When Amy Denet Deal returned to her homeland in 2019, she brought along valuable lessons from her career as a corporate fashion designer. With experience working for major brands like Puma and Reebok, Deal was determined to create something with reciprocity and impact within her community. Transforming Native Communities: Skateboarding & Sustainable Fashion
Building a Sustainable Brand with 4KINSHIP
“I’ve worked my whole life for these big brands, and I don’t know where the hell the money went,” Deal said. “With 4KINSHIP, it’s beautiful to have a small, female-owned brand that’s super clear on what we’re doing, which is the most important thing, along with the profits of the brand reinvesting in future generations.”
The Birth of the Diné Skate Garden
Deal’s commitment to her community took a tangible form in 2021 with the launch of the Diné Skate Garden. Located in the Two Grey Hills chapter of the Navajo Nation in New Mexico, this skate park was designed for both amateur and professional skaters.
“You don’t just build a park in a remote region and say: ‘Bye, see you later,’” Deal emphasized. “I wanted it to be sustainable and I wanted it to impact the community in terms of jobs.”
Embracing Skateboarding
Although Deal considered other sports, she was drawn to skateboarding for its versatility and uniqueness, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. “I wanted to have something really fun that we could get them involved in that they could do any time of the year,” she said. “With a skate park, that’s like 24/7 practically, right? They can go there anytime… they have something to do and can stay active.”
Mentorship and Community Engagement
After the park’s completion in 2022, Deal started a mentorship program with Indigenous skateboarder Shawn Harrison, who has gained a following of over 18,000 on Instagram by showcasing Native skaters. Harrison’s classes have now expanded to three times a week, and he’s also introducing the first mobile skate school on a reservation with the Shawn Shine school of skate.
Deal is also distributing 5,000 skateboards to Native youth in various communities, including Chinle, Window Rock, and Shiprock. The first distribution took place during the Diné Skate Garden’s ‘Go Skate Day’ event, an annual celebration where skating communities worldwide come together to ride.
A Family Reunion Atmosphere
“When we (Native people) can do our own events and it’s run by a Native brand that has a bunch of Native mentors, it feels so different,” Deal said. “It feels like you’re at a family reunion where everybody shows up. Everybody loves each other. Everybody supports each other. Yes, there’s competition, but it’s this different energy.”
Inclusive and Resilient Skating Community
The Diné Skate Garden welcomes skaters of all ages and skill levels. “At our events, we’ve got little kids scooting around from kindergarten next to really high-level talent,” Deal said. “And they’re all there together. Because that’s how we are as Diné people. We’re resilient. We’re just gonna go out there and have fun and enjoy the day.”
Future Aspirations and Olympic Dreams
Deal envisions the skate garden as a launchpad for aspiring athletes, potentially leading to Olympic dreams. “As the kids get better and better at skating, it’s going to be our job to get better and better teachers and facilities for them,” she said. “And we’re certainly looking at the extension in terms of the park at Two Gray Hills if we need to have more build-out to the skatepark to keep up with the different things needed for Olympic training.”
Expanding the Impact
With plans for a second skatepark underway, Deal hopes to generate tourism and create more opportunities for Native youth. “I want to bring wealth back to these communities. We’re going to eventually need to have a visitor center at Two Grey Hills,” she said. “I’d love to see a coffee shop where kids learn how to be baristas. I’d love for there to be money reinvested so there’s a laundromat so all those families don’t have to go all the way into border towns to do their laundry.”
Upcoming Events
4KINSHIP will be hosting its second all-girls and Two-Spirit Modern Matriarchs Skate Jam on September 21, with updated dates and location releasing in early August. Stay tuned for more details on this exciting event and join us in celebrating the positive impact of skateboarding and sustainable fashion in Native communities.
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We provide Indigenous products, music, art and news.
If you want Indigenous gifts and merchandise, bush tucker food at your next event or Indigenous entertainment at your next party, expo or conference, feel free to contact us!
Visit our page: https://nicc.org.au/
Tony Clemenger.
Chief Executive Officer.
Tel: 0419431649.
Level 1 397 Chapel Street South Yarra 3141.
