Yellow school buses filled the Navajo Nation Fairgrounds parking lot Wednesday in Window Rock, Ariz., as students attended Youth Day, which featured interactive and informational booths.
One of the most popular attractions, drawing long lines through Navajo Square, was the Good Medicine skateboard distribution hosted by 4Kinship.
Students and families lined up inside Gorman Hall for free items, including skateboards, shoes, diapers, wipes and school supplies. The distribution was made possible through support from CORE, Chizh for Cheii, Native Shoes and NavajoYES.
According to Amy Denet Deal, founder of 4Kinship, the event brought a diverse crowd from local schools and other visitors.
“I was just talking right before I left to somebody that traveled three hours from Ute nation,” Deal said, “And funny enough, their kid got their very last skateboard.”
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren engaged with children and demonstrated skateboard tricks.
“My own journey with skateboarding has profoundly shaped who I am today,” Nygren said. “Growing up, skateboarding changed my life – it pointed me in the direction of becoming the president of the Navajo Nation. It taught me grit, determination and the importance of perseverance.”
Amy Denet Deal said the interactions between Nygren and the children were genuine and unique, with plans underway for continued collaboration between the Office of the President and Vice President and the Diné Skate Garden Project.
“There’s not a single other sovereign nation, I think, whose leader is this much into the sport and who’s willing to interact with the kids and talk about his experience,” Deal said. “He was telling us how he used to take the trucks off his skateboard just so he could sit and practice at home in his trailer – it’s just somebody that really understands what this sport can do for a young child.”
No child should be excluded from the sport because of financial limitations, Deal said, and the event showcased community efforts to make skateboarding accessible to all children.
“To really create that good medicine for the kids – that’s why we named it that,” she said. “We’re all feeling that uneasiness with what’s going on in the world and coming up for these events where we can show up as a community and volunteer together and create this magic and really celebrate our next generation.”
After the Oak Ridge Fire in June, which burned just 8 miles southwest of Window Rock, Deal said attendees were especially appreciative of the event.
“I think it’s important that we show up every year and they can just count on us,” she said. “That’s my commitment, and I’m really proud to be Diné and to be leading something like this, because they need to see our own people stepping up and being there for them.”
