A Nanaimo-based non-profit is asking people to express their love in Hulsa国际传媒檘sa国际传媒檜misa国际传媒檔um this Valentinesa国际传媒檚 day.

In an effort to revitalize and teach the regionsa国际传媒檚 First Nations language and raise money and awareness about the foundation, Kwsa国际传媒檜mut Lelum Foundation is selling Valentinesa国际传媒檚 cards and e-cards.

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

Sharon Hobenshield, executive director, credits the foundationsa国际传媒檚 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.

sa国际传媒淚n truth and reconciliation, itsa国际传媒檚 recognizing sa国际传媒� that there is a distinct language of Hulsa国际传媒檘sa国际传媒檜misa国际传媒檔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,sa国际传媒� said Hobenshield.

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

Kwsa国际传媒檜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 Stzsa国际传媒檜minus, with a goal of collaborating with donors to assist Indigenous children and families.

sa国际传媒淭he foundation is all about the youths sa国际传媒� 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,sa国际传媒� said Hobenshield.

Nelson, soon to be 11, referred to the artwork on the cards as sa国际传媒淢other Earthsa国际传媒檚 Heart.sa国际传媒�

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

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

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