ʔəxʔixəltəl̓ (paddling together) and lifting up səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) since 2011.
The Tsleil-Waututh Nation (TWN) Community Society is a registered charity that supports community development through small grant funding to Tsleil-Waututh members in the areas of education, culture, wellness, the environment and sports. It was established in 2011 and is managed by a small, dedicated team and overseen by an eight-member Board, the majority of whom are Tsleil-Waututh
The mandate of the TWN Community Society is to empower Tsleil-Waututh Nation members by providing direct funding for small but impactful activities they create and implement. These grants fund education and training programs that enable members to find and follow rewarding educational and employment paths. They contribute to the preservation and revitalization of Tsleil-Waututh stories, songs, dances, language, and heritage, and fund mentorships to transfer knowledge and skills from experienced to emerging Tsleil-Waututh artists. They support land-based wellness activities that help our community heal from the intergenerational trauma of colonization and the residential school system. They build capacity for members to honour our sacred trust to steward the lands, waters and all life in our unceded ancestral territories. They remove barriers and level playing fields for Tsleil-Waututh children and youth to participate fully and fairly in recreational activities and sports.
The TWN Community Society offers partnership opportunities for people and organizations committed to reconciliation.
To learn more about the Tsleil-Waututh Nation and the work of the TWN Community Society, please reach out to us at
Email: twncommunitysociety@twnation.ca
Cell: 236 339 7403
3178 Alder Court, North Vancouver, BC, V7H 2V6
Charitable registration number: 849418488RR0001
Stories from our community members
“With this opportunity we are able to continue teaching what our people have done since time immemorial. Our goal is to give students the tools and teachings to continue weaving after their first project is finished and to build capacity in the next generations and generations to come."
“I’m thankful for the TWN Community Society because it's putting money towards what I want to work on in the future and where I'm trying to get with life. I'm trying to get more experience for my passion for sport (soccer). I’m thankful for my community for always supporting what I do. Thank for the new friendships and new experiences."
River: “I like going off the slide and jumping off the side of the pool into the deep end and collecting toys at the bottom of the pool”. Lauren, River’s mom: “Learning to swim is a nonnegotiable for our kids. With living so close to the water and spending many weekends boating up Indian Arm, it is essential that our boys are comfortable and competent around the ocean. Having access to funds to cover swimming lessons has provided a huge relief to us as parents. We are so grateful for these funds as they are keeping our kids safe!“
Sharing stories from our supporters
The Community Society is thrilled to share news of an exciting new partnership with the Musicians for Reconciliation. This very special group of local musicians and organizations reached out to the Nation with an innovative idea inspired by the spirit of reconciliation: the payment of rent for concerts, performances and other artistic events that are staged on the traditional, unceded territory of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation. Individual artists and organizations determine the formula for these payments, and all funding goes directly to the TWN Community Society. This model not only supports our community, it creates a platform to raise awareness of the history of these lands and the enduring impact of colonization on Indigenous peoples. We would like to say a very heartfelt hay čxʷq̓ә- thank you- to the following founding organizations:
Artemis Music Collective, Music on Main, Muzewest, Redshift Music, the Turning Point Ensemble, and Vetta Music.
This is a new partnership, but a special thank you to Redshift Music, Muzewest and Artemis Music Collective, who have already staged performances and made contributions to the Community Society.
The TWNCS canoe is large and welcoming.
Whether you are a community member, a donor, or someone interested in our work, please reach out to us at: twncommunitysociety@twnation.ca or 236-339-7403.
