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Shredding The Rez: Tribal Skate Parks Take Off

On just about any afternoon, in places like Pine Ridge, Kyle, and Eagle Butte you can find young people careening up and down ramps and flying through the air.

Tribal skateboard parks are popping up in communities across South Dakota's Indian Country.  The parks are being funded in part by pro skaters, big time rock musicians, and local leaders who have joined forces to build more activities for youth.

SDPB’s Charles Michael Ray gathered the voices of some of those involved in the skateboard movement in Indian Country.  He attended the Toby Eagle Bull annual skateboard competition on Pine Ridge this past summer  and put together this montage of voices and sounds.

Here is a list names of those who are featured in this story.

Larry Eagle Bull Jr. - Organizer of the Toby Eagle Bull Memorial Skateboard competition.

Manuel Marshall – Skater

Larry Eagle Bull Sr. -- A Oglala Tribal Council member  on Pine Ridge.

Walt Pourier the creative Director of Nakota Designs, and the Executive Director of the Stronghold Society.   Pourier is also a main organizer in the effort to build more tribal skate parks.

Gail Spotted Tail from Parmelee is a mother whose sons skateboard. She's a Sicangu Tribal member working to help build skate parks on Rosebud.

Jim Murphy – Pro Skateboarder from New York owner of Wounded Knee Skateboards.

Michael  “Money” Hawk -- Skater