Nike (NKE) designs Air Native N7 shoe for Native Americans

This is a letter fr. 10/8/07

Dear Sir or Madam:

I was very surprised when I read the article on the CNN webpage a couple of weeks ago announcing the new sneaker by Nike. Hats off to whoever came up with the idea! I say this was long over due.

The reason I’m saying this is because I’m Native American from the Navajo Tribe born and raised in New Mexico. For a long as I could remember I was unable to find shoes or sneakers that were comfortable and it’s always been a mission to seek out comfortable shoes to wear. Until this day, I don’t own one pair of sneakers.

I went onto the Nike Native webpage to see for myself what these sneakers would look like and I realize your main concern was to insure comfort and promote a more active physical life style for the many health issues that Native Americans have, but I must say I was a little disappointed to see how very boring they looked.
I’m looking at this from two perspectives:

1. I’m a native therefore I know what is important to Natives and
2. I am a professional Artist and expert of Native American aesthetic preferences and fashion statements

I’m a graduate from the Fashion Institute of Technology with a BFA Degree in Textile Design and I would love to introduce some of my ideas specifically for the Native NIKE. Please feel free to contact me and I look forward to your correspondence.

Mercedes

I'm a 59 year old Cherokee woman from Oklahoma, and I'd like to say thanks to Nike for this great idea. So many of our people lose toes, feet and legs when they become diabetic and cannot find shoes that will allow for good blood circulation. Fprtunately for me, I don't have that problem, but I always wondered why I had so much difficulty finding shoes that don't hurt my feet. Over the years, I have resorted to buying longer shoes to get the width and height I needed, but, as a result, I have stretched my arches out to the point that I have had to increase my shoe size two sizes, and my feet still hurt all the time. There are times that I almost cry from the pain of just walking across the room. If these shoes will help, I'll bug my local IHS fitness center until they make it possible for me to order them. The $43 price tag is not too bad, considering I have a closet full of shoes that don't fit. In addition, these are likely to last a bit longer, if they really do fit better. I usually have to retire my tennis shoes after just a few months because they get so broken down trying to adjust to my feet.
Of course, the idea that NDN people will now have our own kind of shoes will probably make some of the non-Indians jealous and resentful. I do hope that we can eventually share, but for the moment, I'm glad to just have this unique need of ours recognized. If manufacturers can become more aware of and responsive to diverse needs, rather than trying to make everyone fit the same design, everybody will benefit.

i would like to see some nike shoes made by japanese, isn't cool?

I am excited to try these "N7" they look alright I mean there not completely ugly i would wear them. When they are sellin somewhere where i can buy them i'll be sure to check em out.
-Alice of the Salish & Kootenai Rez

haha just try buying a pair im stuck in this s%!* they call ohio and its not happening no matter how many freaking tribe/wellness centures you call we cant even get togher as a people and sell the damn things without people bitching damn it!!! made me sad and my freaking feet hurt im going to sit down im getting to old for this crap!!!

What burns me is the fact that not all native American's live on reservations...or are registered with the feds. That is the short-sighted nature of this campaign. I am 1/8 native and have had impossibly wide feet my whole life. It's genetics, stupid, not a registration card. I have never bought a pair of Nike's because they are infamously narrow. I do much better with Adidas or Ryka shoes. So Nike can just suck it.

I was excited to hear about these shoes since I have several family members who have a wide foot. I really wanted to get my Dad a pair for Christmas and am having the hardest time purchasing a pair (he initially went to all of the local Dept. stores trying to find them). I contacted an Urban Indian Health Center and didn't hear back. I have been checking Ebay and Googling it weekly since they came out and still no luck. I wish Nike would sell them on-line to anyone who is interested. They probably could have made a lot of money this Christmas. A lot of Indians I know don't have a lot of extra money but most buy their loved ones a Christmas present. A lot of Indians I know also don't go see a doctor unless they're deathly ill so getting them that way isn't working for all. Sigh, I'm frustrated trying to buy these shoes!!!

The problem with this is the blatant pantomime of the whole subject. Nike is one of the worst corporations in the world when it comes to sweatshop labour. As altruistic as this campaign might seem, Nike is far from an ethically sensible organization. The idea of a shoe meant to empower marginalized people here, while being made at the expense of marginalized people overseas is incredulous. The hypocrisy of the whole situation is dumbfounding.

I should think that all Natives should be happy that, at least, one company is taking the chance, the risk of adapting to the Native American lifestyle which is, as all Natives know, are extremely and sometimes radically different from the life "off the Rez." Not everyone may have access to the new N7 but at least they are trying. And that is what is wrong with everyone. They criticize and cut down instead encourage. My 6 children (16 - 4)like the new N7's and that is just from seeing the picture. I have 2ballers, a wrestler, 3baseballers. And through sports programs they may acquire these new shoes.
And one more, thing, if I may. Why cut down the color, the design. I would like some one to stand up,like the designer of these shoes, and make a difference. Make requests not demands. Like they say about,"Oil and Honey."
I would like more information on how to acquire these shoes for Tribal sports and school programs and would like more information on this product. Thank you for your time.