More than 7,000 kids recently got to pick new kicks for free at the annual Navajo Nation Fair in Window Rock, AZ, thanks to a partnership between Native Shoes and Diné (Navajo) designer Amy Denet Deal, founder of the sustainable fashion brand 4KINSHIP.
The giveaway, which included Disney x Star Wars footwear, took place during Good Medicine Youth Day, adding excitement to one of the largest Native American gatherings in the U.S. Volunteers and partners Illumine Service Foundation, CORE, and Good360 transformed a historic exhibition space on the fairgrounds into a kid-friendly pop-up shoe atelier filled with different styles and sizes.
Deal, whose work includes building the first and only skatepark on the Navajo Nation with support from Tony Hawk, also organized a giveaway of 2,000 skateboards at the fair. The donation was the latest step in her mission to make sure financial limitations don’t prevent Indigenous youth from access to recreation and to skateboarding, a sport that can bring joy and teach lessons about perseverance.
“Our partnership with Native Shoes began through their founder, Thomas Claypool,” Deal explains. “As an avid skateboarder, Thomas wanted to support families on Navajo Nation and bring joy to Diné youth. His personal connection to skate culture resonated deeply with our mission, and from there, this beautiful collaboration grew.”
The response to the footwear giveaway has been overwhelmingly positive, Deal reports. “The kids were so excited to receive the shoes—especially since they featured fun Disney and Star Wars characters,” she says. “By the end of Youth Good Medicine Day, we saw so many kids proudly walking around in their new shoes. It was such a meaningful way for them to head back to school with something special.”
Native Shoes has become one of the largest donors of footwear to Navajo Nation, with more than 10,000 pairs going to Diné youth so far. “We’re deeply grateful that they see the joy in reciprocity and continue to stand with us,” says Deal. “We look forward to building on this relationship in future youth-centered events and community distributions.”
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