COMMUNITY PROFILE CREDIT: GILES CLASEN NOT A NOBODY GILES CLASEN ONE LOOK AT NAILHEAD AND IT IS CLEAR HE HAS A STORY TO TELL. His nose has a notch missing brought on by injury. “It’s interesting because no one ever asked me about it before,” Nailhead said. He speculated that no one asks because the wound makes him look intimidating. The injury was retribution for a disagreement he had with a group of homeless individuals he’d encountered. The group had set up camp in a park and put up a chain as a barrier to keep others out. Nudged by his friend, Nailhead approached the group and told them to remove the chain for safety reasons. According to Nailhead, he delivered the message in a way that violated a community code and was punished for it. “I got hit with a skateboard, something we call ‘truck fucked,’” he said. “When you get hit with a skateboard, both the wheels land in your eyes, and the truck busts your nose up. It’s a pretty substantial blow. It is to serve somebody a punishment in my culture.” The homeless community lives by a certain code that has to be learned, Nailhead said. Violating the code and the community’s trust can lead to violence as retribution. “The hit sheared off seven teeth and fractured my sinus CREDIT: GILES CLASEN cavity,” Nailhead said. “The most painful part was shearing my teeth off because the roots stay in your gum.” He now keeps mostly to himself while moving in and out of different communities living on the streets. According to 6 DENVER VOICE February 2023
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