Michael Linklater

Michael Linklater

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Indigenous Basketball Champion | Truth and Reconciliation | First Nation Advocate

  • Videos
  • Expertise
  • Indigenous
  • Personal Leadership
  • Motivation
  • Personal Growth
  • Leadership Development
  • Resilience & Adversity
  • Mindset & Goal Accomplishment
  • Trust Relationships
  • Diversity & Inclusion

MICHAEL LINKLATER BIOGRAPHY

Michael Linklater is a proud Nehiyaw (Cree) father descending from the Thunderchild First Nation. Michael is a community leader and one of Canada’s most decorated indigenous basketball players. A former professional basketball player, Michael achieved international acclaim as captain of Team Canada in the FIBA 3×3 World Cup, earning a global ranking among the top players. In 2010, he led the University of Saskatchewan Huskies to their first-ever Canada West and U SPORTS National Championship, a milestone in Canadian basketball history.

His professional career also includes a 2019 Canadian Elite Basketball League championship with the Saskatchewan Rattlers, and he remains one of the most accomplished athletes to represent Canada on the international stage. Michael Linklater represented the Canadian national team at the FIBA 3×3 World Cup with a second-place finish and remains heavily involved in the sport as a coach, his basketball camp and as an announcer for the Canadian Men’s Basketball team.

Off the court, Michael Linklater has made a lasting impact as an advocate and community builder. He founded “Boys with Braids”, an international campaign to raise awareness about the cultural significance of braids among Indigenous boys and men. This initiative has helped combat stigma and foster cultural pride across generations. He is also co-founder of Sôhkisiwin Solutions which is a strategic implantation firm that focuses on creating actionable work plans and processes that help organizations on strategy related to the TRC Calls to Action, inclusivity and many other topics.

As a current Nike N7 Ambassador, he champions healthy living and athletic engagement in Indigenous communities. A certified yoga instructor, Michael Linklater also integrates Traditional Cree values into his practice, promoting holistic health and spiritual well-being. In addition to his roles as a Nike N7 Ambassador, basketball instructor, Michael continues to inspire and advocate for Indigenous communities through education, sports, and cultural preservation.

Michael Linklater has been called to sit and serve on numerous boards and advisory committees including Wanuskewin Heritage Park, the Saskatoon Public Schools Foundation, the FIBA 3×3 Commission, and the Canada Basketball Hall of Fame Selection Committee. He currently co-chairs the $20 million “Early Learning. Equal Start.” campaign and contributes to the Saskatchewan Roughriders Indigenous Task Force and the Toronto Raptors Indigenous Advisory Circle.

Michael’s achievements have earned him widespread recognition and he has won numerous awards for his athletics, advocacy for indigenous youth, and community service. He has been inducted into both the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame and the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame. Among his many accolades are the National Indspire Award, the Tom Longboat National Award, and the Inclusion Award for Breaking Barriers in Sport. In 2022, his contributions to Indigenous culture and wellness were honored with an invitation from U.S. First Lady Jill Biden to the inaugural Native American Heritage Month Reception at the White House. He also received an honorary degree from Humber College in recognition of his outstanding service and leadership.

As a public speaker with over 24 years of experience, Michael Linklater has inspired audiences across Canada and beyond, delivering hundreds of keynotes on topics such as traditional knowledge preservation, community healing, resilience, mental health, inclusion, and wellness. His consulting firm helps organizations assess and instill the Actions they are responsible for TRC, and raise awareness to how colonialism, systematic oppression and discrimination have led to negative outcomes and relations for First Nation populations on Turtle Island.

In 2024, Michael and his son, Amari, became the first Indigenous father-son team to compete on The Amazing Race Canada, highlighting their Cree heritage and the importance of family and resilience. Michael continues to inspire through his dedication to fostering Indigenous pride, promoting healthy lifestyles, and supporting communities across Turtle Island. Their journey highlighted their Cree heritage, resilience, and the strength of their bond, leaving a lasting impression on audiences nationwide. Their participation underscored Michael’s dedication to showcasing Indigenous excellence and fostering cross-cultural understanding.

