Diversity, Inclusion & Anti-Racism Commitments

As founders of Endless Biking, we are still early in our learning journey and in order to be authentic in our approach, we need to start unlearning our unconscious biases and educating ourselves on foundational diversity, equity, inclusivity, and anti-racist practices.  We have taken courses, workshops, read books on the topic and are now ready to expand the learnings on an ongoing basis with our team.  We are dedicated to educating ourselves and our team and realigning our values to ensure we actively look at inclusion with black, indigenous and racialized people (BIR) in our community.  This will allow us to fully understand our shortfalls, where we can improve and how to be a more inclusive team. 

We are utilizing the Global Diversity and Inclusion Benchmarks as a reference to develop our future goals and commitments. Note that the GDIB is usually used by much larger organizations; as a small business we will apply the framework wherever possible.

2021 Plan - Learning & Planning

  • Include Diversity, Inclusion, & Anti-Racist practices in our Employee handbook 

  • Hire Amil Reddy to lead us through “it starts with U”, an anti-racism workshop.  We will receive a recording of this session to enable staff members access to this workshop as part of their orientation to working with Endless Biking 

  • Through the learnings from the workshops and training, we will be dedicating time after each one to discuss ways in which we can uncover barriers to entry, exclusionary practices, etc. 

  • Create a SLACK APP channel labelled Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism resource - collect black, indigenous and racialized created resources for our staff to help build their awareness and encourage them to continue their learning and growth so that we can collectively build an environment where all people feel welcome. Review this on a quarterly basis with the team where they can have a safe space to share their learnings and how they’ve integrated it into their everyday practices at EB

  • Create protocols and guidelines to create and share appropriate and authentic content that elevate black, indigenous and racialized peoples voices in our community adding our pronouns to our names in our signatures and mentioning it when facilitating sessions to provide space for others to do the same. 

  • Log progress on our website to ensure our accountability, share our story and ongoing growth

  • Create a page around our team and have them share their unique lens, to celebrate the team’s diversity

  • Create awareness and gratitude for the land we live on and work on and connect with through land acknowledgement in presentations and programming 

  • Raise awareness among our team of the past and present realities of Indigenous Peoples through training on Indigenous cultural awareness and the Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission

2022 - Strategy & Planning

  1. Develop Strategy and Plan, in collaboration with black, indigenous and racialized community partners, to contribute to making mountain biking a safe and inclusive sport..  Potential ideas include:

    • Providing programs to facilitate access to mountain biking, by providing access to bikes and learning opportunities.   

    • Working with organizations to support IBPOC folk undertake anti-racism in sport work.

  2. Sustain an environment that treats people fairly and equitably - empower the team to learn to address sometimes-sensitive issues of privilege, stereotypes, bias, and“isms” and include development of skills to address those issues.

  3. Engage North Shore Indigenous communities to learn how we can support the recognition of Indigenous culture and  history into our everyday programming and procedures.

  4. Build relationships with the IBPOC community in the industry, learn about their needs and goals and help contribute our time and resources to support them. 

  5. Gain a better understanding of barriers within our community and ways we can work as an organization to help overcome them.

  6. Identify areas of improvement to be more diverse and inclusive within our company and on the trails.

    • More girls only programming

    • Building relationships with organizations who support and are run by IBPOC to advise us on programming and anti-racism opportunities.

  7. Engage in more learning and growth with decolonization efforts and break out of our colonial conditioning.

    • Sharing our gratitude and acknowledgement of the land we work and live on, to help create more awareness space for more learning and growth.

QUARTERLY UPDATES:


May 2021 - First Update of initial steps taken 

We have spent the last few months diving into the history and gaining a framework to help educate ourselves on diversity, equity and inclusion including taking the online courses listed below. We are now applying these lessons with our team, to ensure they are educated and empowered to be more inclusive and support anti-racism principles in everyday practices.

