KL Foundation

06/17/2026

💙 A reunion, a shared meal, and a generous gift to the next generation.
Recently, the University of Manitoba's Class of 1968 Physiotherapy graduates gathered in Nanaimo to reconnect and celebrate lifelong friendships. As part of their reunion, they enjoyed a salmon barbecue in the park hosted by our colleague, Jen.
Moved by the experience and guided by the spirit of reciprocity, in lieu of just a simple thank you to their host, the group chose to make donations to the Kw’umut Lelum Foundation. Together, they raised more than $1,000 to support Indigenous children, youth, and families in our communities.
This is a beautiful example of how gathering around food and building relationships can create lasting impact. Every act of generosity helps create opportunities for young people and strengthens our collective future.
We raise our hands to these newest members of our tsetsuwatil community and thank them for walking alongside us in a good way.
Huy tseep q’u. ❤️

06/15/2026

It was so great to be part of the Pride Parade and festival this past weekend at Swy-a-Lana to stand alongside the + community and celebrate love, inclusion, and community. 🌈
Our story-teller and grant writer Sheena Robinson lent her support to our sister organization Kw'umut Lelum who were there raising funds for Foundry Snuneymuxw - a new centre being built for youth aged 12–24 to provide access to integrated services that support physical and mental health.
Thank you to the organizers, participants, and community members who made the day so vibrant and welcoming. Happy Pride! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

06/10/2026

Huy ch q’u to the First Nation Health Authority for sharing the third volume of their Food is Medicine: Gifts from Relations recipe book!

The book is full of recipes based “on traditional foods and teachings.” And this third volume contains something more: “Through community workshops and kitchen spaces, participants shared more than ingredients and methods: they also shared teachings. The title Gifts from Relations reflects those contributions: knowledge that helps readers understand not only how to prepare the dishes, but also the cultural and historical significance of the foods and the relationships that sustain them.” Check it out at www.fnha.ca

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06/08/2026

It’s PRIDE month 🌈 - a time for all of us to uplift +, and celebrate the diversity that makes our communities so vibrant and strong!

It’s also a time to reinforce our commitment to make sure our communities are inclusive and welcoming to all. We have made progress - this year is particularly momentous as Nanaimo Pride celebrates their 30 year anniversary and the tenth anniversary of the first permitted Pride Parade in 2016. But there is still so much more to be done to make sure our communities are more inclusive and stay that way.

There are lots of ways to get involved and show your Pride this year. If you are in the Nanaimo area, check out Nanaimo’s Pride Guide which has lots of different activities including concerts, socials, movie nights…even a bird watching event. And we will see you at the Pride Parade and Festival on June14th!

https://www.nanaimopride.ca/pride-guide

06/05/2026

June 4th, more than 60 scholarship recipients, donors, community members, and partners gathered at Qwam Qwum Stuwixwulh School for a special honouring event hosted by Kw’umut Lelum Foundation.

Together, we celebrated Indigenous students pursuing their educational dreams and the tsetsuwatil community of donors and supporters who help make those journeys possible.

Through songs, dances, blanketing ceremonies, witness reflections, and a shared feast, we were reminded that success is never achieved alone. It grows from relationships, culture, community, and people who are willing to put their hands on the backs of others.

As scholarship recipient Regina Charlie shared:

"Success isn’t just about academic achievement—it’s about staying connected to our culture, our community, and our values."

Read the full story and learn more about how Indigenous-led philanthropy is helping create pathways to education, wellness, and opportunity.

🔗 https://ow.ly/OzH650Z8h51

On June 4, more than 60 scholarship recipients, donors, community members, and partners gathered at Qwam Qwum Stuwixwulh School for a special honouring event celebrating Indigenous youth and the community that stands behind them. Hosted by Kw’umut Lelum Foundation, the gathering was grounded in ce...

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.”