K’odi holds a seat in the ancient traditional governance system of the Musǥa̱makw Dzawada̱ʼenux̱w and the visionary and founder of Nawalakw.

Recognizing the role of our environment as a critical foundation for serving the physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and economic needs of all people, K’odi believes that deep healing for Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw people begins with a reconnection to their land, their language and their cultural heritage. His vision is that kwak’wala will once again be spoken fluently by youth and elders alike.

The multi-phase project includes a language and culture camp, training and capacity-building programs, and food sovereignty with a 2.5 acre farm that supplies healthy and sustainable foods grown and harvested locally. A world-class tourism destination (in development) will generate opportunities for employment throughout the territory and sustainable revenue to fund programming.

The first phase, the Nawalakw Language & Culture Camp opened in July 2022 and has been welcoming youth and community participants to culture camps year-round. The 2400 square foot solar-powered facility has the capacity for 24 students, teachers and support staff for cultural and language revitalization programs, while protecting the biodiversity of this sacred place, and ensuring its legacy lives on for generations to come.

Prior to founding Nawalakw, K’odi was lead tour guide for Sea Wolf adventures, an Indigenous-owned adventure tour operator and the culture and language teacher at the Gwa’sala Nakwaxda’xw school.

He resides in ‘Ya̱lis, Alert Bay, with his wife Alisha and their two sons Dallas and Zayden, whose unwavering support make this all possible.

“The first Nations people have endured successive waves of traumatic disruption that have threatened our very existence. My hope and dream is that Nawalakw will serve as a catalyst for social change and become the first place on earth where the kwak̓wala language is again spoken immersively.”

BIO COMING SOON

Ikawegi’lakw (Deanna Nicolson, nee Barnes) is our Language Program Director at Nawalakw.  Her paternal roots are from Scotland, Fort Rupert and Alert Bay (Barnes, Hunt and Cook families) and her maternal roots are from Village Island, Alert Bay and Musgamakw Dzawada’enuxw territories (Beans, Alfred, Dawson and Coon families).  She was born in Vancouver and grew up in Alert Bay, moving away to pursue post-secondary education in Victoria, BC.  She earned business degrees and a master’s degree of education with a specialization in Indigenous language revitalization from the University of Victoria.  Ikawegi’lakw has worked professionally in the fields of business, education and language revitalization, serving numerous member-bands, Indigenous schools and organizations, creating curriculum resources and coordinating language classes.  She lives with her husband Gwi’molas and four sons: Ha’malagalis, Tsaxw’id, ‘Malas and K’esugwi’lakw and has a very happy heart to be here at Nawalakw.

Gilakas’la

ikawegi’lakw (Maker of Good Things)

DOROTHY “PEWI” ALFRED is 45 years old from the ʼNa̱mg̱is First Nation from Nimpkish Valley and Alert Bay. Her traditional name is Ḵaminawadzi “Great Throwing Power”. She is renowned for her singing and dancing abilities amongst the Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw. She has been bestowed with many names, dances and songs on various sides of her noble ancestry. Her father Wayne Alfred and brother Marcus Alfred are master carvers and renowned traditional dancers, from the ʼNa̱mg̱is tribe. Her mother is Brenda nee Smith from the noble Smith and Speck families of Ławit̕sis First Nation- Turnour Island. Pewi has been initiated into one of the highest dance orders called Hiligax̱ʼste’, the female attendant of the most sacred Hamat̕sa Society.

Pewi is one of the driving forces at teaching and passing down of dances, songs, and kwak̓wala language to the next generations at the village of Alert Bay. She is also an accomplished artist and the
proud Mother of her 19 year old son Michael Johnathan Wayne Moon
Jr.

G̱ilakasda’x̱w’la

Yo! Nugwa’a̱m K̓wak̓wabalas. Gayutła̱n lax̱a Kwagu’ł dłu’ ławit̓sis is dłu’ Ma’a̱mtagila. Gayutła̱n lax̱ ‘Ya̱lis. Ḵ̓aḵutł̓aṉ laxa̱ University of Vancouver Island lax Snuneymuxw.

