Race, Identity and Belonging in the White Mountains

• Group size15 people

Join us for a powerful and thought-provoking presentation that explores race, identity and intersectionality in the Wobanadenok—known today as the White Mountains—ancestral lands of the Abenaki Peoples. We will delve into the legacy of racial exclusion in the United States and how it continues to shape who feels welcome in outdoor spaces. Through personal stories and historical context, Niles will guide us on a journey from the forests of Germany to the peaks of Cambodia, and finally to the rugged summits of New Hampshire. Along the way, he’ll share how hiking became a source of peace and reflection—and how confronting symbols of exclusion in American outdoor spaces led him to join Summits in Solidarity, a nonprofit working to connect BIPOC communities with nature and educate White allies on dismantling inequity in outdoor culture. This event is not just about acknowledging injustice—it’s about reclaiming the outdoors as a space of belonging, healing, and joy for ALL. About the Speaker: Based in Boston with his wife and two dogs, Niles has completed New Hampshire’s 52 With a View and 48 4,000-Footers with his dog Alfie and is currently working on his Winter 48. A lifelong advocate for radical social justice, his work with nonprofits around the world continues to inspire change in both urban and outdoor spaces.