Column: Put me down for the Air Native N7 shoe

Thursday, October 4, 2007  

"The Nike company released the Air Native N7 shoe last week. A result, they say, of "nearly two years of collaborative research, development and fit testing in partnership with the Native community."

The Air Native N7 is not unique in its outward appearance; in fact, it's rather plain as Nike shoes go. Rather, the shoe is unique in its actual design, one based on research with "more than 200 people from more than 70 tribes nationwide."

Nike says that research found, "in general, American Indians have a much wider and taller foot than the average shoe accommodates."

I could actually feel the collective cringe of Native people across the country in response to another possible stereotype.

Redneck No. 1: They're nothing but a bunch of unemployed drunks getting rich off of casinos.

Redneck No. 2: Yeah! And they got big feet.)

Nontheless, I believe the trend is a good one."

Get the Story:
Cheryl Long Feather: Big feet could lead to big change (The Bismarck Tribune 10/4)

Relevant Links:
Nike - http://www.nike.com

Related Stories:
Nike's 'Air Native' shoes draw some complaints (10/3)
Nike develops the 'Air Native N7' for Native feet (9/26)