Hello! My traditional name is K’wak’wabalas. I am from the Kwagu’l, ławit̓sis, and Ma’a̱mtagila tribes of the Kwakwaka̱’wa̱kw. I am from Alert Bay. I am going to learn at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo. My English name is Gloria Hunt. I am one of the five Language Apprentices that are developing and delivering language curriculum as part of the Nawalakw Culture Project. I am currently in my fifth and final year of the Bachelor of Education program and will be graduating in June of 2021. I have been fortunate to grow up in Alert Bay where I was fully surrounded by our culture, language, and traditions in almost every aspect of my everyday life. I was a part of the T̓sasała Cultural Group which helped me in learning our songs, dances, and teachings around our ceremonies. I also attended T̓łisa̱lagi’lakw School from Nursery to Grade 7 where I was able to be even more fully surrounded by our culture, traditions, and language everyday and is where I really developed a passion for keeping these important aspects of who we are alive for future generations. I was a part of the Kwak̓wala Public Speaking Club while attending T̓łisa̱lagi’lakw School also where I was able to build on my knowledge of our language and learn how to become comfortable speaking it out loud in front of a group of people. I also picked up the love I have for weaving at a very young age while I was attending T̓łisa̱lagi’lakw School and I have continued to learn as much as I can, which now includes Chilkat and Ravenstail weaving which I began learning in 2016. Within the past 6 years, I have been able to continue passing on my knowledge of weaving to people of all ages, from 4 years old to 80 years old, during weaving workshops I have facilitated at Elementary Schools, Highschools, Universities, community events, and to my own family members while preparing for potlatches and feasts. I am excited to be continuing on my language learning journey and living and breathing my passion for language revitalization and keeping our culture and teachings alive with the Nawalakw Culture Project. Olak̓ala̱n mu’la! I am really grateful!
G̱ilakas’la!

Gayaxalasame (Darryll Dawson) is a proud member of the Musgamakw Dzawada’enuxw First Nation of Kingcome Inlet. Growing up in Kingcome, Darryll was exposed to hearing his Native language spoken while living with and being around his grandparents Oy and Beverly Lagis. As a young boy Darryll took interest in his culture learning how to dance from his grandfather Thompson (Oy) Lagis at the age of 4.

Darryll’s interest in culture sparked a lifelong learning journey into exploring what it is to be a descendent and member of the Musgamakw Dzawada’enuxw Nation. Gayaxalasame takes great pride in knowing and understanding songs, dances, and ceremonies, as well as learning the history of the Musgamakw Dzawada’enuxw Nation. He is recognized as a singer and dancer, attending Potlatches and Feasts within the Kwakwaka’wakw Nations. Darryll is also a Native artist, learning from Kwakwaka’wakw artist, Victor Newman, when he was a student at Victoria High School.  In 2010, he continued his learning journey under the guidance of Kwakwaka’wakw artist and Hereditary Chief Rande Cook, followed by an apprenticeship with Master Carver John Livingston.

Throughout adulthood Darryll has taught what he has learned to the next generation and to anyone willing to learn. He started as a substitute cultural teacher at the Lilawagila school in Kingcome, eventually becoming a full-time teacher at the school where he taught classes in art, singing and dancing. He makes sure to pass on history lessons on the Musgamakw Dzawada’enuxw Nation to his students and anyone else who has an interest in learning.

Darryll was fortunate to learn from and be inspired by many knowledgeable cultural leaders, including Mike Willie and William Wasden, who taught him many traditional songs, legends and shared their vast cultural knowledge.   Several other great influences on Darryll include Kodi Nelson, Wayne Alfred and Marcus Alfred who shared singing, dancing and cultural knowledge with Gayaxalasame.  Darryll had many other connections to learning his history, from elders to knowledge keepers within the Kwakwaka’wakw Nation.

BIO COMING SOON!

BIO COMING SOON!

BIO COMING SOON!

A veteran of international corporate communications and marketing, Christine started her career in marketing, taking on successive roles with increasing responsibility, eventually leading marketing for the global software division at Vancouver high-tech success story Creo, which was acquired by Kodak in 2004. She joined a boutique communications agency in 2005 as Director of Client Services and senior account strategist for Finning, Goldcorp, Silver Wheaton, Westminster Savings Credit Union, HSBC, and Justice Institute BC, amongst others.

In 2008, she joined the natural resources industry in an investor relations capacity and ultimately led communications and external affairs at Vancouver’s Goldcorp Inc., one of the world’s top gold mining companies. In addition to communications, she oversaw Goldcorp’s extensive corporate community philanthropy portfolio that granted over $50 million to programs supporting health, education, inclusion, community development and arts and culture. Goldcorp was acquired by US-based Newmont in 2019.

Christine is an avid community volunteer. She currently serves as vice-chair on the board of Minerva Foundation and supports the Mining for Miracles Committee that has raised nearly $30 million for BC Children’s Hospital over the years. She also devotes time to Special Olympics BC, Dress for Success Vancouver and various programs that seek to advance women in business.

Christine has a BA in Communications from Simon Fraser University and has completed executive education at Columbia University.