July 4, 2026: Cowichan Valley, BC – Work Party and Potluck at Hulitun Spulhxun/Tumuhw Nursery

Join us for a work party and potluck lunch at the Hulitun Spulhxun/Tumuhw (Nurturing Fields) nursery located at the Quw’utsun/Xwulqw’selu Estuary! Come contribute to restoring the abundant Indigenous food systems that existed here for millennia. 

The Quw’utsun/Xwulqw’selu Estuary encompasses 490 hectares of land that for generations was a vibrant food system, carefully cultivated and nurtured by Quw’utsun Mustimuhw, providing them with abundant, nourishing foods. In the 1860s, the estuary was appropriated by European settlers, who diked, drained, and then filled the land to support industry and colonial modes of agriculture. The re-shaping of land and waterways to support colonial agriculture contributed to the destruction of habitat for estuarine plant and animal life and the Indigenous food systems that had been developed in relationship with that habitat. Decades of hay and cattle farming as well as log shipping and storage, deeply changed the landscape. The Quw’utsun/Xwulqw’selu (Cowichan/Koksilah) Estuary Restoration and Food System Revitalization Project seeks to restore 70 hectares of estuarine marsh habitat by removing ~2 km of continuous dike around the Dinsdale Farm, a site that has been used for settler agriculture since the late 19th century. 

Restoration of the estuary is now being guided by Cowichan Tribes in collaboration with the Nature Trust of BC, Ducks Unlimited, the UBC Indigenous Ecology Lab, alongside other partners (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and the Province of BC).

A key part of the restoration of the estuarine habitat and revitalizing the Indigenous food systems is the Hulitun Spulhxun/Tumuhw (Nurturing Fields) Plant Nursery. Hulitun Spulhxun/Tumuhw is a 4-acre fenced nursery where Indigenous food and medicine plants are propagated so that they can be used to support the re-establishment of culturally salient native plants into the broader restoration area. The range of plant species in the nursery reflect the range of landscape features to be restored in the estuary including channels, riparian zones, islands, and both estuarine marsh and meadow features. On July 4th, we will be gathering at the Hulitun Spulhxun/Tumuhw Nursery for a day of caring for the land and learning about the restoration project!

We can’t wait for you to join us. Come be a part of working towards Indigenous food sovereignty in the region!

REGISTER: Space is limited to 30 people so please secure your spot by registering on Eventbrite.

WHEN: July 4, 2026 | 9am-2pm

LOCATION: Quw’utsun territory | Hulitun Spulhxun/Tumuhw nursery at the Quw’utsun/Xwulqw’selu Estuary | Cowichan Valley, BC

DIRECTIONS: Navigate to 2279 Cowichan Bay Road. The entrance is located here – please see the map below for reference. Then, continue down the gravel road which veers left towards the Seacan. Parking will be alongside the gravel road in the grass. Space is somewhat limited so try to carpool if you can!

BRING: Please bring a food item to contribute to the potluck –  there will be a list of food items needed and you can sign up to bring one of them. If you can, please include a little card with ingredients for folks with food sensitivities. Please bring your own cooler/ice if your food item needs to be kept cold during the morning before lunch.

It will likely be very hot out so please dress accordingly. Make sure to wear farm-suitable clothing and close-toed footwear – the event will proceed rain or shine (though there will be tents available for the potluck in case of rain or to provide shade in the heat).

Items to Bring:

• Potluck item with serving spoon/fork
• Packable dish and cutlery
• Mug/cup
• Water bottle
• Camp chair
• Insect repellant
• Hat
• Sunscreen
• Work/garden gloves
• Small garden hand tools for weeding – trowel/hori (please wash beforehand if bringing your own)

SHARE: Planning on joining us? Invite your friends and share the Facebook event (link coming soon).

ACCESSIBILITY: If you have any accessibility needs, please get in touch with us at ari@youngagrarians.org 

ABOUT the Quw’utsun/Xwulqw’selu Estuary

The Quw’utsun/Xwulqw’selu (Cowichan/Koksilah) Estuary Restoration and Food System Revitalization Project is one of the largest restoration/revitalization projects ever to be completed on the coast of British Columbia. The project is a collaboration between Cowichan Tribes, Nature Trust of BC, Ducks Unlimited, and the UBC Indigenous Ecology Lab.

The Project will restore 70 hectares of salt marsh habitat and re-establish natural estuarine processes by removing human-made barriers to marsh development and reconnecting freshwater channels to tidally influenced areas.

Working with Cowichan Tribes Sul-hween (Elders) and the UBC Indigenous Ecology Lab, the Project will also revitalize the Quw’utsun (Cowichan Tribes) food system in the area with native food and medicinal plants where they once thrived in abundance.

The Cowichan Estuary contains habitats that are critically important for wild Pacific salmon, migratory and breeding birds as well as species at risk. The estuary provides important habitat for up to 230 bird species, and thousands of waterfowl can be found in the estuary each winter. This project also places significant emphasis on incorporating Indigenous food systems so that these lands continue to be cultivated and nurtured, providing culturally significant foods and medicine plants to Cowichan Tribes while contributing to the overall food security of the region.

Website: Quw’utsun/Xwulqw’selu Estuary
Facebook: Lulumexun

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This event is free and open to everyone! Supervised children are welcome
• Please leave furry friends at home
• Please stay home if you have cold or flu symptoms
• Please wash your shoes before visiting the farm, especially if you work on or have visited a farm recently
• Please do not bring alcohol/recreational substances to this event
• Please share this event with anyone who may be interested!

STAY IN TOUCH

• Sign up for our e-newsletter to get events and opportunities for your region delivered straight to your inbox.
• We welcome cancellations at any time – you can do so through Eventbrite, through the link in your registration confirmation email, or by contacting maria@youngagrarians.org
• Questions? Email Maria Vigneron at maria@youngagrarians.org