Di'orr Greenwood skating with navajo nation flag & United St
Navajo Times Publishing Co., Inc.© 2022
2021 Article
Diné artist, flute maker, and competitive skateboarder Di’Orr Greenwood says all of her skateboard designs are done freehand and contain traditional teachings and symbols, including the four directions, four sacred mountains, four seasons, and the four elements. “Any art that comes from me is definitely ancestral based,” she said. “It’s more of a feeling.”
Navajo skateboarding distribution hub & Skill resource center
For her next venture, Greenwood intends to start a distribution house in the Gallup area where Native American skateboard companies across the country can ship out everything they sell online. “When I was in California learning how to make skateboards and ordering supplies, I learned very quickly what a distribution house does,” she said.
This is a Navajo Times article that was published on September 16, 2021. https://navajotimes.com/ae/arts/artist-native-olympians-wanted-skateboarder-builds-business-with-eye-on-youth/
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"Obesity, diabetes and other diseases is what we're fighting and it's because a lot of the kids are ditching the sports for video games and everything else like that," she said. "It's nice to see a young skater out there because they're at the skate parks learning new tricks and being active rather than being at home.
“The Mystery of Now," a short film by Douglas Miles
This film is visual meditation about life on the Apache/Navajo nation
"It’s no mystery that the history of Native American people in this country has been overlooked, misrepresented and maligned to create a more heroic narrative for settlers to sell books, to sell land, and to sell movie tickets," Douglas shares. "In the middle of this cultural clash, stereotypes and battles for agency, one thing that has never ceased is Native creativity and the making of art. In our creativity we recreate ourselves, and in doing so we create and shape the world around us."
In his words, "this film is visual meditation about life on the Apache nation via lived experience of Apache Skateboards. It’s a soulfully joyous glimpse into hard-edged lives of Native kids becoming artists, musicians, skaters, creatives, and leading in their community using art, music and skateboarding as a means of expression and power."
FEATURED RIDERS
DOUG MILES JR.
Doug Miles Jr. is the co-founder and founding team rider of APACHE SKATEBOARDS and is based in San Carlos, AZ. He is also the founder of Indellica.
DI’ORR GREENWOOD
Di’orr Greenwood is an APACHE SKATEBOARDS team rider, Diné tribal member, and was born and raised in the Navajo nation.
TASHA HASTINGS
Tasha Hastings is one of the founding riders of the APACHE SKATEBOARDS team and is currently a snowboard instructor in Arizona.
TRAY POLK
Tray Polk is one of the founding riders from the APACHE SKATEBOARDS team and is the founder of ODDITY Skate Apparel.
ELIJAH ALBERT
Elijah Albert is an APACHE SKATEBOARDS team rider based in San Carlos, AZ.
REUBEN RINGLERO
Reuben Ringlero is the APACHE SKATEBOARDS team filmer and the founder of Seven Layer Army. He is based in Gila River, AZ. indigenous art skate park
Watch the Mystery of the Now Film featuring the Apache Skateboard Team
Douglas Miles shares socio-political context around the history that lead to life on the San Carlos Apache reservation, and the personal history of how and why he started a skateboard brand and team of local youth leaders.
YEAH GIRL Exclusives, Interviews August 26th, 2019
Strength, courage, resilience: an interview with Navajo Nation skater Di’orr Greenwood.
Di’orr is a Diné tribal member, born and raised in the Navajo Nation. At 23 years old she is riding for Apache Skateboards and pursuing an architectural degree. She has skated for the legendary Patti McGee’s OGBetty, Las ChicAZ and Propel Skate Boards for Kids , Propel Skate Academy, and is a skateboarding instructor in Southern California, Navajo Nation and Phoenix AZ. Di’orr was recently featured in the film The Mystery of Now directed by Audrey Buchanan.
WANT TO READ THE INTERVIEW?
The feeling I continually get from skateboarding is inspiration. I am inspired to lead a healthy life so I can skate for hours well into my 80s. I am inspired by all those that come from the toughest backgrounds who choose to use skating as a positive way out — I am proud of you. I am inspired by the passion a skate community can create when they gather for anything important. I am inspired by the board crafters because I have pressed/cut/sanded my own board. I am inspired by skateboard deck artists because I have designed a few custom skateboards. I am very lucky to consider skateboarding as a large roll in my life.