Naeva (formerly NAVA Education Project) and Protect the Sacred are proud to present the Skate to the Polls event at Nizhoni Skate Park in Shiprock, NM (US-491, Shiprock, NM 87420) from September 30th to October 2nd during the Northern Navajo Nation Fair
Shiprock, NM — Naeva (formerly NAVA Education Project) and Protect the Sacred are proud to present the Skate to the Polls event at Nizhoni Skate Park in Shiprock, NM (US-491, Shiprock, NM 87420) from September 30th to October 2nd during the Northern Navajo Nation Fair.
Ahtza Chavez, Naeva Executive Director, said,
“We are grateful and inspired by the work of Protect the Sacred and Harness. We are honored to have partnered with them on this free event. September 30th – October 2nd we will be setting up a portable skate part at Nizhoni Skate Park for the Skate to the Polls event, reaching out to and connecting with youth across Dinétah (Navajo Nation). As Ké (family), when we grow older and become ádí’s (older sister) and ánaaí’s (older brother), it is important to reflect and help our youth navigate the roadblocks we could not. This Skate to the Polls event is one way we can do that with our Native American youth on something they love.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated the Navajo Nation, and it has impacted the mental health and education of youth across Dinétah, especially rural youth. Just like adults, they need self-care too. We want to empower our rez youth to believe in their dreams and show them that through Ké and our Native American culture we are the change, we are resilient, and we are skateboarders. In addition, we want to impart the importance to leaders that youth infrastructure is critical. We will be joined by special guests and community members for this free event. We invite and encourage media, skateboarders, and youth empowerers to attend and participate!”
On August 13th, 2022, Allie Young, Founder of Protect the Sacred, led this Skate to the Polls event in Kayenta, AZ. Native youth were inspired by the over 100 attendees who encouraged them to be civically engaged and vote on November 8th, 2022. Founder Young said, “We are elated and motivated by our partnership with Naeva on this ‘Skate to the Polls’ event to prove that civic participation can be joyful. We can’t wait for the community to show up and celebrate our collective Indigenous power.”
Protect the Sacred is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to educate and empower the next generation of leaders and allies to use transformative storytelling and community building to strengthen Indigenous sovereignty and protect Indigenous elders, languages, and medicine ways. In 2020, Founder Young led a similar successful event on horseback. This has brought national coverage on barriers Native communities face to cast their vote, especially those on the Navajo Nation, leading transparency on concerns in Native country in an authentic way.
“We were so encouraged by all the youth (and impressed by their skills) who showed up to skate and learn about how essential voting is within the Native community in Kayenta, AZ. We can’t wait to see this again in Shiprock, NM. We’ll see which Diné town does it best!”
Naeva is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to unite community stakeholders to improve the quality of life for Native American communities and protect the continuity of Native American cultures. Naeva is committed to social, economic and environmental justice principles that advance healthy and sustainable communities for Native families. Since 1990, Naeva has worked with rural and Urban Indigenous communities on sacred site protection, environmental justice, youth development and civic education across New Mexico. Naeva has offices in Albuquerque, NM, and Farmington, NM.
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