User:Atakra/Douglas Miles

Douglas Miles is a San Carlos Apache-Akimel O'odham painter, street artist from Arizona, who founded Apache Skateboards and Apache Skate Team.

Background
Douglas Miles grew up on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation in Arizona. As a youth, he was a prolific graffiti artist.

Artwork
Watching his son practice skateboarding, Miles drew corollaries between skateboarding and the Apache warrior tradition, as both involved increase concentration, stamina, and the ability to withstand pain. Miles painted a skateboard deck for his son's use, which spawned Apache Skateboards.

Apache Skateboards
Apache Skateboards is the first known Native American-owned skateboard company. Native artists working on the project with Miles include Razelle Bennally; Tracy Polk Jr.; Douglas Miles, Jr.; Keith Secola; Reuben Ringlero; Irwin Lewis; Tony Steele; and Tashadawn Hastings. As Apache Skate Team, the group gives skating demonstrations, organizes skateboard contests and concerts, and curates art shows around the country, and especially on Indian reservations in the American Southwest.