A Winkler bike shop is rolling out a new program it hopes will inspire youth in communities across the province.
Country Cycle’s Peter Loewen has teamed up with fellow cyclist Eric Mentuck from Waywayseecappo First Nation to develop the Country Cycle Indigenous Bike Program.
“We’re creating a structured bicycle program … creating weekly gatherings for kids to learn about cycling and teach them skills,” Loewen says, explaining the program will be for youth age 5-18. “It’s something to get the kids outside in a fun and engaging way, building relationships … expressing their emotions through biking.
“We want to bring them up from a young age, get them on bikes, and educate them about taking care of their bikes. Teach them all the skills, and then we’ll get them up into racing shape, if they want.”
Plans are already in the works for a bike race to be held in a northern Indigenous community this fall.
Loewen has travelled to many communities in Northern Manitoba over the past several months, hosting bike workshops and developing the idea for this program with Mentuck.
Feedback from these events as well as discussions with Indigenous leaders has the pair feeling optimistic about the program’s chance to really catch on.
Supplied Photos
Kendrick (left) and Aurora were among the kids who took part in Country Cycle’s various bike repair workshops over the past few months. The company’s Peter Loewen travelled to several northern communities to put on the sessions and connect with local youth
“I think why it’s going to work is because what Indigenous communities are looking for are ways to teach their kids more about those traditional ways of seeing the world,” Loewen says. “When you’re on a bike, you feel a little bit more connected to the world around you, so it opens up opportunities to speak about traditional medicines, about certain plants, the water scene, birds … it just opens up those opportunities when you’re out in the middle of the trail. I think it’s going to be a stimulating way to do that.”
The program will be run by volunteers in each community, with support from Loewen and Mentuck.
The pair met at a bike race in Colorado several years ago. They hit it off and stayed in touch.
“He works with quite a few Indigenous communities,” Loewen says of Mentuck. “He wants to really focus on reconciliation with Indigenous communities … so he opened up the conversation with me, and that just got my head spinning.”
“We want to inspire people that the reconciliation is there and it is possible,” Mentuck says. “No matter your skin colour, you can work together on a common goal.”
Mentuck has worked with other bike shops on similar programs designed to get kids into cycling.
He credits the sport with having a huge impact on his own life.
“It actually helped change my life for the better in terms of physical health and mental health. Growing up, I never had someone to do that for me, so that’s what I want to do.”
“There’s a lot they will take away, many different paths they can take away,” Mentuck says. “Number one is the physical and mental health. We want kids to get something they can use lifelong.
“In the Indigenous communities we have a high rate of diabetes, so we really want to combat that, educate people on how cycling can help prevent it and help maintain it if they’re already diabetic.
“We would also like to see some kids take up cycling competitively,” he adds. “You never know who’s out there.”
“The dream is to get this program into as many of the Manitoba communities as we can, and Northwest Ontario, Nunavut,” Loewen says. “That’s the goal, the big dream. But first we have to get it started.”
They’re in talks with several communities and schools right now and hope to get a few clubs started this spring.
The pair are working on securing funding to ensure the cost of bicycles, helmets, and other accessories isn’t a barrier to a child taking part.
Loewen notes Country Cycle will also be introducing a new product that will provide financial support for the program. Details are expected to be released soon.
In the meantime, if you’d like to learn more about the Indigenous Bike Program or how you can support it, get in touch with Country Cycle through its website, countrycycle.ca.
