How Indigenous skateboarders use their boards for creative expression and land reclamation

This episode originally aired on October 11, 2020.

For many Indigenous people, skateboarding is an active way to express yourself, and reclaim territory in unexpected ways. This week on Unreserved, meet Indigenous skateboarders who are taking the sport onto the streets and into communities. 

Hanwakan Blaikie Whitecloud is a documentarian who also happens to love skateboarding. He explains how he sees the sport as a form of land reclamation and as creative expression.

Cree skateboarder Joe Buffalo is the first residential school survivor to become a professional skateboarder for Indigenous-owned Colonialism Skateboards. Unreserved's Kyle Muzyka helps tell his story of resilience. 

Colonialism Skateboards is an Indigenous-owned company that wants to educate people about colonialism with their colourful boards. Founder Michael Langan is Saulteaux from the Cote First Nation in Saskatchewan. He spoke to CBC about the inspiration behind the designs. 

Pro-skateboarder Dustin Henry grew up in Calgary, but his father is from Dawson City, Yukon. Recently, he and his brother Tristan went on a journey to reconnect with their Trondek Hwech'in roots, and share their passion for skateboarding with youth in their community. 

Nations Skate Youth is a non-profit organization that brings skateboarding to Indigenous communities. Skateboarder Rosie Archie launched the organization, because she knows first-hand how the sport can inspire and empower youth.

This week's playlist: 

Fleetwood Mac - Dreams 

Keith Secola - NDN Kars

T-Rhyme - Ego 

Tommy Guerrero - Organism