Skabewis

by Rob Capriccioso
News From Indian Country

To much fanfare, the multi-billion dollar Nike shoe company in September announced the creation of the Native Air N7, which it hailed as a “first-of-a-kind performance shoe” meant to address “the specific fit and width requirements for the Native American foot.”

Nike officials say it’s intended to get more Indians moving and to help combat increasingly alarming obesity rates in Indian Country.

But something about the shoe smells sort of funny to a growing number of Indians who believe the project is culturally insensitive and amounts to racial profiling, despite explanations from Nike officials meant to combat those fears.

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Margy

I didn't have the chance to try them on yet.
I think there's nothing insensitive. There are shoes for kids, women, men, different shapes of feet, disabled, why is it racial to create shoes for special needs of NDN feet?
People can find negative things in everything when they are looking for it long and hard enough. My 2 cents.

redthunder

I agree. I like the idea.

Nike actually took the time to learn about it from actual natives. I believe good is meant here.

__________________
I'm interested more in self determination than gender equity. In other words, changing white men for white woman in the structures of power, does nothing to transform the opression in my community.


"You need to find yourself a girl, mate... Or, perhaps the reason you practice three hours a day is that you already found one and are otherwise incapable of wooing said strumpet. You're not a eunuch, are you? [looks down]"
-Captain Jack Sparrow