and Ben Stiller are also showing their support for the LAF. Information on the Nike website reports: "The Lance Armstrong Foun dation believes that in your battle with cancer, knowledge is power and atti tude is everything. From the moment of diagnosis we provide the practical information and tools you need to live strong. The LAF focuses its activities on community survivorship pro grams, national advocacy initiatives, scientific and clinical research grants, and survivorship education and re sources, including Live Strong, the LAFs comprehensive resource for can cer survivors. The LAF was founded in 1997 by cancer survivor and cham pion cyclist Lance Armstrong and is located in Austin, Texas. For more information, visit www.laf.org, www.livestrong.org and www.wearyellow.com." Wristbands can be purchased at those websites.
