Michael Linklater says he cannot remember when he last cut his hair.
"I wear a braid to honour my ancestors and my culture," says Linklater, who is Nehiyaw (Cree) from Thunderchild First Nation, Sask.
He recalls being teased and bullied by classmates during his early years of schooling. After seeing his own sons being bullied in school for wearing braids, he decided to start a campaign called Boys With Braids.
"There is so many boys out there who have grown their hair, and have cut it, because they have been teased," said Linklater.
He wanted to bring awareness and create an understanding of the cultural significance of why Indigenous boys and men wear a braid.
Boys with Braids is an international movement and educational campaign started by Michael Linklater, a Nehiyaw (Cree) athlete and advocate from Thunderchild First Nation, to celebrate Indigenous boys and men who wear long hair with braids. It’s a gathering to support young men on their journey of continuing to grow their hair, bringing together role models and Knowledge Keepers to share teachings about the significance of hair.
