Galleries
Orca Lelum Open House
July 3rd, Orca Lelum hosted an open house, welcoming over 300 visitors from both Vancouver Island and the mainland. This impressive turnout highlighted the vital importance of Orca Lelum’s project. As the island's first wellness center dedicated to Indigenous youth struggling with drug addiction, Orca Lelum's mission resonated deeply with both long-time supporters and new faces who came out to show their support.
Men’s Gathering 2024
On April 11th, KL hosted a Men’s Gathering at the Coast Bastion, to celebrate their spirits, strength, and resilience. It served as a safe space where participants could openly express vulnerability, exchange knowledge, and share experiences on a range of topics, including relationships, mental health, and parenting.
Ku’ki’youk Fishing Derby 2023
On Sunday, June 25th, we had 15 boats on the water for our annual fishing derby in Stz'uminus. For many families, it wasn't their first rodeo - many participants joined for their third time, sharing their skills and teachings with the next generation. Congratulations and good job to all the families and Derby winners who participated - this year was a reel success!
Caregiver Appreciation Dinner 2022
Wednesday, October 26th we gathered at the Snuneymuxw Gym to honour and celebrate our Le’lumilh that care for our children and youth within our 9 member Nations. We raise our hands for your strength and grace. #CaregiverAppreciationMonth
Honouring our Children 2022
Over 45 parents and caregivers gathered for our "Honouring Our Children" Event at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre. The day included Parenting workshops, resources, vendors and support services to empower parents and caregivers of Indigenous children
Truth and Reconciliation Day 2022
In honour of #truthandreconciliation youth and community members distributed Traditional food hampers to give back to our Elders living outside of community. 100 households in the Nanaimo and Chemainus area received ingredients for a delicious fish soup – food for the soul! Huy tseep q’u/Kleco Nuu-Chah-Nulth for donating the fish and Thrifty Foods for providing us with the vegetables.
Ashley Callingbull Guest Speaker in Snuneymuxw
Wednesday, September 28th, families gathered at the Snuneymuxw Recreation and Wellness Centre to hear about the incredible journey of Indigenous activist, model and actress Ashley Callingbull.
9 Nations Lacrosse Community Day
Friday, August 19th over 40 children and youth gathered at the Covered Sports Court to play the Creator's game with the famous Thompson brother's. Lyle and Hiana Thompson went over fun drills and shared teachings such as, that it's not about winning or losing, its about the energy, the healing energy and the harder you play the stronger the medicine.
Drop-in Kayak 2022
Every Wednesday for the summer break our Wellness team hosted a drop-in Kayak program at Transfer Beach open to families from our 9 nations for a fun kayaking experience where all equipment, lessons and PFD was provided!
9 Nations Wellbriety
Wednesday, July 7th we celebrated and honoured our Welbriety members who started their new chapter of good health and wellness.
Indigenous Peoples Day 2022
Tuesday, June 21st Kw'umut Lelum gathered and celebrated our culture, our resilience, and our families at Swy-A-Lana, Stz'uminus, Lyackson and Halalt. We raise our hands to our staff, families and communities for helping us all to honour and celebrate our culture on National Indigenous People's Day.
Cedar Gala Celebrates 25 years
Thursday, March 24th, Kw'umut Lelum hosted a Cedar Gala where we celebrated 25 years of providing Indigenous-centered programming and services as an agency, as well as the creation of the newly-launched Kw'umut Lelum Foundation. At the VI Conference Centre, more than 250 guests gathered together for an opportunity to recognize and honour our incredible achievements over the past 25 years and to collaborate, grow partnerships, and unite efforts to expand cultural, economic, social, educational, and recreational access for our families
Respecting the Harvest 2022
We hosted a very successful program where youth in care learned practical firearm safety, and shooting skills while taking in the snuw'uyulh related to harvesting food, and learned about their inherent rights to hunt
Family Retreat 2022
Kw’umut Lelum hosted our first 3-Day Family Retreat where 10 families shared, practiced, and connected to Coast Salish ways through Traditional teachings and hands on crafts and activities at the Cowichan Lake Education Centre. Cultural Worker, William Johnny and Frankie Shaw taught the families how to create their own drum, as well as the unique steps of wool weaving. Participants also painted their own mini paddles, canvases, explored nature and much more!
Honouring our Sisters 2022
Women from across the island and the mainland gathered Friday, May 6th for the Honouring our Sisters Conference. It was a beautiful day as we shared our voices and were surrounded by powerful and strong women. We raise our hands to the guests, keynote speakers, elders, vendors and support staff for creating a safe space for women to come together and connect. We are all warriors!
Fishing Derby 2022
Sunday, June 5th was a big catch as members from our 9 Nations gathered for our 2nd annual Ku’ki’youk Fishing Derby where over 20 vessels spent the day out on the beautiful waters of Shell Beach. This was a day to celebrate and exercise our inherent right to fish in traditional territory, and enjoy a little friendly competition in the process.
Hope & Health 2019
Kw’umut Lelum is very proud to be one of the primary sponsors of the 8th Annual Hope and Health event, a soccer-based movement that engages Indigenous youth and children to improve long-term health and life outcomes.
The high-experienced Vancouver Whitecaps made an appearance in Nanaimo at the Bowen Park grass field, on August 19th to interact & inspire aboriginal children & youth (ages 5-18) providing a full day-camp of skill & drill training. However, this day was more than just about sport; it held building resiliency, self-confidence, and relationships that develop a positive sense of self.
Tribal Journeys 2019
From July 15th to July 26th, the Kw'umut Lelum Canoe family travelled with 16 youth for 11 days from Puyallup to Lummi.
On every canoe journey our youth continue to grow spirtitually,mentally, emotionally & physically as young Hwulmuhw Mustimuhw. We made many adjustments to the program this year to continue to provide for the safety and wellbeing to our youth; some wanted to go but didn't want to be on the water so they participated as road crew; and on nights when protocol ran very late, we made the decision together to return to camp to rest rather than wait to perform so that our youth could get the proper rest and care they needed for the journey
Hope & Health 2018
The 7th Annual Hope and Health Soccer event on August 20th brought together hundreds of children and familes from more than 25 Nations for a day of sport, music and fun in Nanaimo. Photos by Tricia Thomas
Tribal Journeys 2018
From July 16th to August 1st, the Kw’umut Lelum canoe family travels from Kulleet Bay in Stz’uminus all the way to Puyallup in Washington State. This Journey takes us along the watery highway of our ancestors, in a cedar canoe carved by Luke and John Marston with help from our own KL youth. Each day we stop in a new territory, arriving as friends on the shores of different Nations, growing in number as we are joined by more and more canoe families along the route.
Tribal Journeys 2016
Tribal Canoe Journeys is a celebrated event for the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Nations from the coast of Alaska, British Columbia, and Washington state participate every year in these Tribal Canoe Journeys.
These are a sequence of canoe journeys taken up by canoe families, nations, and groups who travel in ocean-going canoes, either authentic replicas of traditional canoes, made out of solid cedar logs or various replicas using more modern techniques and materials.
KL 20th Anniversary
Kw’umut Lelum want to raise our hands to thank all who attended our Strong Roots, Strong Families 20th Anniversary Celebration. The event was a huge success thanks to the participation of our staff, volunteers, KL youth and families and community leaders! More than 200 people joined the celebration at the Halalt gym and athletic field on July 6th.