Please join us for an Indigenous Youth Empowerment Biking and Gathering Event

When: Saturday, October 15th, 2022 at 11:30 AM
Where: Lawrence Street between Speer Blvd & 14th Street.
Who: All are welcome!

Rylee Nepinak, who biked across Canada to raise awareness of a youth suicide crisis in a northern Indigenous community in Canada, will be leading the ride through the streets of Denver.  Rylee raised $30k for Tataskweyak Cree Nation. More on Rylee:

Rylee Nepinak is a proud Anishinaabe who grew up off-reserve in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and is a member of Sagkeeng First Nation in Treaty 1 Territory. Rylee is one of the Co-Founders of Anishiative, a grassroots community organization that connects Indigenous youth to land-based education, inner-city outreach opportunities, and provides all-inclusive wellness programming for Northern Communities. Motivated by a state of emergency in Tataskewayak Cree Nation, Nepinak cycled across Canada raising money and promoting awareness about Indigenous youth suicide. Nepinak, who had no previous experience as a cyclist, finished his journey in 40 days and raised thirty thousand dollars. These funds were dedicated to being spent by youth in Tataskewayak. Practicing lateral kindness, reclaiming identity, and promoting Indigenous youth voices are the driving forces behind Rylee’s mission here on Turtle Island.

Event Schedule

11:30 AM: Gather at Lawrence green space between Speer Blvd & 14th Street.  Participants will check-in, hand in waiver, and pick up-event t-shirt (for the first 75 participants).
12:00 PM: Bike ride begins
12:45 PM: Bike ride ends at the Tivoli Quad on Auraria Campus. Participants lock up their bikes at a designated bike rack or cage. 
1:00 PM: Meet at the Tivoli Commons Stage to hear guest speakers and enjoy free food catered by Tocabe.

To register (and to complete the required waiver) for this event, please click here.

*Note* a waiver form for the event must be filled out prior to the start of the event.  Please either submit electronically or bring a signed hard copy with you to the day of the event. 

Loading Zone: If you choose to park on campus and need to drop off/pick up participants for the biking event there is a drop off zone at Lawrence Way (next to St. Cajeton's Church). Please see the campus maps linked bellow: 

Aurauria Campus General Map: http://www.ahec.edu/files/general/General-Campus-Map.pdf
Aurauria Campus Parking Map: https://www.ahec.edu/files/general/Parking-Map.pdf
Aurauria Campus Accessibility Map: https://www.ahec.edu/files/general/ADA-Parking-Map.pdf

Have questions? Contact us at Indigenous.Youth@ucdenver.edu​

Need access to a bike? Try some of these equity focused e-bike sharing programs: 

https://www.focuspoints.org/family-services/health/bike-library/  
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/3b3a92d864cf4744bb7f834d1e03df9f

Bike Route: