On Monday, April 15th the lovely Kindle Dion led Nala’atsi students, staff, and some of our favourite Elders (Hazel, Karen, & Maureen) through an introductory pottery workshop. We learned several comical pottery terms and a number of pottery techniques, and we all had a blast making our own pottery creations. Check out the photos below for said creations (in their early stages). Thank you Kindle, Hazel, Karen, and Maureen for a really enjoyable afternoon!

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Nala’atsi students had a fantastic time learning about Cedar and its significance in Indigenous cultures throughout the Pacific coast. Nalaga led students though an incredible workshop, and by the end of the day everyone had created their own Cedar bracelet. Thank you Nalaga!

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Nala’atsi Student Minoquan Lynxleg is the February 2019 Rotary Club Student of the Month! Minoquan is being recognized for his excellent work habits and commitment to his studies, his outstanding attendance and athletic achievement, and the enormous personal growth he’s made this year. Congratulations Minoquan!

On February 19th we visited our neighbours at Courtenay Elementary and were led through a tour of the powerful U’mista “Project of Heart” and “Speaking to Memory” exhibits. Nala’atsi favourite Lelaina Jules introduced the exhibits during our morning circle, and Courtenay Elementary ISW Holly Douglas provided more valuable information when we arrived. Thank you to Lelaina & Holly for guiding us through these exceptional exhibits!

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After learning about the cultural & historical significance of the drum, Nala’atsi students and staff spent an afternoon making their own drums. For many students this was their first opportunity to make a drum. Daryle Mills, Mavis Aubichon, and Bobbie Bailer guided us through the process and by the end of the day almost all of our students and staff had completed their very own drum. Huge thank you’s to Mavis, Daryle, and Bobbie for making it all possible! Photos of the completed drums to come…

On November 5th the Nala’atsi crew traveled to Quadra Island for a tour of the Nuyumbalees Cultural Center. We were joined by a number of Isfeld students & staff and our favourite Elders – Jo Loukes, Verna Wallace, and Jackie Finnie. The tour was fascinating and informative, and we enjoyed the beautiful scenery throughout the day. Thank you to Bobbie for organizing the trip, and to the Elders and Isfeld students & staff who joined us for the day. (Photos by Marion Dawson & Abigayle Randell).

The weather has been kind to us this fall. On an unexpectedly sunny Monday morning we convoyed out to Comox Lake for a day of canoeing. Several students had never canoed before; most of us are inexperienced at best, which makes it even more impressive that everyone found the courage to get out on the water, and that no one found themselves in the water. We paddled our way across the lake to Coal Beach and later around the bend to Devil’s Ladder, where we watched a group of rock climbers scale a terrifying rock face. When one of our students (very helpfully) yelled, “Don’t fall” one of the climbers replied, “Don’t drown!” Big thank yous to Bobbie for getting the canoes out to the lake, and to Abigayle for some of the excellent photos below.

There was no shortage of pre-game smack talk, and on October 11th the Nala’atsi crew headed to Campbell River to face off in the forest for our second annual laser tag outing. It was a beautiful, sunny day and students & staff had a fantastic time gallivanting through the forest. (Thank you to Bobbie for the exceptional action shots!)

On October 1st the Nala’atsi crew visited the Comox Valley Art Gallery for a guided tour of the Potlatch 67-67 exhibit. Molina Dawson, part of our extended Nala’atsi family, led us through the exceptional exhibit, which explores the “impact of the attempted cultural genocide through the Potlatch ban and the resilience of Indigenous people in maintaining and reclaiming traditional cultural practices and in creating new forms of cultural expression.” We were joined by the lovely Lelaina Jules and Mavis Aubichon as well, who offered personal insight into the exhibit. Thank you to our excellent guides and the creators of Potlatch 67-67 for a powerful and moving experience. (Thank you Lelaina for the photos!)