![]() ![]() I formed a friendship with all those other guys. I said, “I'm the reason why you guys came, basically.” And they were so cool. So I literally just showed up and I'm the annoying little kid, watching them do everything. ![]() I could see from my house where the ramps were being built. They came and before you knew it they built a 10-foot vert ramp with a six-foot half pipe, and a four-footer beside it. My reserve approached the people who built Century. Whenever one of our little skate posse of kids had a birthday party, we all jumped in the van and hit Century Skate Park in Edmonton. And it was partly because of my mom who said “This is how you get stuff done”. I approached the head of parks and recreation and said, “If you don't want us skating here, then build us something.” Back then I was a little political activist. I ended up getting close to 700 names of people who were backing this idea to get a skateboard park. I would go to the hockey rink, to the grocery store, the corner store. So eventually, my mom said “Son, go and get a petition going.” I had no idea what a petition was. There were actual bad things going on the reserve, but we were the easy target. My late uncle from Johnson Security, he thought we were little terrors. They ended up hiring security for us on the reserve. We were trying to ollie up the curb it was a big deal. ![]() The first time I saw asphalt on the rez, I was like WHOOAH! In front of the new bingo hall, they made a little parking area, which to us was just like a playground. I just wanted to be accepted by the older guys. I very much was an impressionable kid growing up. “Marilyn, your kid is knee boarding to town again.” And so eventually I was like, I've got to stand up on this thing because this is what the other guys are doing. I remember getting picked up by someone and they said: “Whaaaat are you doing?” They ended up bringing me to my mom. I was so young that I couldn't stand on the board yet, but I'm knee boarding right behind them. My reserve, Maskwacis, is 15 km from Wetaskiwin, which is a neighbouring town. ![]()
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