A Nanaimo-based non-profit is asking people to express their love in Hul含羞草研究社檘含羞草研究社檜mi含羞草研究社檔um this Valentine含羞草研究社檚 day.

In an effort to revitalize and teach the region含羞草研究社檚 First Nations language and raise money and awareness about the foundation, Kw含羞草研究社檜mut Lelum Foundation is selling Valentine含羞草研究社檚 cards and e-cards.

Cards feature artwork by Benson Nelson, a Snaw-Naw-As and Nuxalk Nation youth, and the word nu stl含羞草研究社檌含羞草研究社� ch, which means 含羞草研究社業 love you.含羞草研究社� The foundation is also promoting other Valentine含羞草研究社檚-related words, 含羞草研究社榠yus mulintu skweyul (happy couples day or Valentine含羞草研究社檚 day), nan ch含羞草研究社� uw含羞草研究社� nu stl 含羞草研究社檌含羞草研究社� siem (you are important to me) and tl含羞草研究社檌含羞草研究社檚tamu tsun (I hold you dearly), as part of the campaign.

Sharon Hobenshield, executive director, credits the foundation含羞草研究社檚 communications team for conceiving the idea, as it had discussed a visual way to invite people to promote the foundation and emphasize revitalization of the language.

含羞草研究社淚n truth and reconciliation, it含羞草研究社檚 recognizing 含羞草研究社� that there is a distinct language of Hul含羞草研究社檘含羞草研究社檜mi含羞草研究社檔um and that these communities are trying to revitalize it and use it and inviting people to know that it exists and to show respect by acknowledging and trying to use it in their daily language in our communications and relationships as we grow as a community,含羞草研究社� said Hobenshield.

Some of the initiatives that will benefit from proceeds include language revitalization programs and scholarships, said Hobenshield.

Kw含羞草研究社檜mut Lelum Child and Family Services announced the formation of the foundation last summer, representing nine Coast Salish First Nations, including Snuneymuxw, Snaw-Naw-As and Stz含羞草研究社檜minus, with a goal of collaborating with donors to assist Indigenous children and families.

含羞草研究社淭he foundation is all about the youths 含羞草研究社� So bringing Benson in and inviting him to do the artwork just speaks to the values and how we want to include youths going forward,含羞草研究社� said Hobenshield.

Nelson, soon to be 11, referred to the artwork on the cards as 含羞草研究社淢other Earth含羞草研究社檚 Heart.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淚 hope it influences a bunch of young artists that want to learn their culture,含羞草研究社� he said.

E-cards can be purchased via the foundation含羞草研究社檚 website and physical cards can be purchased at numerous locations from Nanoose Bay to Ladysmith. For more information, visit .

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