The weekly Circle of Men Being with Emotions has a few spaces open. For more information or to join this small somatic, emotion-focused, feel good men’s therapy group contact Patrick (250 710 9107) or Penny (250-884-8306)

Date & Time: Fridays, 10am – 3pm (32 sessions from September 2024 to June 2025, excluding some cold weeks in January)
Location: Wild Farm, Glenora
Ages: 7-15 years
Cost: $60/day. 32 sessions: $1920. A $300 deposit is required to secure a place. 

Suggested Offering: We are honoured to have two Quw’utsun Elders guest teaching throughout the year. We suggest a minimum donation of $100 per family for Quw’utsun Elder Honorariums to help pay for their time and contribution to the Wilderness program. Thank you for your support.

TYPICAL DAY STRUCTURE

• Morning: Nature-themed games, morning circle with songs and gratitude sharing.
• Midday: Skill-focused guild activities like tracking, weaving, or bow making.
• Afternoon: Free time in nature followed by group games and reflective sit-spot time.
• Closing: Reflection and sharing of daily highlights and gratitude.

Join us for a transformative educational experience that nurtures lifelong learning and a deep connection to the natural world!

Deposit of $300 to secure space is required at final registration.

Scholarships are available on a financial need basis only. Please contact Cari directly to request a scholarship at cari [at] cariburdett [dot] com. Scholarships depend on initially having full enrolment in the program.

Join us to learn Wutth’els (Quw’utsun Knitting): Spinning, Carding and Knitting a head band with Tsulhwuletse (John George) and Tthulsimi’ (Edna George).

Tsulhwuletse and Tthulsimi’ will share stories, traditions and history of knitting with their family. We will learn about raw wool, carding, spinning and will each knit a head band with the traditional colours of the Quw’utsun’ knitting of grey white and black.

Suitable for ages 9 to 90. No prior experience necessary.
Limited spots – space is limited to 30 participants. Register early.
Tea and Snacks provided.
What to Bring: please bring your own lunch, slippers, journal for taking notes and a water bottle. If you have knitting needles, please bring size 5 or 7, otherwise we will have a few sets for purchase or to borrow.

Cost: $75 (this includes materials).
No one will be turned away for lack of funds. If you would like to request a different amount, please contact sandraspcowichan [at] gmail [dot] come from Quw’utsun’ Cultural Connections Society.

Organizers: The Backyard Sessions are organized by Lila Music Centre with support from BC Arts Council, we are working in partnerships with Sacred Cedar Centre and Quw’utsun’ Cultural Connections Society/Social Planning Cowichan to allow us to provide honoraria to Elders who have made special time to lead each of our sessions.

Date: Saturday, March 8th
Time: 10am – 2pm PST
Where: Lila Music and Nature  Centre
Cost: $75 ( includes materials)
Maximum 30 participants

Date & Time: One Sunday per month, 9:30 am – 2:30pm: Sept 15, Oct 13, Nov 10th, Dec 15th, (no class in Jan), Feb 9th, March 9th, April 13th, May 18th, June 8th
Location: Wild Farm, Glenora
Ages: 7-15 years
Cost: Total for 9 sessions: $540. A $100 deposit is required to secure a place. 

Suggested Offering: We are honoured to have two Quw’utsun Elders guest teaching throughout the year. We suggest a minimum donation of $100 per family for Quw’utsun Elder Honorariums to help pay for their time and contribution to the Wilderness program. Thank you for your support.

TYPICAL DAY STRUCTURE

• Morning: Nature-themed games, morning circle with songs and gratitude sharing.
• Midday: Skill-focused guild activities like tracking, weaving, or bow making.
• Afternoon: Free time in nature followed by group games and reflective sit-spot time.
• Closing: Reflection and sharing of daily highlights and gratitude.

Join us for a transformative educational experience that nurtures lifelong learning and a deep connection to the natural world!

Deposit of $100 to secure space is required at final registration.

Scholarships are available on a financial need basis only. Please contact Cari directly to request a scholarship at cari@cariburdett.com. Scholarships depend on initially having full enrolment in the program.

Hello and welcome to The Fire Within Info Call.

This free info call is for those interested in our much-loved program, The Fire Within. 

In this 1-hour session, we’ll provide a supportive space to answer your questions about registration, program structure, key themes, time commitment, pricing, and what to expect. Whether you’re curious about the curriculum, the community, or how this experience fits into your journey, this call will help you gain clarity and confidence in your decision

The Fire Within, is a transformative program led by Stephanie MacKay and Cari Burdett. Designed for female-bodied individuals navigating the transition through (peri)menopause into Cronedom, this journey offers a space for reflection, wisdom, and community.

Over five months—including two immersive overnight gatherings on Vancouver Island—we will explore song, myth, ceremony, and creative expression to reclaim the power of this life stage. Together, we will hold space for the deep questions: Who am I becoming? How do I embrace this transition with strength and grace?

Join us in this free 1-hour call to learn more about registration, program structure, and what to expect.

Date & Time:
Wednesday, April 30th, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Location:
Riverside space at 1350 Tzouhalem Road, Comiaken

Workshop Description:
Join us for a unique and immersive workshop, How Food and Language Connect Us to the Land, led by Indigenous Foods educator Jared / Qwustenuxun Williams. This engaging half-day experience will take participants on a journey to explore the deep connections between language, culture, and the land through the lens of traditional food practices.

During this riverside gathering, Qwustenuxun will share stories, knowledge, and insights about the Indigenous foods of the Cowichan territory, drawing from his lifelong learning with his late grandmother and over a decade of experience working in the culinary world. We’ll walk along the river, observe local food plants, and, if the right plants are available, even craft traditional tools like berry hooks or discuss the significance of Pi’qwun sticks.

This workshop offers a hands-on, reflective opportunity to consider how food security, language, and land stewardship intersect in Indigenous Food Systems — and what that means for all of us in the future.

What to Bring:

• Comfortable clothing for walking along the river
• A notebook if you’d like to jot down stories or observations
• A bag lunch, as the event runs through lunchtime

Who Should Attend:
This workshop is open to anyone interested in food, culture, language, and the land — from educators and environmentalists to families and food enthusiasts. All are welcome!

Capacity: 30–50 participants

About the Facilitator:
Qwustenuxun is a passionate Indigenous Foods educator who grew up immersed in Salish culture with his late grandmother. A trained chef with more than 13 years of experience cooking for Cowichan elders, Qwustenuxun now works as a consultant, writer, and public speaker for various universities, ministries, and health authorities. He recently presented at the UN World Food Forum in Rome, delivered a TEDx talk on the power of Indigenous Foods, and serves as the chair of the Indigenous Advisory Council to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. When he’s not advocating for Indigenous food sovereignty, Qwustenuxun spends time on his family’s small hobby farm in Cowichan.

Cost: TBA

Come walk along the river, listen to stories, and reconnect with the land through the foods, language, and teachings of the Cowichan people.

(Registration link coming soon)