Photo Galleries
Community Ball Hockey 2019
KL's Wellness Team took hockey to the undercover sports court where we are improving our youths, physical, mental, and social skills every Thursday evening.
Culture & Recreation Camp 2019
Kw'umut Lelum 4 Seasons hosted a three day Cultural Day Camp, August 20th to the 22nd, at the Jones Rd. Location in Ladysmith, BC. There were 35 campers, ranging in age from 7 - 19 years old, representing eight member nations
The camp brought youth together to experience a wide range of cultural, recreation and wellness activities. We had an introduction to a sweat lodge, family tree station, drumming, singing, language, lahal, and a mini-drum making workshop. We also went on a fishing charter where we learned about traditional and contemporary methods of fishing. The children experienced rock climbing at Wild Play, & even went bowling on one of the very rainy days.
We raise our hands to elder, George Harris (Stz'uminus), who welcomed us to Stz'uminus territory, sharing a song and prayer. The 4 Seasons team is looking foward to many more opportunities to engage our children & youth in recreation and culture!
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.
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
Hope and Health 2016
“Through Hope and Health, if we can help change that cycle of kids coming into care, one family at a time,” says Bill Yoachim, Executive Director of Kw’umut Lelum, “it’s well worth every ounce of energy we put into this event.”
Throughout the day, children and youth participated in soccer drills, took part in crafts and cultural activities, and those without soccer cleats were given a brand new pair to keep as part of a boot drive organized by the Whitecaps FC and Adidas.
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KL Hope and Health Soccer Camp
Hope and Health is an annual event presented by Kw’umut Lelum Child and Family Services, Lalum’utul Smun’eem Aboriginal Child and Family Service Agency, and Whitecaps FC that utilizes soccer to build resilience among children and youth and bridge communities.
Hope & Health is about a movement more than just a community event. Many of these kids are quite disconnected from their families, community and culture so this is truly a reconnecting and nation/community building opportunity for everyone involved.
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
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.
Mini Longhouse
Youth and caregivers built a beautiful scaled down long house with Spirit Works to be the heart of Kw'umut Lelum's new Four Seasons Cultural Program. The longhouse will be used by children, families and caregivers to learn traditional Coast Salish arts and crafts including cedar weaving, carving and drum making.
The Mini Longhouse also provides a comfortable and inspiring setting to hold family circles as well as staff gatherings and inter-agency meetings. The Mini Longhouse can be booked by external agencies and organizations by calling Kw'umut Lelum's receptionist.
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Penelakut Elders Forum
Penelakut Elders dialogue with Kw'umut Lelum Leadership, Chief and Counsel and special guest the Child and Youth Representative, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond. The Representative spoke of the need to safeguard children from abuse and neglect and encourage healthy lifestyles.
Kw'umut Lelum recognizes the importance of facilitating ongoing dialogue with their Member Nation's Elders in order to best understand the their community's aspirations and to bring forward their teachings of the ancestors.
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.
Appreciation Luncheon
On November 8th, Kw’umut Lelum hosted a lunch to say hych'ka siem to the wonderful members of our community who helped our family following the recent fire at our Centre St offices.
KL staff were joined by Nanaimo Fire Chief Craig Richardson, first responder fire fighters, and many of our colleagues from the Ministry of Child and Family Development to share a meal and a prayer and to gather in thanks for the continued safety and wellbeing of our children and community.