Diversity, Inclusivity, and Anti-Racist Training Kelli & Darren have done so far: 

  • 2018 - Building Diversity in Mountain Biking: 2-day conference - NSMBA Symposium - Paid

  • Nov 2020 - Podcast -#goodancestor / White Fragility: Robin DiAngelo - free

  • Nov 2020 - #1  - DEI Training for mountain bike spaces - 1hr Webinar - Eman Salem
    Learning outcomes: colonial, privilege, BIPOC, gaslighting, LGBTQ2S+, Micro aggression, fragility, white supremacy - Paid

  • Dec 2020 - #2 -DEI Training - Conscious Allyship in MTB Spaces - 2hr Webinar- Eman Salem
    Learning outcomes: Intention vs Impact, Conscious/Performative, good ally, navigating making mistakes, what are your commitments, Mentorship - Paid

  • Dec 2020 - Inclusive Marketing/Communication Learning Session - 1.5hr webinar - And Humanity -  free

  • Nov 2020 - Book: Me & White Supremacy  - Layla f. Sadd - Paid

  • Jan 2021 - Book: Decolonize 1st - Guide/workbook - Nahanee Creative - Paid

  • Jan 2021- Working in a Good Way - 1hr Webinar - Patrick Lucas and Tom Eustache- BC Aboriginal YOUTH Mountain Biking Project - Learning outcomes: patience, respect, humility; listen, be proactive & consistent, research & education, engage / go to them, floor protocols, develop relationships, principals on social justice & respect - Paid

  • Jan 2021- Decolonization of the Trails - 1hr Webinar - Patrick Lucas and Tom Eustache - Paid

  • Feb 2021 - Territorial Acknowledgement - 1hr Webinar- Nahanee Creative
    Learning outcomes: gratitude for the land we live on, let people know how we feel when we enter a space, asking in a good way, understanding the area where we live, work and play - Paid

  • Feb 2021 - Hired consulting services - AndHumanity - helping us work through a set tangible and realistic diversity, inclusivity, and anti-racist goals for short and long term and understand how to communicate our journey openly. - Paid

  • Feb 2021 - Indigenous Canada - University of Alberta Certificate Program - 12 week program - Paid

  • Feb 2021 - Global D&I Benchmark Activity - creating a plan for a better future with diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism - free

  • Mar 2021 - Microsoft eLesson - Unconscious Bias - free

  • Mar 2021 - “It start with U” -  90 min Workshop/Webinar - Amil Reddy - All staff - Paid

  • Mar 2021 - Anti-Racism 1 - Coursera - by University of Colorado- 3-week course- Boulder Colorado - free

  • Mar 2021 - Conversation w/ Elliot Jackson about how we can create more inclusion in the mountain bike realm - free

  • Apr 2021 - Continued consulting services - AndHumanity - measuring our tangible and realistic diversity, inclusivity, and anti-racist goals for short and long term - Paid

  • May 2021 - Continued consulting services - AndHumanity - Paid

  • May 2021 - Decolonizing Outdoor Spaces - 1hr Webinar - Wilderness Committee - Paid

DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) Work Implementation within Endless Biking so far: 

  1. Integrated Diversity,Inclusion, and Anti-Racism into our training and employee manual

  2. Integrating DEI Training in our onboarding and orientation work

  3. Team Training on Unconscious Bias and Anti-Racism with Amil Reddy and opening up dialog with our colleagues to create more awareness and safe spaces.

  4. Speaking more openly with our employees about diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism and creating more awareness about the importance of and the work we all need to do in order to create an inclusive space.

  5. Added pronouns and land acknowledgements into our signatures and have started to implement them upon our speaking engagements.

  6. Utilize land acknowledgements at the beginning of our programming

  7. Changed our wording to be more inclusive and sensitive to gender identity in our contracts and in our skills questionnaires - with option of non-binary

  8. We’ve contributed to creating Adaptive Training modules to ensure we train trainers to create accessible spaces for people with physical disabilities.

  9. List staff alphabetically on website to encourage equity

  10. Changed our in-store lighting and jerseys to reflect our support of the rainbow community 

Previous DEI Work we’ll continue to reinforce and implement: 

  1. Young girls camps  - help bring space to young girls so they aren’t having to be with all boys in our programs.  Including GRIP program - aimed toward 9-12 yrs old girls to help with life and staying active outdoors and girls only summer camps- this a new program starting in April 2021

  2. Continue to employ people with disabilities and training them to become leaders in our industry

  3. Continue to help develop adaptive training modules for mountain biking, providing  training to other instructors, and facilitating camps. 

