Bike-minded People: Tom Eustache - A place for my kids and my community to ride

“I just can’t believe I get the chance to do all this stuff,” Tom admits with a wide eyed gaze toward the treetops. “To look after these trails and create a place for my kids and my community to ride… And I guess I’m just looking forward to learning more. Learning more about riding, learning more about my history and how the Simpcw people are woven within this landscape, and doing so for as long as my health will allow me.”

The unceded territory of the Simpcw People is centered around the North Thompson River and the headwaters of the Fraser River, where the mountains are tall, the terrain is rolling, and the land breathes with the spirit of a quiet people. Here lies an untouched gem of a trail network above the village of “Chu Chua”.

Amidst the tall trees and a calm breeze, Tom Eustache, the Infrastructure Manager of this space, finds his purpose and place. For Tom, these trails go beyond paths in the wilderness and serve a much deeper purpose of connection to the earth. With a calm and quiet demeanor and eyes that hold the wisdom of generations, Tom invites me into a world where language, trails, and the landscape merge as a tale of honour and reverence.

In the realm of Chu Chua's trails, Tom Eustache wears many hats. As the Infrastructure Manager, he takes on the responsibility of weaving the threads of community, culture, and conservation into the very fabric of these trails. "It became apparent that people were wanting to use the trails. So I pitched the band on making it a part of my job. I promised it wouldn’t interfere with my workload and I also didn’t want to pay myself anything extra, it would just be for the good of the community. So they were good with it, and we even signed an agreement with Rec Sites and Trails to ensure that the trails would be safe and well maintained,” Tom says with his voice carrying an honour for the responsibility. “Now I get goosebumps hearing the people hooting and hollering in the forest when they ride our trails,” Tom admits with a genuine grin.

As we pedal deeper into the forest, fading further into our conversation, Tom reveals the essence of the Shuswap language, a linguistic heritage that resonates with the very heartbeat of these lands spanning the North Thompson Region from Valemount to Sun Peaks. "It's a big part of the land. It comes from the land, and it describes the nature of the land in a manner that nothing else can do quite as well,” he states with his words echoing the profound connection his people have with this terrain. Among this language and these tales that echo through the trees lives a story of resilience and healing.

“If the Shuswap language is born from this land, and the trails bring people into a deeper appreciation for this land,” I ask, “would it be fair for me to draw a connection between the trails and the language, as both being expressions of this place?”

“Yes, that would be a fair assumption," Tom affirms, acknowledging the profound connection between the language of the Shuswap people, the trails they traverse, and their shared appreciation for the space they inhabit.

Looking ahead, Tom’s hopes for the Chu Chua Trails are simple: “I hope for people to continue to use them." His dedication to preserving the heritage of these trails echoes in his words, a commitment to ensuring that a bit of the Simpwc People lives on with each pedal stroke in this forest.

As our ride comes to a close, Tom reflects with gratitude on the most precious gift he possesses - his health. It is a sentiment found in the flowing forest of Chu Chua, and his appreciation serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of life and nature.

In the heart of the Chu Chua Trails, Tom Eustache stands as both a builder and a guardian of heritage, a quiet storyteller who allows the legacy of the land to speak through his work. Through Tom’s dedicated work, we witness not only a trail network but also a testament to the relationship between a community and the land that is their eternal home.

"Bike Minded People" is a collection of stories by Dylan Sherrard about people who represent the passion we share for mountain biking and its ability to be a 'force for good' in our communities.

Previous installments of Bike Minded People:

Andrea Heath - Pursuing My Dream Later in Life

More installments coming soon...