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OCTOBER 15, 2007
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signala editor
If the new Nike Air Native N7 fits
Native American feet, it's partly
because Grand Ronde Tribal mem
bers volunteered to be measured
and try on prototypes.
Reaverton-based Nike unveiled its
Air Native N7 in late September. The
shoe is designed for Native Ameri
cans and company representatives
visited the Confederated Tribes of
Grand Ronde campus several times,
including in June 2006, to measure
Tribal feet and test designs.
Sam McCracken, manager of
Nike's Native American Business
Program, said it took almost two
years of research, development and
fit testing to create a shoe designed
for the Native American foot.
Air Native N7 researchers mea
sured more than 200 people, or 400
feet, from more than 70 Tribes, as well
as contacted podiatrists and members
of Indian Health Services and the
National Indian Health Board.
In general, Nike found that Ameri
can Indians have a much wider and
taller foot than the average shoe ac
commodates. The average shoe width
of Native men and women measured
was three width sizes larger than the
standard Nike shoe.
As a result, the Air Native N7 is
wider with a larger toe box. The
shoe also has fewer seams that
might cause irritation and a thicker
sock liner for comfort.
In June 2006, Confederated
Tribes Member Benefits Special
ist Reina Nelson and Human Re
sources Specialist Cindy Watkins
lent their toes, arches and soles to
help Nike develop its shoe.
"The pair that fit me best was
comfortable and had good arch sup
port," Nelson recalls.
"There were definitely differences in
the shoes we tried on as far as width,
comfort, arch height and support,"
Watkins said. "If Native feet are dif
ferent than other feet, it is a great idea
to have a shoe designed specifically to
address the differences."
Profits from Air Native N7 will
support Nike's "Let Me Play" pro
grams on Native American lands.
The program builds play surfaces
and provides grants and product
donations to encourage Native
youth to participate in sports.
McCracken said the Air Native
N7 is designed to address health
and wellness issues existing within
Native American communities,
such as diabetes, that are caused
by inactivity and obesity.
By providing a shoe that caters to
Native American feet, the hope is it
will motivate Natives to lead more
physically active lifestyles that will
improve their health, he said.
"Nike is aware of the growing
health issues facing Native Ameri
cans," McCracken said. "Through
the Nike Air Native N7, we are
stepping up our commitment to ...
elevate the issue of Native Ameri
can health and wellness.
"We believe physical activity can
and should be a fundamental part
of the health and wellness of all
Native Americans."
Special comfort characteristics of
the Air Native N7 include reduced
seams and layering, and use of
performance foams at key points to
provide additional cushioning.
"In combination, these elements
help to improve overall fit and
help wearers avoid foot irritations
caused by ill-fitting footwear," Nike
said in a press release.
The shoe design also
features several "heri
tage callouts," such as
sunrise to sunset to
sunrise patterns on
the tongue and heel of
the shoe. Feather de
signs adorn the inside
and stars are on the
sole to represent the
night sky.
"The fact that Nike,
a globally known com
pany, has created a
shoe specifically for
Native people shows
they are paying at
tention to our diverse
needs," Nelson said.
"Nike could have
selected a much larg
er population base,
but they chose ours.
They chose for hu
manity rather than
for profit. That's awe
some in today's shoe
market, and, yes, I am
definitely going to buy
a pair."
"If these special
shoes get more peo
ple up and moving
towards healthier
lifestyles, that's excel
lent," Watkins said.
The shoe is available
through Nike's Native
Business Program.
Tribal wellness programs and Tribal
schools nationwide will be able to
purchase a pair at the wholesale
price of $42.80 and then pass it along
to individuals, often at no profit.
For example, the Lummi Tribe
in Bellingham, Wash., is offering a
pair for $13.20 when Tribal mem-
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Photo by Toby McClary
From left, Member Benefits Specialist Reina Nelson
and Human Resources Specialist Cindy Watkins lent
their toes, arches and soles to help Nike develop its
shoe in June 2006.
bers complete 26 miles of activity
between Oct. 15 and Nov. 15, or less
than 1 mile per day in a month.
Nike anticipates selling at least
10,000 pairs and raising $200,000
for Tribal sports programs.
Includes information from The
Associated Press. H
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Photos by Toby McClary
On Thursday, Sept. 27, the Grand Ronde
Chinook Canoe Family put on a presentation
during a Willamina High School assembly.
Above, Willamina High School Principal Tim
France received a blanket as a gift from the
Canoe Family.