Kw’umut Lelum is honoured to share the launch of our new culturally grounded support program: Red Road to Recovery — an initiative created by and for Indigenous Peoples walking through the complexities of addiction and recovery.

May 16th, over 70 women came together for a full day of self-empowerment, healing, and celebration of the strength of Indigenous women.

These gatherings create a space where cultural teachings are passed down, and community members share knowledge across generations. Families don’t just take home their finished crafts, they also bring home new skills that they can continue practicing and passing down to friends and family.

May 5th marks the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), more widely recognized as Red Dress Day. It is a day of remembrance, reflection, and most importantly — a call to action.

As spring unfolds, Orca Lelum Wellness Centre is honoured to share the latest updates on our journey of supporting Indigenous youth in their healing and wellness.

Kw’umut Lelum is proud to announce an important initiative to honour Coast Salish culture by transitioning the names of its programs and departments from English to Hul’q’umi’num. This significant step reflects Kw’umut Lelum’s commitment to cultural identity, ongoing decolonization of services, and respect for Coast Salish traditions.

We are excited to announce a new resource for families in our community: Seda Ozer, our FASD Key Worker at KL! Seda is here to support families of children and youth under 19 years of age who are living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) or similar neurodevelopmental conditions.

This recipe is shared from the book Longhouse Kitchens by Mena Pagaduan, Eva Williams and Janet Moore, produced through the Canada Community Development Project, June 1982

Respecting the Harvest continues to teach respect for the land, the importance of family, and the reclamation of cultural traditions. As Chief John Elliott put it, “It’s teaching them about respect, family, and how to bring culture back into their lives and traditions.”

Imagine having the Hul'q'umi'num language at your fingertips, ready to explore through the voices of Elders, captivating stories, colourful visuals, and interactive games. A new chapter in the preservation and revitalization of Hul'q'umi'num begins with the launch of Ilhe Qwal (Let’s Talk), a free, immersive language app developed by Kw’umut Lelum in partnership with Ogoki Learning Inc.

October 17th, KL welcomed guest speaker Gene Harry (XiQuelum) from Malahat Nation, who shared heartfelt wisdom on kinship relationships and snuw’uy’ulh teachings that support families across our member Nations. XiQuelum spoke freely, offering teachings from the heart, highlighting the importance of working with others and, most importantly, with oneself.

October 2nd, KL proudly hosted our first-ever Qapthut S’ul’eluhw Elders Gathering, welcoming over 150 Elders from our member Nations. This special event was filled with reunions and new connections, celebrating the strength of our communities and culture.

This basketball court is a space for all members, especially the next generation of children and youth, to come together, honour their community, and build new relationships through the sport of basketball. We raise our hands to everyone who made this project possible, and we look forward to the growth, unity, and connections this court will bring.

The Coast Salish people have maintained a deep connection with the bounty of the land including its ample forest resources.  Since time immemorial, the Coast Salish people have inhabited the coastal regions of the Pacific Northwest and harvested a variety of berries for sustenance, bringing family and community together, to provide nourishment, and use as medicine.

By following these tips and incorporating traditional practices, you can create a sleep routine that honors your body's natural rhythms and promotes a deeper, more restorative rest!

Saturday, June 15th, KL’s 4th Annual Ku’ki’youk Fishing Derby brought together families from our member Nations for a day of celebration, tradition, and friendly competition. With over 15 vessels setting out on the beautiful Stz’uminus waters, the event was a resounding success, highlighting the significance of Indigenous History Month.

A new wellness center for Indigenous youth struggling with drug addiction is set to open on Vancouver Island. This center, called Orca Lelum, will offer wellness and detox services that are culturally relevant to Indigenous traditions.

Stinging nettles are full of vitamins and minerals, and were a key fresh food source for Coast Salish people. They have long been used as medicine too – the leaves can be used to treat acne, eczema, diarrhea, intestinal worms and urinary tract infections. Learn more here!

Staying safe online is important for kids and teens as they spend more and more time with technology and the internet. Nowadays, everything from chatting with friends to doing homework happens online. But while the internet is awesome for learning new stuff, being creative, and hanging out with friends, it can also be risky.