Michael Linklater values his role as a father and cultural role model. Remaining drug- and alcohol-free throughout his life, he is deeply committed to passing down Cree traditions and values to his children while inspiring others to live with resilience and purpose. Through his advocacy, leadership, and commitment to community, Michael continues to be a beacon of hope and pride for Indigenous people across Canada and beyond.

Michael Linklater Related Media

Media Interview

CBC

SBC

Retired basketball player Michael Linklater on the importance of the National Indigenous Basketball Camp
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Media Interview

CTV News

SBC

Father/son duo - Michael Linklater from Saskatoon want to represent Indigenous community on Amazing Race Canada
View

Podcast

MBC Radio

Play

Jenna Smith

Thunderchild First Nation father-son duo take on Amazing Race Canada

Podcast

Warrior Life

Play

Pam Palmater

Michael Linklater on Sports, Culture & Braids

Podcast

North Pole Hoops

Play

Jason Thom

NPH Podcast - Michael Linklater

Michael Linklater Related Content

Articles & Magazine Feature

Saskatoon father-son Michael and Amari Linklater team up on Amazing Race Canada

The Star Phoenix

Michael Linklater has travelled the globe playing basketball. He was competing again on his most recent trip — but it was a whole new type of game, with a son as his teammate. Michael, 41, and son Amari, 19, are teammates in Season 10 of The Amazing Race Canada. The reality TV show competition, which debuts on July 2 on CTV, features teams of two racing across the country and competing in challenges in a variety of communities.
View

Articles & Magazine Feature

Michael & Amari: Basketball Bloodlines & Indigenous Pride

CTV

Michael and Amari are the first Indigenous father/son duo on THE AMAZING RACE CANADA. They are both Cree and members of Thunderchild First Nations in Treaty 6 territory, Saskatchewan. They are determined to make their community proud and represent their heritage on the Race. Amari is following in his father’s footsteps. He currently plays college-level basketball in Alberta, as a guard, the same position as his dad, and has played for Saskatchewan's U19 team at the North American Indigenous Games. Amari also lives a healthy, sober life and wants to be a role model for the younger generation and his younger siblings.
View

Articles & Magazine Feature

'Amazing Race Canada' Season 10: Eliminated father-son team Amari and Michael Linklater have emotional ending

Yahoo

Michael Linklater and his son Amari Linklater made it through the most scrappy leg of The Amazing Race Canada Season 10 on CTV, but unfortunately they weren't quick enough to beat the remaining teams, being eliminated from the race this week. The father-son team from Saskatchewan, who wanted to represent their Indigenous ancestry and heritage on the Canadian reality show, had an emotional end to the competition, with Michael breaking down into tears.
View

Articles & Magazine Feature

It was an Amazing Race for Saskatoon's Michael and Amari Linklater

The Star Phoenix

Some university students and their parents spend the summer break reconnecting around the backyard barbeque, or take a relaxing road trip to visit relatives and check in on their favourite local haunts. Amari Linklater and his dad Michael Linkater did a little more than that. From rappelling nearly 200 feet alongside Horseshoe Falls in Ontario to showing off football skills with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, they’ve spent the summer criss-crossing the country as competitors on The Amazing Race Canada.
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Michael Linklater Topic Presentations

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Michael Linklater Speaking Testimonials

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Michael Linklater Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Michael Linklater Keynote Speaker delivers customized and tailored keynote presentations, workshops, and training sessions on a wide variety of topics. Each presentation is unique and are designed for a variety of audiences, industries, conferences, and event formats.

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FAQ

How to book Michael Linklater for an event?

Michael Linklater keynote speaker is an expert presenter and has a wide range of experience speaking to a wide variety of audiences and organizations. Michael Linklater delivers keynotes, workshops & training sessions. They may also host or emcee events. Hire Michael Linklater from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan for your event to inspire the audience to take action and make change in their work and their lives. Your workplace will benefit from our keynote speaker and their keynote talks and speeches will shift the mindsets or behaviours for the audience members in Canada. 

Interested in booking Michael Linklater for an event?

