In October, 2022, folks from MakeWay were invited by The Nawalakw Culture Project (Nawalakw) to spend time with their team in Alert Bay, BC.
The Nawalakw movement is a catalyst for community renewal through language revitalization, wellness and healing in the Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw territory in what is often referred to as the Great Bear Rainforest of British Columbia. Nawalakw is strengthening the connection with the land and language for youth, and creating economic opportunities for the local community.
Nawalakw joined MakeWay’s Shared Platform in 2019. The movement grew from a bold vision to deliver traditional healing programs and teachings in all aspects of the Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw language and culture, to the reality of today where Nawalakw is the second largest employer in Alert Bay with 94 staff, including summer students, growing and distributing food to the community and offering camp programs for youth to name only a few.
We spoke with some of the folks who shared space and time with Nawalakw to get their reflections, learnings and highlights; here’s what they experienced.
Talitha
A short but sweet trip with colleagues to Alert Bay has left me feeling so incredibly grateful to work alongside Nawalakw Culture Project. For many of us, this was the first time meeting the Nawalakw team in person, and it certainly exceeded expectations. As an Indigenous woman who has had the privilege of traveling all over the country, I always find comfort in being a guest on other Indigenous territories and learning from other Nations. The Nawalakw team welcomed us with open arms, hearts, and homes, as they showed us around Alert Bay, Hada, and the incredible wildlife that lives there. The team has created such a magical space at the Nawalakw Language and Culture Camp that will support the Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw language and culture for generations to come. It’s empowering to see Indigenous leaders turning their visions into reality right in front of you. It shows me and other Indigenous young people that anything is possible if you work hard and persevere.
This trip has also reminded me of the importance of connection and relationships. Technology has both pros and cons, a pro being the connection it offers people. For me, booking a video call and chatting with the Nawalakw team is great, but you know what’s better? Putting down the tech, getting into a boat, and exploring one of the most beautiful and diverse spaces I’ve ever visited with the most caring, kind, and intelligent team of people.
Braden
Being able to visit Hada and the Nawalakw Project was incredibly inspiring, and I feel very grateful and honoured to have been invited to visit this truly special place.
Our hosts and those we met from Alert Bay were so warm and inviting and I truly felt welcomed into the community in such a good way. With open hearts and lots of care and kindness.
The Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw have stewarded these territories since time immemorial. The territory is rich with cultural history, ancient and modern village sites, food harvesting locations such as clam gardens, and a vast array of species found in this unique coastal ecosystem including humpback whales, sea lions, pacific white sided dolphins, and many others that congregate in these nutrient rich waters present in the Johnstone Strait.
I am looking forward to visiting this beautiful territory once again and seeing how the Nawalakw Project continues to progress and provides an amazing example of what can be done for language revitalization, community development, and reconnection to territory, cultural sites and villages.
Gilakas’la / Toyaxsutnuusm
Cristina
For nearly 30 years, I’ve been an uninvited settler in this country, but only recently have I had the privilege of truly getting to know the different nations and tribes of the unceded lands I occupy.
The warmth of Nawalakw’s welcome immediately made strangers feel like family. The elders told their stories and I was drawn in. They were raw, passionate, and I took away more than I expected.
The trip to Nawalakw Camp was absolutely captivating; a two-hour voyage that brings new perspective and truth to an all too familiar license plate phrase. I don’t often immerse myself in nature, but it’s pretty amazing what you open yourself up to when you take the time to disconnect. A once in a lifetime encounter with gentle giants is enough to remind you that you are a single thread in this ornate tapestry of man and nature.
I was especially grateful to see the fruits of the summer students labour in the Garden project. As the daughter of horticulture educators, I grew up around gardens with bountiful harvest available to share to the community. In the same way, this project has made obvious impacts and strengthened the community. This also encourage the youth to get invested in giving back to their elders.
Thank you!
Camille
Visiting the Nawalakw team was such a unique experience. I am so grateful for the warm welcome and for the care they’ve provided to the MakeWay team. I learned so much on this trip – it was enlightening. From the number of salmons increasing to the impacts of their youth camps – Nawalakw is making such a positive impact and I am honored to be part of the support team.
Gilakas’la (Thank you – Kwak’wala, Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw language)
Berni
I feel extremely honoured to have had the experience with the Nawalakw team last week. I’ve worked with the team virtually for a few years now and it was so wonderful to be able to share space together in person. Monday morning saw the MakeWay team head off to visit the Nawalakw office and join in on the team meeting where we were greeted with open arms by everyone, we then took a tour of Alert Bay to visit the bountiful garden space where Nawalakw has been growing and providing vegetables for the community (with an impressive pumpkin patch for the local kids) before heading down to the dock and piling into a boat where K’odi brought us to visit the Culture Camp site and experience the magic and beauty of Hada. It was so inspiring to see the team’s passion and to hear and see the impact that the work is having on the community.
I feel so proud to support the team in the work that they are doing and am left with feelings of deep gratitude.
Stacey
If I could sum up the experience visiting Alert Bay and Hada in one word, it’s gratitude. What an honour to be invited to share time, space and to experience the ‘supernatural’ of the Nawalakw movement. What started as an idea, quickly transformed into a vision, one that you can feel when you are present on the land to share with others. The deep investment the Nawalakw team has selflessly devoted into their community, youth and elders is changing lives, helping to heal, and strengthening the nature that surrounds and protects. The team and community opened their hearts, arms, homes and more to share with us what’s meaningful to them. I returned home with a full heart, full of gratitude and excitement to see the next phase in the Nawalakw movement.
New and incredible things are on the horizon for the Nawalakw in the coming years. They want to expand their food security focus on growing and harvesting local food and begin their path towards becoming an independent Indigenous led charity.
MakeWay is excited to continue supporting Nawalakw as they plan the next phases in their vision. Want to learn more about and support their work? You can donate here, or reach out to info@nawalakw.com for volunteer opportunities. Be sure to also follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
