Nike's new shoe for Native Americans

How about this!? http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20980046 I'm sure many of you saw it. A shoe made to fit the average Native American's foot, with colors and symbols to accomodate us also!

It has the strip of sunrise to sunset, a circle, #7 etc, and most importantly, the foot bed is wider while the heel area is narrower. http://www.nypost.com/seven/09282007...e_a_walk_i.htm

Called the Air Native N7, it's an effort to help the obesity and diabetes problems common amoung this culture.

Supposedly this is a not-for-profit endeavor, making them at reduced price. Controversy will arise, I'm sure, and it will still be seen as a marketing ploy. (Why not make shoes for other minorities? Other mainstream shoes haven't helped with the general obesity problems.)

I say, THANKS NIKE! I'm going to go find some when I can and try them on.

I heard on the radio and do not know if its true. But that over 50% of teh native american population is unemployed. Like I said do not know if thats true. The statment came with the thought that maybe nike would want to make a GOOD shoe everyone can afford. Just a thought

the public can't buy the shoes though. they are going to be distributed to all the tribes sold at cost to schools. I wish I could get a pair of them but I am not a tribe member although I am cherokee. *sigh*

I hadn't heard that, just that they weren't on the market yet. Well, there is two sects of Miccasoukee's here.. so maybe???

the video link you had had it in there. if you are a member of the tribe you should be able to get them

No, not a tribe member BUT have some friends... miccosukee (sorry, I'm still feeling ill and that is a tough one to spell. lol)

I've emailed the health coordinator for the Eastern Band, Cherokee. Maybe by offering to provide a few pairs for the most needy, I can get a pair myself???

sky, that is really interesting, and relates to my work. I showed the articles to my boss and she was really interested too.

I have a wide foot with narrow heel also, although I am not Native American. So I wouldn't mind trying these shoes on either! (I can never fit into those dainty little shoes with the pointy shoes that they sell in the stores for women.)

Interestingly, the shoe was developed in conjunction with the sports marketing center at University of Oregon. Last spring, my daughter visited U of O, as she is considering it for college. She is interested in business and as part of her visitation program, she went to the business school with other high school students and did a group activity. They broke into small groups and each had to design a new shoe for Nike that was targeted to a specific group. I think my daughter's group chose school teams as their group. No one chose an ethnic group! I never would have dreamed of that.

from what I saw on that video they do molds of your feet so it would be like a perfect fit. I would love to have a pair!

And all this time I thought that going barefoot is what gave you "Indian feet"!! LOL That's what I always say I have 'cause my feet have always been a wee bit on the wide side... from going barefoot all the time... I thought!

I belong to a tribe and honestly, I'm not sure whether I find this humorous or offensive. Maybe it's just the comments about us wild injuns running around barefoot that's so offensive.

I'm sure I'll get nepalmed for that comment. . .

You're certainly free to take it any way you choose to... even if it's not in the spirit in which it was intended. That's YOUR choice, especially since you don't know the first thing about me or my heritage.

OT!!

In the theme of the OP's original posting and with PC's guidelines, let's please keep things in a supportive nature here.

Anyone having issues with a member can take it up privately or feel free to pm mod/admin for assistance.

Thanks so much for your understanding!

Hugsss
sabby

ps - I used the quick reply button here.

It's part of Nike's long-standing Native American Business Program:

http://nativethreads.com/nativepride..._mccracken.php
http://www.buffalo.edu/reporter/vol3...sLacrosse.html

http://www.nike.com/nikebiz/news/pre...9&letter=d

hmm. i'm not sure how i feel about this either. on the one hand it will be good if people can get some shoes that fit well. on the other hand... it does feel a little off in a way...

in a kind of a 'give a man a fish and he can eat for a day, teach a man to fish...' way...

has nike stopped using cheap third world labour to make the darned things does anybody know?????

;-)