A way of being and working together: re-villaging our approach to wellness, housing, and support services.
Nuts’a’wuqw Lelum (“Community House”) is our decolonizing, community-informed Coordinated Access System which lays out our approach to how the Cowichan region will work together to serve those who are unhoused and/or at imminent risk. Nuts’a’wuqw Lelum builds trust and supports safety, connection, and belonging.
Our Guiding Framework is represented as a traditional village where each person is a member, has responsibilities, and is accountable to our community’s shared values and protocols.
The four main elements of our guiding framework are:
Community Commitment
Working as one in our village
Shared Values
Our Snuw’uy’ulh
From community engagement
Four
Protocols
Cultivating
Safe Spaces
Supports decision making
Honouring
Perspectives
Person Centered
Influences approach
to client interaction
The Guiding Framework encompasses a commitment to live into and up to the values and protocols gifted to this work by Elders and community members. It serves as a reminder to fulfill your role in our village, do the best you can do, and be the best you can be.
Download the Nuts’a’wuqw Lelum Guiding Framework here.
Our Logo
“I have our people in the home surrounded by leaves/food/medicines/teachings. The leaves also serve as links to other support services needed to take care of our people in need. The roof of the house represents protection and comfort. The eagles are our spiritual protectors and clear the path of the obstacles in life. You can see I’ve connected the people, the leaves, and the home together; this is a reminder to use our good feelings to work together as one and that each person is important. Our elders teach us to carry ourselves with humility and that our richness in life is each other and not money or material possessions”
– Stuart Pagaduan
Design
Artist
Stuart Pagaduan b. 1970
Stuart Pagaduan is a Cowichan Tribes member and active community advocate for Cowichan teachings and language. Stuart has spent most of his life living as an inspirational Coast Salish artist, while using his creative flow to build bridges between the Cowichan People and the larger Cowichan Valley community. He also creates a lot of imagery used within many schools and classrooms that help enhance student learning of Hul’q’umi’num’. Stuart works in a variety of mediums and has works around the world and continues to bring modern style to the Coast Salish Arts. Stuart was fortunate enough to be raised by his grandparents, late Ben & Violet George. They shaped and guided him to be the speaker and leader he is today. Stuart is a strong advocate for keeping the Hul’q’umi’num’ language alive and continuing to support our young people. Stuart is currently working at Island Health as an Indigenous Advisor.