A Nanaimo-based non-profit is asking people to express their love in Hul乌鸦传媒檘乌鸦传媒檜mi乌鸦传媒檔um this Valentine乌鸦传媒檚 day.

In an effort to revitalize and teach the region乌鸦传媒檚 First Nations language and raise money and awareness about the foundation, Kw乌鸦传媒檜mut Lelum Foundation is selling Valentine乌鸦传媒檚 cards and e-cards.

Cards feature artwork by Benson Nelson, a Snaw-Naw-As and Nuxalk Nation youth, and the word nu stl乌鸦传媒檌乌鸦传媒� ch, which means 乌鸦传媒業 love you.乌鸦传媒� The foundation is also promoting other Valentine乌鸦传媒檚-related words, 乌鸦传媒榠yus mulintu skweyul (happy couples day or Valentine乌鸦传媒檚 day), nan ch乌鸦传媒� uw乌鸦传媒� nu stl 乌鸦传媒檌乌鸦传媒� siem (you are important to me) and tl乌鸦传媒檌乌鸦传媒檚tamu tsun (I hold you dearly), as part of the campaign.

Sharon Hobenshield, executive director, credits the foundation乌鸦传媒檚 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.

乌鸦传媒淚n truth and reconciliation, it乌鸦传媒檚 recognizing 乌鸦传媒� that there is a distinct language of Hul乌鸦传媒檘乌鸦传媒檜mi乌鸦传媒檔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,乌鸦传媒� said Hobenshield.

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

Kw乌鸦传媒檜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乌鸦传媒檜minus, with a goal of collaborating with donors to assist Indigenous children and families.

乌鸦传媒淭he foundation is all about the youths 乌鸦传媒� 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,乌鸦传媒� said Hobenshield.

Nelson, soon to be 11, referred to the artwork on the cards as 乌鸦传媒淢other Earth乌鸦传媒檚 Heart.乌鸦传媒�

乌鸦传媒淚 hope it influences a bunch of young artists that want to learn their culture,乌鸦传媒� he said.

E-cards can be purchased via the foundation乌鸦传媒檚 website and physical cards can be purchased at numerous locations from Nanoose Bay to Ladysmith. For more information, visit .

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