My name is Naiomi Glasses and I am a 24-year-old Navajo woman who recently gained social media fame after posting a video of myself skateboarding in the desert.

Naiomi Glasses

Since the age of 5, skateboarding has been my outlet to cope with bullying due to my bilateral cleft lip and palate. It gave me a sense of freedom and allowed me to be myself. Although I grew up skating in skateparks in the Valley, my family moved back to the reservation when I was 12 and I realized there was a lack of skateparks nearby.

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A few months ago, I posted a video on TikTok of myself skateboarding on smooth sandstone near my house, which has since garnered 1.8 million views. Teen Vogue even featured me in an article, highlighting my efforts to bring more skateparks to Navajo Nation. Currently, I am working with a group to bring more parks to the reservation, specifically to Two Grey Hills in New Mexico.

While skateboarding is a passion of mine, my primary passion is weaving, which has become a career for me.

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I use materials from the desert such as natural sheep wool and cochineal dye to create purses, saddle blankets, and rugs with vibrant patterns. Through my work and growing social media presence, I hope to share Navajo culture with the world and educate people that Native Americans are still present and thriving. I sell my weaving online and accept custom requests.