Are you looking to hire Michael Linklater for your event? Michael Linklater Saskatoon, Saskatchewan is a dynamic and engaging speaker that offers audiences researched content paired with expertise and a dynamic speaking ability. Michael Linklater is also a Canadian corporate consultant and coach and facilitates workshops and training sessions for a corporate audience. Michael Linklater is an expert keynote presenter and speaks on wide variety of topics. Hiring a great speaker for your event is important and working with a thought leader like Michael Linklater from Speakers Canada's roster will engage audiences into the content of the presentation to bring awareness and a fresh perspective for their approach to their work and their lives. Book Michael Linklater to educate, motivate and activate the audience through an interactive and entertaining presentation at corporate meetings and gatherings.

Known as a popular key note speaker in Canada, Michael Linklater creates life changing experiences for the participants with practical insights and strategic advice they can implement right after the session. Working with one of our leading expert speaker like Michael Linklater from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan offers organizations a fresh perspective to assist the people of the organization. No matter if it is a government, association, or business crowd, Michael Linklater is a perfect speaker for your event. Through unique practical insights for trending topics and years experience speaking to different organizations, Michael Linklater focuses on changing individuals to make better decisions at work and their lives. No matter if you are holding an in person or virtual event, having an influential speaker such as Michael Linklater will engage, motivate, and activate the audience to make a change in their lives and inspire action for results to meet organizational goals. Your workforce will benefit from Michael Linklater's presentations and speeches, with measurable results set to shift the people of the organization and core direction of the company. Book Michael Linklater speaker for your annual general meeting, conference, summit, or convention in Canada.

How much does it cost to hire Michael Linklater for a keynote presentation or virtual event?

Michael Linklater is an expert professional key note speaker with a lot of experience speaking and delivering engaging talks to organizations and audiences in Canada. Each of Speaker Bureau Canada's talent have different ways to assess their fees, and Michael Linklater speaker fee ranges depending on the size of the audience, event format (in person or virtual), event location, and if the organization booking them is a non profit, association, government department/government agency or business/corporation. The speakers we work with are flexible with their fees, and it is important for us to learn more about your event before we approach them, as it is our role to work for you, and to help you find a speaker within budget. 

Please contact Speakers Bureau of Canada and provide us with your event details so that we can contact Michael Linklater to check availability or confirm the pricing and associated costs to hire a great speaker like Michael Linklater for your event. As Michael Linklater's agent and as a Canadian top speaker bureau and talent agency for speakers, we are able to propose each event opportunity from each host organization's behalf to try to help you get in touch with Michael Linklater and confirm them for your in person or online meeting/event. We can also provide and advise on the booking process and potentially negotiate their fee. Speakers Canada is a client focused speaker agency, and we work for you in finding good speakers for your team meetings and booking processes.

Michael Linklater Disclaimer

Speakers Bureau Canada assists companies and event planning teams seeking to hire talent like Michael Linklater for speaking engagements, virtual meetings, conference appearances, training sessions and workshops facilitations. Our Canadian speakers bureau does not claim to exclusively represent Michael Linklater, however they are represented by Speakers Canada, and we work with them closely for their Canadian speaking opportunities and bookings. As Canada's top speaker bureau, we represent Canadian motivational keynote speakers and professional guest speakers that will be available on your upcoming events date and location that are withing the budget. Our talented bureau speaker booking agency can help find business speakers or celebrity speakers that aligns with each organization, audience, event theme and the topic themes you hope for the speaker to address in their presentation. 

When SBC receives a request to book Michael Linklater we provide you with their speaker fees, travel costs and check their schedules. We work closely with the host organization's event planning team and the speaker to handle the logistics and to relay or negotiate associated costs. Our talented team members then will work with our talent directly or their agent/manager/assistant to confirm the Canadian speaker fee and travel expenses, so that event planning teams can receive an official quote for the speaker appearing at the event. Speaker fees and travel costs vary per speaker and our role is to contact Michael Linklater about your event, after we have connected with the event organizers to learn all the event details and/or conference program. Each booking request is unique since session durations and audience sizes can vary which may affect the speaker's fees. If you are looking to hire Michael Linklater, we recommend filling out the booking request form so a booking agent from Speakers Bureau Canada can get in touch with our talent to help you coordinate with your team to engage the speaker for a successful event.