PAGE TITLE telling you what to do. There’s no right there’s no wrong, there’s no one judging you, and I think that is where a lot of the kids like that.” Last summer alone, Nations Skate Youth gave out 300 skateboards, and the organization forged a partnership with a popular international skatewear brand VANS. Archie said the support has been incredibly valuable as sometimes when they arrive in a community, the youth turn up in moccasins, gumboots, or with holes in their shoes. Nations Skate Youth also partners with Squamish Training and Trades Centre in North Vancouver, which constructed ramps to take to Kamloops, B.C. for a visit. The team traveled there immediately after the Lytton, B.C. wildfire that destroyed the entire town. Team members met with youth and families who were camping at the powwow grounds. They were able to skateboard with youth from Lytton and other communities affected by the fires who had lost everything. “I get emotional because to go there and see their smiles… I couldn’t imagine losing everything… and then seeing how a piece of wood with four wheels makes a big difference,” Archie said. She was also able to collect more clothing donations when she told friends about their trip to Lytton, and VANS provided several boxes of clothing and shoes. “One of the ladies from Lytton said thank you because often the youth are forgotten. People take care of the babies, people take care of the Elders. But the youth, they get forgotten.” She and the team also took the time to talk about mental health and the importance of their culture. “I wish I had someone like that when I was a teen to remind me that when I get out there in the real world and leave the reserve, to not be ashamed of who I am and to not be ashamed of the color of my skin. To honor that my parents and my grandparents taught me the language. They taught me the culture and the history. If the younger kids don’t get that and don’t hear that as a reminder, then what we’re all working for can be lost. That’s a huge reminder when we go out.” After numerous events and trips around B.C., Alberta and the Yukon, Archie says the results of their visits are hugely rewarding. “Youth counselors say, ‘We’ve never seen them smile like that before. We’ve never seen their confidence go up in a matter of a day or a couple of hours even.’ That really means a lot, because a lot of us have got on that healing path of what it takes to do this work.” For now, Nations Skate Youth is a passion project for Archie, who has a different full-time job and usually takes vacation time to go on community trips. As a non-profit society, Nations Skate Youth is grateful for donations as every bit helps with travel expenses and supplies. The money is passed on to the youth through programming and equipment. The organization also accepts donations of skateboards. Your used deck that you’ve upgraded from might be the perfect starter board for a youth. “We want to build future leaders. We want to build the youth up so they can start organizing their own skateboard meet-ups. Another big part of what I want to do is work for more skateboard parks and stuff like that in communities that we work closely with, because they do see the impact right away,” Archie said. “People who watch our videos or who follow our journey, they know. They see the work that we’re doing and it brings them joy. It shares the importance that we need to hold their Indigenous youth high and we need to respect and honor them. That’s my big ‘why’ and why I wanted to start something like this.” ■ Courtesy of The Conversation / International Network of Street Papers The Hard Times Writing Workshop is a collaboration between Denver Public Library and Lighthouse Writers Workshop. It’s open to all members of the public, especially those experiencing homelessness. Each month, the Denver VOICE publishes a selection of writing from these workshops. Virtual workshops: lighthousewriters.org/workshop/denver-public-library-hard-times More writing by these featured poets: writedenver.org D. GLORSO ONLY A WISH Oh he wishes he still had A warm body To lay next to It just did the mind Such good Feel the moment Of sighs and giggles Or count the seconds still Radiant heat passes From one body to the other A glorious gift is transferred With only blood pumping From the hearts To the extremities of limbs A life shared by two souls In love is a splendid mindset Now quietly the lady’s breath Slowly warms the man’s back Aroma soft and clean He can feel her hair Brushing his shoulders wide Sending tingles through to his heart All the way to his toes Won’t you please comeback Just for the feelings Love gives And the scent of beauties missed No more anger Rattles his bones Life is too short And the nights without her Too long Such is the life of an old man Regretful Forgetful And alone BENJAMIN ERIC NELSON OPACITY Strain of the earth To not see snow Like cosmic rebirth Losing control Bringing danger From lack of change A type of weather Now seen strange Leaders have opacity They don’t listen To the cries of the city Lies are given Going backwards Becoming brute force WRITING THROUGH HARD TIMES COURTESY OF DENVER PUBLIC LIBRARY AND LIGHTHOUSE WRITERS WORKSHOP EDWARD CURLEE VISIONS Where does the time run? It’s just you and me And we Agree and disagree We share wine and laugh, We move in and out of rhythms With the greatest of ease. You are my reason to be You are the light with which I see Colors of love in the world. It used to be me, Just me Outside the inner dream, Playing what’s said to be, Sometimes it made the scene Sometimes it just wasn’t me. You are my stability You are the air in which I breathe Moments of magic disbelief. So, where does the time run? Where do those feelings fly, Why won’t this heart stop Beating in and out of rhyme? You are my reason to be You are the light with which I see Colors of love..... February 2022 DENVER VOICE 11
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