Advancing Reconciliation

Doing Our Part

Artist Joshua Watts posed with his design for Evolve's E-Scooters in Squamish

As a Purpose-led organization, it’s our responsibility to reflect on our role in British Columbia and with Indigenous communities. 

Here are a few ways we’re listening, learning and actively advancing reconciliation at BCAA, today and into the future: 

• Building organization-wide Reconciliation Commitments that will guide our future reconciliation-related plans and activities in: Vocation & Training, Cultural Awareness & Education, Products & Services and Community Outreach & Engagement.
• Offering reconciliation-related learning opportunities to team members, including a 4-part microlearning video series on Indigenous history in Canada. Layering educational content from Indigenous legal scholar Janice Makokis with first-hand storytelling from Indigenous team members, this series facilitates foundational learning about Indian Residential Schools, the Scoops, the Indian Act and the Truth & Reconciliation Commission. 
• Evo partners with the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre to offer discounted museum entry and access to guided tours and storytelling, traditional drum songs and more. 
• We partnered with the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC) to display Indigenous art on Evolve E-Bikes around Whistler. The initiative featured two Indigenous artists: Chief Ray Natraoro (Ses Siyam), a well-respected artist from Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation); and Redmond Q̓áwam̓ Andrews, a talented young artist from Lil̓wat7ul (the Lil’wat Nation) and SLCC Cultural Ambassador. Both artists focused on the Spo7ez story, helping to inspire Whistler locals and visitors to learn more about the histories, rich cultures and peaceful co-existence of the two Nations. 
• We partnered with Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and Nuu-Chah-Nulth artist Joshua Watts to display Indigenous art on Evolve E-Scooters around Squamish. Joshua’s design focused on the Thunderbird – a carrier of energy, transformation and relationship to place. 
• The artwork for the BCAA Fireweed pin was designed by Quw’utsun Tribes artist Charlene Johnny, honouring the fireweed’s significance to Indigenous peoples. Through this collaboration, we’re celebrating our collective strength in the face of wildfires and our ability to recover and rebuild, together. 
• This year’s BCAA Fireweed Pin proceeds will support First Nations’ Emergency Services Society (FNESS), a First Nations-led organization that partners with communities across BC to prepare for, respond to and recover from wildfires. Their work helps build safer, healthier and more resilient communities. 

 

• Including location-specific land acknowledgements within BCAA Service Locations and Auto Service Centres in consultation with local Indigenous communities. 
• Continuing to donate to the Indian Residential School Survivors Society, a BC-based organization that provides services to residential school Survivors. 

 
        Image provided by Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS)

• Through our BCAA Gives Back platform, our team members can contribute to Indigenous organizations advocating to keep Indigenous culture and history alive, and who are working hard to improve the lives of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples across the province and country. These include the Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS), Indigenous Perspectives Society, Reconciliation Canada, RAVEN (Respecting Aboriginal Values and Environmental Needs) and The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund. 

BCAA and Evo are committed to continuing to incorporate reconciliation into our policies, practices and culture in alignment with the TRC’s Calls to Action.