  4. Provide support to kids with various developmental disabilities, to help them participate in our programs. 

  5. Learning how to implement land acknowledgement and incorporate it into our programs and internal training. 

  6. Help to gain more traction for young girls in our sport by continuing to mentor young girls through programs like Ride like a Girl. 

  7. Continue to support our team to volunteer guiding up North with SPIRIT North Youth programming in Burns Lake BC. 

  8. Continue to train Instructors and guides throughout remote areas in BC, to help build infrastructure to create safer spaces & training for those new to the sport and provide skill development opportunities for those who are already well versed.  Terrace, Smithers, Burns Lake, Quesnel, Vancouver Island, Nelson, Castlegar, Cypress Hills, Fernie, Sunshine Coast, etc. 

  9. Continue to employ underrepresented communities.

  10. Continue to celebrate and welcome those from LGBTQ2S+ community through creating a welcoming inclusive through decorations including our festive lighting in our shop to rainbow colors.

AUGUST 2021 - Update

Learning is endless. Throughout the last few months we have dedicated ourselves to this learning and unlearning journey that we know will last throughout our lifetime, but we are grateful to be learning the truth and how to work and live in a good way.

It has been so disrupting to learn all the injustices that have occurred throughout our history. It is now time to decenter ourselves as privileged, white, colonial settlers and uplift the voices that are often unheard.

“Growth doesn’t come at the speed of comfort”
- Quoted by Nadia Fantastic

LEARNING

  • June 14-25, 2021 - Participant: Listen, Reflect, Engage - a virtual diversity and inclusion online event - June 14-25 - Online event

    • June 15, 2021 - Decolonizing our Communities with Shawna Duncan - Intro to decolonial thinking in a community context.

    • June 21, 2021 - Foundations of Social Justice Literacy w/ Accountable Roots w/ Nadi Fantastic - virtual presentation - A conversation about social justice in Squamish, and the roadblocks to change. How should we relate to social justice as community members? What does it mean to use works like inclusivity, diversity and equity? What can be done now and what should we aim for in the future?

    • June 22, 2021 - What Makes an Inclusive Community? Key community members present their vision of an inclusive Squamish - Government, Community, School and Municipal District members share their thoughts and visions of the inclusive Squamish of the future.

  • June 21, 2021 - Law of Reciprocity - Sister Sage, presented by Big Bold Brand - about the challenges faced by Indigenous entrepreneurs in Canada.

  • July 22, 2021 - Indigenous Cultural Protocols, Empathy & Safety Work - by Nahanee Creative - Ta7talíya Michelle Nahaneea - Introduction to cultural protocols, empathy and safety Self reflection to understand your own role in these conversations Explore approaches to cultural work and decolonizing practices in a good way How to start introducing cultural safety into workplace policy Begin a Cultural Safety Plan of your own

  • July 2021 - Books:

    • STAMPED (For Kids): Racism, Antiracism and You - This chapter book edition of the #1 New York Times bestseller by luminaries Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds is an essential introduction to the history of racism and antiracism in America. A really great read that we read with our Daughter Myla.

    • Calling my Spirit Back - Elaine Alec - “Indigenous Peoples have always carried the knowledge necessary to heal. When our people heal, our families heal, our communities heal and our land will heal. You cannot have one without the other. These stories are teachings, prophecy and protocols shared throughout the years by elders, language speakers, medicine people and helpers. They have been the foundation to individual healing and learning self-love.”

UPDATES

  • Created COGkids programming & curriculum to help provide opportunities on bike for with Kids with Autism

  • Helped facilitate a PMBIA (Professional Mountain Bike Instructors & Guides Association) course for Indigenous Women Outdoors

November 2021 - Update

Continuing on our learning journey.

LEARNING:

Aug 12, 2021 - Course w/ Sports for Life - Canadian Indigenous Culture Training - Truth and Reconciliation Edition -

Learning Objectives

  • Understand the meaning of terms: culture, cultural identity, cultural awareness, and cultural self-awareness

  • Identify and describe the core components of culture: values, norms, symbols and material culture

  • Recognize how cultural differences can lead to miscommunication when people from differing cultural backgrounds interact

  • Define and differentiate between prejudice and discrimination

  • Explain the role cultural awareness plays in reducing prejudice, discrimination, and miscommunication between individuals

  • Define and differentiate between the three groups that comprise the Indigenous peoples of Canada (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) based on population, geography, cultural diversity, and access to rights and benefits under the Indian Act

  • Know the origin of the word "Indian"

  • Define the terms Status Indian, Non Status Indian, and Treaty Indian, within the context of the Indian Act

  • Recognize the importance of addressing an Indigenous person using the term preferred by that individual

  • Know the different terminologies (Inuit, Métis, First Nations, Aboriginal, Indigenous)

  • Recognize the European bias that is inherent in the teaching of Canadian history

  • Understand the differences between early Indigenous and early European societies, in terms of oral versus written tradition and views on land ownership

  • Describe the relationship between early European explorers and traders and Indigenous peoples and the ways that European contact affected Indigenous peoples.

  • Identify key issues and problems associated with the early treaties

  • Describe life on the early reserves

  • Define assimilation and enfranchisement, and describe the actions taken by the Canadian government to assimilate the Indigenous peoples, including the residential school system and The Indian Act

  • Define enfranchisement in relation to the policies of the Canadian government

  • Explain the historical significance of The White Paper

  • Recognize the importance of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP)

Aug 13, 2021 - Course w/ Sports for Life - Cultural Awareness in Youth Sport

Racism is the belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race. The Canadian Race Relations Foundation defines racism as “not only an attitude, but as the specific actions that result from this attitude which impact upon, marginalize, and oppress some people”.

Prejudice can make us dislike people we have never met. When we let prejudice affect how we behave towards someone, we are guilty of discrimination. Prejudice is a feeling.

Discrimination is an action that we take because of that feeling. Discrimination can take two forms: (1) We may treat someone badly because of the way we feel about “those kinds of people”; or, (2) We may treat people who are “like ourselves” better than we treat people who are “different” from ourselves.

Stereotypes are widely held but oversimplified views about different groups of people. Examples of stereotypes are expecting someone to behave a certain way because they are from a certain culture, or making assumptions about different groups of people. We may tend toward bias and assumptions unless we make a conscious effort to view things differently. It must be remembered that differences exist even within cultural groups.

Systemic discrimination/racism: The institutionalization of discrimination through policies and practices which may appear neutral on the surface, but which have an exclusionary impact on particular groups, such that various minority groups are discriminated against intentionally or unintentionally.

Through improved cultural awareness we can develop strategies to identify and appropriately challenge all the definitions above. Sometimes people are not aware that their actions may be offensive to those from other cultures. We all need to ask whether we understand other cultures, and make the effort to listen and learn, and to develop cultural awareness.

Source: Canadian Race Relations Foundation

Aug 14, 2021 - Course w/ Sports for Life - Diversity and Inclusion Training for Volunteers

Learning Objectives
Understand the concept of "culture"

  • Recognize the broad diversity of cultures and languages that form Canadian society

  • Know the importance of recognizing and overcoming personal cultural biases

  • Identify the basic components of cultural competency

  • Describe common barriers to cross-cultural communication and practical strategies to reduce misunderstandings and develop rapport

Aug 14, 2021 - Course w/ Sports for Life - Stepping Stones to Indigenous Sport and Physical Activity Participation

Sept 23, 2021 - Online Course - w/ Faye O’Neil - Indigenous Resources & Perspectives for Outdoor Learning

Sept 27 - Oct 1 - Online event - Truth and Reconciliation Week - teachings from Elders, knowledge keepers, residential school Survivors, leaders and artists representing First Nations, Inuit, and Métis voices across the country. Each day featured two live sessions available to view on the NCTR website or Youtube.

