Last month the S'Klallam Tribe unveiled a much needed place for teenagers to skate and be kids. Thanks to the hard work of the youth group S’Klallam's Working and Giving and funding from the Sheckler Foundation's “Be the Change” project, the kids now have a safe place to hang out.
Redbull has a nice write-up on their website, and included this quote from one of the elders:
“It’s really something to see the youth involved in the skate park, because for years and years and years, there wasn’t much to do but play football with no protective gear and play baseball against other reservations,” says Mike Jones Sr., one of the elders of the tribe. “And I know that with all the temptations in our world, this is our own little corner where we can be ourselves, alcohol- and drug-free, like our ancestors used to be.”
Nooksack artist Louie Gong helped the kids out with the final design.
As the Redbull article points out, more and more Native Americans are getting involved with skateboarding. Recently the 8th Annual All Nations Skate Jam was held in Albuquerque, New Mexico and some of the S'Klallam youth were set to attend the event. I hope we start seeing more Natives in the X Games with all these skateparks!
