A Nanaimo-based non-profit is asking people to express their love in Hul鈥檘鈥檜mi鈥檔um this Valentine鈥檚 day.

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

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

Sharon Hobenshield, executive director, credits the foundation鈥檚 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.

鈥淚n truth and reconciliation, it鈥檚 recognizing 鈥� that there is a distinct language of Hul鈥檘鈥檜mi鈥檔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,鈥� said Hobenshield.

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

Kw鈥檜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鈥檜minus, with a goal of collaborating with donors to assist Indigenous children and families.

鈥淭he foundation is all about the youths 鈥� 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,鈥� said Hobenshield.

Nelson, soon to be 11, referred to the artwork on the cards as 鈥淢other Earth鈥檚 Heart.鈥�

鈥淚 hope it influences a bunch of young artists that want to learn their culture,鈥� he said.

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

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