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| Subject: Re: Ethic shoes | |
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Author: Oropan |
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Date Posted: 15:37:24 10/01/07 Mon In reply to: L. 's message, "Ethic shoes" on 00:55:48 09/30/07 Sun Here's the problem with native american's (also known as indians) they are stuck on reservations, which are like concentration camps. They have to move into the mainstream of sociaty and get education and jobs like other people and give up this nonsense dream that the old times will come back. It's almost like the Ghost Dance of the late 1800"s. If you don't move ahead, you are screwed.....like it or not. >As much as I would like a pair of shoes that fit >properly, I wouldn't pay $45 to be branded by Nike. >Nike Designs Shoe for American Indians By SARAH >SKIDMOREAssociated Press Writer 6:55 PM EDT, September >25, 2007BEAVERTON, Ore. Nike on Tuesday unveiled what >it said is the first shoe designed specifically for >American Indians, an effort aiming at promoting >physical fitness in a population with high obesity >rates. The Beaverton-based company says the Air Native >N7 is designed with a larger fit for the distinct foot >shape of American Indians, and has a culturally >specific look. It will be distributed solely to >American Indians; tribal wellness programs and tribal >schools nationwide will be able to purchase the shoe >at wholesale price and then pass it along to >individuals, often at no cost. "Nike is aware of the >growing health issues facing Native Americans," said >Sam McCracken, manager of Nike's Native American >Business program. "We are stepping up our commitment >... to elevate the issue of Native American health and >wellness." Nike said it is the first time it has >designed a shoe for a specific race or ethnicity. It >said all profits from the sale of the shoe will be >reinvested in health programs for tribal lands, where >problems with obesity, diabetes and related conditions >are near epidemic levels in some tribes. Nike >designers and researchers looked at the feet of more >than 200 people from more than 70 tribes nationwide >and found that in general, American Indians have a >much wider and taller foot than the average shoe >accommodates. The average shoe width of men and women >measured was three width sizes larger than the >standard Nike shoe. As a result, the Air Native is >wider with a larger toe box. The shoe has fewer seams >for irritation and a thicker sock liner for comfort. >Jerry Bread, outreach coordinator for the Native >American Studies program at University of Oklahoma, >said the idea was "fantastic" and addressed a core >issue for tribes, though he was skeptical that the >feet of people from so many tribes could be so >similar. "It's an excellent gesture and I know it will >get a lot of support from tribal people," Bread said. >"We stand to profit from it in our physical health and >well being." Dr. Kelly Acton, director of the national >diabetes program for Indian Health Services, said she >was dubious of working with a corporation at first but >said she was delighted with the result, saying Nike >"bent over backwards" to design a shoe and respect >public health needs. The N7 name is a reference to the >seventh generation theory, used by some tribes to look >to the three generations preceding them for wisdom and >the three generations ahead for their legacy. The >design features several "heritage callouts" as one >product manager described it, including sunrise to >sunset to sunrise patterns on the tongue and heel of >the shoe. Feather designs adorn the inside and stars >are on the sole to represent the night sky. The >company anticipates selling at least 10,000 pairs and >raising $200,000 for tribal programs. At $42.80 >wholesale, it represents less of a financial >opportunity than a goodwill and branding effort. "The >reason I like it is that, even if there's not a big >Native American market, it gives people the impression >there is a constituency that deserves attention," said >John Dickson, a member of the executive council of the >Native American Leadership Alliance in Washington, >D.C. Paul Swangard, managing director of the Warsaw >Sports Marketing Center at the University of Oregon, >said the product reflects how Nike does business. The >company prides itself on designing specifically for >certain athletes and having close ties to its >customers. Nike has been involved with the tribal >community for years, supporting tribal athletic teams, >events and other social initiatives. "It reinforces >the core of the Nike brand, which is: If you have a >body you are an athlete," Swangard said. * __ >Associated Press writer William McCall contributed to >this report from Portland, Ore. Copyright © 2007, The >Associated Press [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |
| Subject | Author | Date |
| Re: Ethnic shoes | L. | 23:53:34 10/01/07 Mon |