Back in 1998, Andy Kessler and I were trying to come up with a name for a hardcore skate company. When Andy said,”what about Wounded Knee?” We both realized that would be heavy, and we also felt that this would be a great opportunity to educate people about true native history thru our skateboard graphics and informative inserts. We had a vision of someday giving back to the Lakota nation, in memory of those who died in the wounded knee massacre of 1890, a series of skateparks on the pine ridge rez for the Lakota youth. We knew this could enliven a cultural youth movement on the rez thru the arts, film, photography and music that skateboarding got us both swept into in the 1970s,and now this vision of ours is coming true. We will be building our 1st Concrete Wounded Knee four directions skatepark in pine ridge this summer with the financial support of Jeff Ament and Pearl jam, the Tony Hawk Foundation and Steve VanDoren from vans. Though Kessler is gone to the next level, his spirit and vision still lives in this project and all future projects involving the Wounded Knee Four Directions Skatepark Program, which is a program of The Stronhold Society, a 501c3 non profit organization. The profits from his board sales will help us get boards to kids so they can skate these parks on the rez, and also to support contests and art projects that will surround the skatepark scene! As long as I’m alive, this Kess shape will always be in the line up, with new inspirational art concepts relating to Andy. This graphic was done by Walt Pourier from a photo by Ivory Serra which was taken in the streets of NYC!! Plus, having a 10″x34″deck in the the Wounded Knee line-up can only make us look tougher!(Right Kess?) So, if your gonna ride this board, do it with style (get Indy’s) and have fun because that is what Andy Kessler is all about!
Jim Murphy

“The first peace, which is the most important, is that which comes within the souls of people when they realize their relationship, their oneness with the universe and all its powers, and when they realize that at the center of the universe dwells WakanTanka, and that this center is really everywhere, it is within each of us.” — Black Elk

Note from Walt Pourier (Oglala Lakota) Creative Director of Nakota Designs and creator of the Stronghold Society, also created this Black Elk skatedeck for Wounded Knee Skateboards.

Olivia Black Elk married my grandfather Hobert Pourier when my father was 15 years old, she raised him and his brothers and sisters and all of us grandchildren, she was a wonderful grandmother and we loved her very much. It is an honor to  create a skate deck that speaks to our youth about her grandfather Nicholas Black Elk. I know her heart truly represented the youth, myself, my brothers, sisters and all our relatives know this by her example, she was a wonderful grandmother and we love her and miss her dearly.

“Telling our stories of old, through the new creative means of today”, … the creative means this generation understands,  is key to keeping our stories alive. Through this means of skateboarding, art & design we can achieve this.

We support Jim “Murf” Murphy at all he does through Wounded Knee Skateboards, his outreach to youth across this country is awesome. Jim is also a part of our Stronghold Society nonprofit and the Wounded Knee 4-Directions Skatepark plan of action is a project of the Stronghold Society… together with the support of many, we are gonna make a difference with our youth and we support them at all they do.

Jim’s vision and what he represents is the kind of inspiration and hope our Lakota youth need in South Dakota and across this country. We appreciate you more then you know brutha…. “Skateboarding Saves Lives” “micante eten wopila tanka” I give you the biggest thanks I can from within my heart. Gonna be a grand year.

Lots of big stuff to come this year… we promise to keep you in the loop. We appreciate your continued support, because of you, we can do the things we do.  thank you so much.

Stronghold Society’s
ONE Gathering Skate For Life -DENVER 2011
to benefit the Wounded Knee 4-Directions Skatepark
A Live Life Call Call to Action Campaign

Major Skateboard Event July 9th 2011!

The ONE Gathering – Skate For Life competition will take place JULY 9th 2011 at the Downtown Denver Colorado Skatepark. The skatepark is located on 20th Street and I-25 near the South Platte River – a historical gathering place for the Apache, Arapaho, Lakota, Cheyenne, Comanche, Kiowa, Navajo, Pawnee, Pueblo, Shoshone, Ute and many other Indigenous cultures to this area. The ONE Gathering will prove to be another huge success with proceeds this year benefiting the Wounded Knee 4-Directions Skatepark/Art Studio to be built on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation (a project of Stronghold Society, a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit organization).

Last year’s ONE Gathering gained full support from the City of Denver. The event attracted about 5,000 attendees, 100+ skate competitors, 30 vendors, and over 60 awesome volunteers. The stage rocked all day with music from NDAAZ, Jamie Laurie of the Flobots, Gabriel YAIVA, The Beer Boyz (aka nonBeerBoyz for the cause), Trickshot, Racecar Spelled Backwards, Skyline Surrender, etc! Major supporters included FritoLay/Gatorade/Pepsico, VANS Off The Wall, Wahoo’s Fish Tacos, Denver American Indian Commission, Denver Indian Health and Family Services, Tocabe Native American Eatery, G&B Solutions, A-sa-ma-di, Atomic Air, Elevated Color, RMICC and many, many others. The South Dakota GEARUP Program brought over 200 Native youth and the State of Wyoming brought hundreds of youth to attend as well. NOW we are planning for our next ONE Gathering in Denver, CO in July 9th 2011, and we thank you for your continued support of our outreach efforts.

“Skateboarding Saves Lives” is a Live Life Call To Action to support and encourage Native American youth to find hope and ambition to live a healthy life in mind, body and spirit. Our overall goal for the ONE Gathering – Skate For Life is to promote inclusiveness and a positive impact on youth of all races. By incorporating artistic achievement, social change, innovation, education, and healthy way of life outlooks, it will ensure a higher quality of life for all our youth.

You thrive, I thrive, WE THRIVE… as it should be. The Stronghold Society nonprofit dedicated to instilling hope and supporting youth movements through Live Life Call To Action Campaigns.

WE VALUE YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT in our outreach efforts and in helping us to make this another successful ONE Gathering!

Contact Stronghold Society at info@strongholdsociety.org or 303-255-1730 and ask how you can help…. Its On!!!

Reaching out for your SUPPORT with this Live Life Call To Action event… together we can make a difference.