COWICHAN VALLEY TOUR

NUTSUMAAT LELUM THE QUW’UTSUN’ CULTURAL CENTRES

Friday, June 6, 2008

Join us on this all day trip, traveling up-island, north of Victoria by bus over the Malahat Mountain with its panoramic views of the Olympic Mountains to the Cowichan Valley. There you will visit a First Nations Cultural Centre and a First Nations Early Childhood program.

Cowichan (Quw ’utsun ’) means ‘land warmed by the sun ’ in the First Nations Coast Salish language. Increasingly, the Cowichan Region is recognized for its growing wine industry, and has been called the ‘Provence du Nord ’ or the Napa of the North. This is an area of organic farming and Harrowsmith Country Life magazine has described the Cowichan ’s idyllic setting as the number one spot for rural living in Canada. http://visit.cowichan.net/entry.htm. The Cowichan Tribes have their own Treaty Department and is a member of the Hul'qumi'num Treaty Group. http://cowichantribes.com/

Nutsumaat Lelum (all in one house) is an early childhood program run by the Chemainus First Nation. Situated on-reserve the program serves children from birth through grade one. “The goal of the program is to provide First Nation children with early learning experiences that will instill a positive sense of themselves, a desire for learning and providing opportunities to develop fully and successfully. This is a holistic approach that integrates the knowledge, skills and support of elders, parents, families, teachers and the community.”

The Quw’utsun’ Cultural Centre offers all guests an authentic First Nations Experience - Interpretive Tours, Traditional Art Work in our gallery and Native cuisine in the Riverwalk Cafe. See and learn history, culture and t raditions still practiced today – traditional yet progressive.  . The Quw'utsun' Cultural and Conference Centre is located in the Cowichan Valley, 45 minutes from Victoria in the southeast corner of Vancouver Island. http://www.quwutsun.ca/

Numbers are limited. The cost includes transportation only. The bus will stop at favorite spots for breaks and lunch.

Departs UVic at 09:00 hrs and returns at 16:30 hrs

Cost: $42.00 ($40.00 + $2.00 GST)