KL Foundation

06/03/2026

June is National Indigenous History Month—a space for all of us to reflect on and grow our understanding of the history, cultures, languages and contributions of First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples who have cared for and stewarded these lands since time immemorial.

As we move through this month we encourage everyone to listen to the voices of Indigenous Peoples as they share stories about their lives and experiences - including the lasting legacy of colonization and the strength and pride in community resilience and cultural revitalization.
At Kwumut Lelum Foundation, we are inspired everyday by the stories of the children, youth, and families of our member Nations, and we are grateful to support their visions for the future.

We encourage you to get inspired as well this month - there are so many ways to get involved such as:
🧡 Reading books, watching films, or listening to podcasts by Indigenous creators.
🧡 Attending Indigenous-led events, celebrations, and learning opportunities in your community.
🧡 Supporting Indigenous artists, businesses, organizations, and initiatives.

05/29/2026

It’s and today we uplift all of the Indigenous Youth who have received our Kw’umut Lelum Foundation Indspire awards. These awards provide financial support and help create pathways for Indigenous youth to post-secondary education. Award recipients have pursued studies in a variety of areas including social work, science, education, and law!

For example, the award supported Diane James from Lyackson to pursue her Bachelor of Education degree . As she shared with us: “This award gave me the confidence that anything is possible. It also gave me the motivation to stay dedicated to my studies and focused on the path of education.”

Get inspired by the stories of other award recipients: https://www.klfoundation.ca/klf-indspire

05/22/2026

This week we got out of the office and joined a group of youth in Halalt to learn about traditional plant medicines from knowledge keeper Kristin Thomas. She taught us about the medicinal properties of each plant that had been dried to make tea. We also learned how to make salves from local beeswax and qwa'pulhp (devil’s club). The youth already knew a lot from growing up with the teachings, and were eager to head out the next day to pull cedar for different projects! We are full of gratitude for these sacred teachings and gifts from the land.

05/12/2026

On May 14, we join people across Canada in recognizing Moose Hide Campaign Day: a day of ceremony, learning, and action focused on ending gender-based violence. The Moose Hide Campaign began as an Indigenous-led movement along the Highway of Tears and has grown into a nationwide call to honour, respect, and protect women, children, and all people along the gender continuum.

Wearing a moose hide pin is one way to show your commitment, but meaningful change also happens through everyday actions. Here are a few things you can do:
🧡 Learn about the impacts of violence and colonialism in Indigenous communities
🧡 Speak up when you witness disrespect, harm, or violence
🧡 Support survivors with compassion and accountability
🧡 Teach young people about healthy relationships, kindness, and respect
🧡 Take time to reflect on how each of us can help create safer communities

The Moose Hide Campaign reminds us that reconciliation requires action. Together, we can help build communities rooted in respect, responsibility, and care for one another.

Learn more, register for events, or order a free moose hide pin at https://moosehidecampaign.ca/.

05/07/2026

We are excited to share that Danielle Alphonse, the BC Regional Innovation Chair for Aboriginal Early Childhood Development at Vancouver Island University is our technical advisor on our new Free to Play initiative. This initiative (supported by the Waltons Trust in partnership with the Lawson Foundation and Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities) aims to “build a movement of outdoor play for children across Canada.” Danielle will be working with member Nations to develop land-based learning activities and play for Indigenous children and youth.

“I love being on the land and I love children and the idea of an initiative that can support inter-generational healing - well let’s just say this is at the heart of the work that I love to do.”

(photo credit: Vancouver Island University)

Read our full interview with Danielle and the Free to Play initiative:

Our March newsletter shared the story of Free to Play , a national initiative (supported by the Waltons Trust in partnership with the Lawson Foundation and Canadian Tire Jumpstart) to “build a movement of outdoor play for children across Canada.”

05/05/2026

Today is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirited people ( +). Métis artist Jamie Black created the Redress Project in 2010 - a series of empty red dresses - as an “aesthetic response to the more than 1,000 missing and murdered Indigenous women” across the country.”
Now every May 5 people gather to honour and mourn their stolen sisters. Red dresses are hung in communities as a symbol of remembrance a commitment to continue to fight for justice for all of those who were taken.
Today we stand with those families and communities so they know they are not alone in their grief or their fight.

You can take action this by:
👗Reading and sharing the MMIWG Final Report
👗Wearing red
👗Supporting a vigil, walk, or community event
👗Hanging a red dress in your window or yard
👗Listening to a podcast about : https://www.takenthepodcast.com/

Finally - we recognize that today many people are struggling and we want them to know support is available through the Kuu-us Crisis Line Society or at 1-800-588-8717. ❤️

05/04/2026

Our Storyteller Sheena Robinson, sits on the Indigenous Priorities Grant committee for the Salt Spring Island Foundation. She was able to join them in person this year, rather than virtually.
“It was wonderful to sit in circle with SSF and the ISG committee to build connections and learn more about the amazing Indigenous-led initiatives taking place on the island.”

Salt Spring is the ancestral territory of many First Nations including five of our nine KLF member Nations: Penelakut Tribes, Lyackson, Halalt, and MÁLEXEŁ (Malahat). Since 2022 the foundation has distributed over $351,428 to 29 initiatives in support of Indigenous projects and programming. This year, the Truth and Reconciliation Day celebration on Salt Spring (led by Penelakut Tribes) and the revitalization of the Fulford Sea Garden will be advanced. Learn more:
https://ow.ly/EUHB50YSCZs

04/30/2026

This April, the League of Canadian Poets and Native Women in the Arts (NWIA) have invited all Canadians to celebrate National Poetry Month with this year’s theme of LAND & SEA where “poets and readers explore their relationship with water and land — to write, reflect, and celebrate our shared responsibilities and the sacred bonds that sustain us all.”

We thought this would be the perfect opportunity to re-share this VIU interview with our Storyteller Sheena, which includes her poem ‘Roots Anchored,’ (as published in Worth More Standing, by Caitlyn Press) a homage to her Heiltsuk mother and late father, a biologist, both of whom inspired her relationship with the land.
https://ow.ly/1z3k50YSCSJ

04/23/2026

We are so proud to be able to support Rooted Shores Farm with their Free to Play grant that will help create educational opportunities for children and youth on the farm!

04/22/2026

This year’s theme is "Our Power, Our Planet," focusing on individual actions and local solutions to combat climate change. At KLF, we are working on a Climate Resiliency Strategy informed by our member Nations: Coast Salish Relationships to the Land.

We were chosen to be part of the Community Foundations of Canada ‘Communities for Climate Resilience’ learning cohort - designed to help community foundations step confidently into climate leadership & strengthen community resilience.

Stay tuned to learn more about how Youth, Elders, and knowledge holders are informing this strategy!