About Us

VISION OF THE STRONGHOLD SOCIETY
A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
Our vision is to create a future where youth of Native communities and non-Native communities will live a successful, healthy way of life, both mentally and physically, to become the leaders of tomorrow.

MISSION
Our mission is to inspire confidence, creativity, hope, and ambition for the youth of Native communities and non-Native communities through empowerment, arts programs, skateboarding and athletic activities while encouraging youth to take action to live a healthy life in mind, body, and spirit; this is our LIVE LIFE CALL TO ACTION CAMPAIGN. Stronghold Society’s goals are:

  • To promote healthy way of life outlooks for youth of all races through skateboarding and athletic activities or events.
  • To create and sustain skateparks in Native American communities through resources collected and/or developed by Stronghold Society.
  • To develop ongoing arts programs and media campaigns to empower our youth to live life.

A CALLING

The stronghold is a place where a community regroups, a place to stand your ground and together face all of life’s challenges… to ride out the coming storm. Lakota’s have a word, “SKAN”, interpreted as something that moves. Spiritual vitality, the force of life itself, is something each of us and all of life possess within. It is believed the black birds fly to warn of the approaching storm, of hard times to come, but it is not to create unease. It is to build compassion, togetherness and hope amongst the people, for once the storm passes, we get renewal. This is our Stronghold Society call to action.

CREATION STORY
Our story begins with our advertising design and graphics business, Nakota Designs. Walt Pourier, Creative Director of Nakota Designs, is Oglala Lakota, from the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Walt’s focus – through his art and design and through the many creative movements he supports – is to share messages of hope, inspiration, and healthy way of life outlooks. His outreach efforts have included youth movements, language revitalization campaigns, suicide prevention, ending domestic violence, food distribution, etc, which have reached many communities.

Our story also is part of a grander vision of James Murphy and WKSkateboards along with Mark “Monk” Hubbard of Grindline Skateparks and Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam.

Together with our shared passions and drive to make a difference in the world we created the Stronghold Society, a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.