What does it take to truly change the trajectory of Indigenous youth wellness in Indian Country?
This Friday on Native Bidaské, Sam McCracken and Nikki Santos share a bold answer—one rooted in culture, community, and a new Native-led approach to healing.
McCracken, a visionary leader and citizen of the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux tribes, is widely known for founding Nike’s N7 division and the N7 Fund. Now, following his departure from Nike, he’s stepping into a deeply personal new chapter: launching the Sam McCracken Youth Project. Alongside him, Santos serves as Chief Executive Director, helping lead and scale the initiative’s impact across Indian Country.
This new organization is designed to expand access to culturally grounded wellness programming for Native youth—at a moment when the need has never been greater. Native communities continue to face disproportionate mental health challenges, with suicide remaining one of the leading causes of death among Indigenous youth in North America.
During this week’s episode, we go deeper into McCracken and Santos’ vision for what’s possible. Viewers will get an exclusive look at:
- How the Sam McCracken Youth Project is working to fill critical gaps in youth services
- The roadmap to reaching 5,000 Native youth across 30 tribal communities over the next five years
- How cultural practices and traditions are being centered to foster healing and resilience
Real change requires more than awareness—it demands solutions grounded in who we are. This is a conversation about what that looks like in action.
Watch the full episode of Native Bidaské on Friday, April 10th at 12 PM ET on Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and NativeNewsOnline.net.