Oct 15, 2021 -Article by Jess Scott - How to include trans and non-binary people in your women’s outdoor group

Books:

  • White Fragility - by Robin Diangelo - This book explicates the dynamics of White Fragility and how we might build our capacity in the on-going work towards racial justice.

Movies:

  • Indian Horse - An adaptation of Ojibway writer Richard Wagamese’s award-winning novel, this moving and important drama sheds light on the dark history of Canada’s boarding schools or Indigenous Residential Schools and the indomitable spirit of aboriginal people.

  • The Green Book - Set in 1962, the film is inspired by the true story of a tour of the deep south by African American classical and jazz pianist Don Shirley and Italian American bouncer Frank "Tony Lip" Vallelonga, who served as Shirley's driver and bodyguard.

UPDATES:

  • Aug 25, 2021 - Spirit North - started dialog about how we can help to create opportunities here in North Vancouver.
    Spirit North connects Indigenous youth to sport, play, the outdoors and the land. Through these connections, they empower children to learn, grow, thrive and eventually contribute to the health, strength and vibrancy of their communities.

Update: February 2022

The learning continues and we are grateful to be on this pathway.

Here are some good reads and initiatives we have continued to do in the past three months:

Update: May 2022

The learning continues. The more we learn the more we discover how little we know, but the foundation is expanding and helping us hold space for equity deserving groups.

  • 4 Seasons of Reconciliation - Deloitte - Public Course

    • Learning objectives:

      • Overview of Truth and Reconciliation

      • Call to action #92

      • Economic reconciliation

      • The historical and contemporary challenges faced by indigenous peoples

      • The importance of Treaties and what it means by: ‘we are all Treaty people’

      • Truth and reconciliation in the workplace

      • The ongoing impact of colonialism, the residential schools, and the Indian Act

      • Stories of partnerships, hope, and indigenous culture revitalization

  • Sinixt “ Extinction: Contemporary Sinixt - Settler - State Relations in BC Workshop. - learning more about the area in which we spend a portion of our time and call our second home.

Update: September 2022

Continuing the learning journey by creating space for education and conversations.

  • Donated 10 hardtail Rocky Mountain bikes to two First Nations communities. Five bikes went to the Squamish Nation to be used for the @squamishnationyouthmtbclub & indigenous outdoors and five bikes went to the Simpcw Nation for their community.

  • Attended a presentation by Patrick Lucas with Indigenous Youth Mountain Bike Program founder about reconciliation and the mountain bike community & trails. Links to the presentation and a first nations panel discussion.

  • Truth & Reconciliation day, ways we encouraged our staff to participate.

    • Intergenerational March for Orange Shirt Day – the UBC Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre Canada holds an educational march on campus on September 30th between 11:00 am and 2:30 pm.

    • Building Local Relationships Workshop – in partnership with the Indigenous Perspectives Society, the BC Non-Profit Housing Association hosts an educational webinar from 1:00 to 4:00 pm on September 20th.

    • Britannia Community Services Centre – an Orange Shirt Day gathering with lunch, crafts and more at the Vancouver Aboriginal Community Policing Centre and Grandview Park between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm on September 30th.

    • Sound House: Honouring with Orange – a lantern procession followed by Indigenous dance performances at UBC’s Museum of Anthropology on September 29th at 7:00 pm.

    • Simpcw First Nation Allies Mountain Bike Festival, an incredible educational festival bringing people together to learn, listen, share and ride. Owners Darren Butler and Kelli Sherbinin along with their family and Program Manager attended this event and offered complimentary shuttles for the event. Learn more about the Simpcw First Nation.

    • The Witness Blanket: Launched as part of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission findings. Funded through the commission and the artist/creator of the site is a BC local and educator at UVic Carey Newman (Twitter: @blueravenart)This is an amazing site with stories and visuals from across Canada and extremely timely for this weeks observance of National Truth & Reconciliation Day.

