Earlier this year, NIȽ TU,O Child and Family Services Society (NIȽ TU,O) organized a Community Photo Contest, offering prizes and rewards for the winning contestants. The challenge—submitting a photo of favourite plants, places, and pets—was open to community members who are affiliated with the Beecher Bay, Pauquachin, Tsartlip, Songhees, Tsawout, Tseycum, and T’Sou-ke Communities.
Contestants entered for the chance to win prizes and to have the submitted photos included in NIȽ TU,O’s 2026 Calendar.
Twelve photos were chosen for inclusion in the Calendar layout, and each entry includes a brief description of the photo with SENĆOŦEN terms used wherever possible. The winning photos include:
- A view from the shoreline
- ĆESE TŦE PULES (there are two cats)
- A SX̱EDJELI (hummingbird) having a snack
- SḴAXE (dog) with spring SPAKEṈ (flowers)
- ЌL̵O,EL (Camas) growing along the shore
- Pauquachin Beach
- Tammy and Zelagh enjoying swimming at the XOĆE¸(lake)
- Favourite kayak lake: McGillvary Lake
- Ucluelet, Long Beach
- SḴAXE (dog) with autumn SȾELOȾȽE¸ (leaves)
- Taken by Cassidy Tremblay (T’ Sou-ke Nation)
- Jamez and Arnold enjoying a wintery day in their Cowichan sweaters
NIȽ TU,O is proud to support its mission of strengthening Coast Salish family and community connections. NIȽ TU,O is impressed with the resulting photos—both by their beauty and in the way they reflect our connection with family, community, and the land and sea.