  • INCLUSIVE BUSINESS FOUNDATION Course - with Nadi Fantastic - Framework & Training - Sept 2022 - Paid

    • Topics: Design Your 7-Step Strategy, Implementation Mapping, Anti-Bias & Anti-Racism, Knowledge Gaps & Allyship, Intentional & Authentic Actions, Facing Performative Fears, Perfectionism, Shame and Guilt, Bonus Coaching with Nadi Fantastic Included

    • This course allows us to share the course materials with other staff members, so our management team are all taking it together to help us all learn how we can best implement our learnings.

    • Good Reads link provided in this course: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/bias

    • Good Videos to watch: https://inclusionwithnadi.com/alliesworkshoprecording

      • Topics include:

        • Identifying Gender Discrimination

        • The Real-Life Impacts of Gender Discrimination

        • Activating Emotional, Intelligence to Interrupt Patterns

        • Tactics for De-escalating Situations in Real-Time

        • Moving BEYOND Comfortable Allyship

Update: January 2023

Continuing on our learning journey through discussions, reading, movies, courses and more. These past few months we have inspired others to become more aware and educate themselves with inclusion and our history. As privileged - white - settlers, we need to be the solution. We need to spend more time uncovering the true history of our past and and ourselves how to reconcile these relationships? What actions can we take to create a better way for an inclusive, equitable future for all.

  • In converstations with:

    • West Vancouver Recreation Commission to create mountain biking program opportunities for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth in collaboration with their outdoor recreation programming.

    • Douglas College - VEST work experience - for 2024: A Bike Assembly and Repair program for people with disabilities or barriers to education and employment. Helping students identify career paths, develop work skills, or move on to additional education or employment opportunities.

  • Webinars: Understanding Indigenous Land Protocols to Guide Recreation

  • Book: 21 Things You May Not Know About The INDIAN ACT - The essential guide to understanding the legal document and its repercussions on generations of Indigenous Peoples, written by a leading cultural sensitivity trainer.

  • Movie: British Columbia: An Untold History - A powerful documentary learning about Indigenous, Chinese, Japanese, Punjabi, Black, and European stories which are woven together to present an astute look at the complicated histories that shaped BC as we know it today.

  • Resources:

    • downiewenjack - Inspired by Chanie’s story and Gord’s call to build a better Canada, the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund aims to build cultural understanding and create a path toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples

    • How to Build an Anti-Racist Company - article by James D White - fostering Equity, diversity and inclusion in corporate businesses.

Update: April 2023

  • Updates with EB Programming

    • Working with expanding our COGkids program, which focuses on providing opportunities on bikes for kids with Autism

    • Working to develop ongoing programming with the Tsleil-Waututh Nation School again for the 2023 season.

  • February 15, 2023: Online: ANTIRACISM AT WORK WORKSHOP WITH SELAM - Internal Management team

    • learning outcomes:

      • Understand Racism In ‘Canada’,

      • Learn to hold antiracist conversations at work & at home,

      • Learn how to become an accomplice

  • March 31, 2023 - Indigenous Women Outdoors Fundraiser in Squamish

    • supporting a group of Indigenous women raise money in their efforts to compete in several mountain bike events within BC. An evening of embracing equity!

    • Celebrating all the bad ass women and girls throughout history with an evening of games, give aways and short stories! All proceeds donated to IWO to help get the team to the races this season!

  • March 25, 2023: Registered for Online: ANTIRACISM COURSE w/ Selam Debs

    • Stay tuned for what we learn from this course starting on April 12, 2023 over 12 weeks.

      • The six-module Antiracism Course will run for 12 CONSECUTIVE WEEKS. Every two weeks you’ll receive new video lessons from Selam, covering foundational Antiracism topics, relevant to the Canadian experience. You’ll also get 8+ Bonus LIVE sessions to internalize your learning. We’ll talk about the REAL CANADIAN HISTORY, WHITE PRIVILEGE AND WHITE FRAGILITY, IMPLICIT BIAS, DISMANTLING SYSTEMIC RACISM, ALLYSHIP AND HOW TO DEVELOP AN ANTIRACIST LENS IN YOUR DAILY LIFE.

Next update scheduled for JULY 2023

Invitation for feedback: How we can continue to be more inclusive?

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