Nzen'man' Child and Family Development Centre Society
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On June 30, 2021, the Lytton Fire swept through our homeland with brutal speed and force. It didn’t just destroy buildings, it upended lives across the Nlaka’pamux Nation, including the Lytton First Nation, the Village of Lytton, the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD), and far beyond. The damage was catastrophic, affecting nearly every aspect of our daily lives, and its effects continue today.
Among the many losses was the Nzen'man' Child and Family Development Centre, our heart, our home, and the hub of support for children and families in the region. Children and families were displaced, and our entire organization was without a space to operate. The emotional and developmental impact on our children was profound. What was lost wasn’t just infrastructure, but a place of early learning, support, safety, culture, and connection.
The fire amplified the existing vulnerabilities faced by children and families in the region, making the rebuilding and revitalization of early learning and community infrastructure an immediate priority.
Construction is now underway, the Nzen’man’ (Birds Nest) has officially broken ground!
This marks a powerful milestone. We are proud to be the first community building to begin construction in Lytton since the fire. The design and construction of the facility will adhere to the Canada Green Building Council’s Net Zero Carbon standards.
This means the building is being designed and constructed with leading sustainability practices—prioritizing energy efficiency, low carbon materials, and renewable energy integration wherever possible.
By following the Net Zero Carbon standards, we are ensuring the Bird’s Nest Centre sets a new benchmark for environmentally responsible community spaces, creating a healthier environment for our children, families, and future generations.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of our team and community, we’ve raised $16 million to get us here.
But we’re not done yet.
To bring the full vision to life, including completing the building, furnishing, and equipping it, as well as creating a beautiful, culturally rich outdoor play space and community garden spaces, we’re seeking to raise an additional $5 million.
We’re calling on donors, organizations, and allies who believe in the transformative power of Indigenous-led early childhood care. Help us create a space of safety, learning, and love, a space where shchEma-mee.tkt (our children) can thrive.
Be a part of this community legacy! For sponsorship enquires, feel free to reach out to Romona Baxter or call 250.299.7991.
Together, we can ensure this space truly reflects who our children are, and what they deserve.
The Nzen'man' Birds Nest is more than just a building - it's a promise to our children, our families, and our future.
“This is a place our children deserve. One that honours who they are, where they come from, and where they’re going."
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The Nzen’man’ (Birds Nest) Project rises after a series of compounding crises: the COVID-19 pandemic, devastating wildfires, floods, and decades of underinvestment in Indigenous early childhood infrastructure. This facility building also seeks to address the impacts and intergenerational harms of the St. George’s Residential School, which operated for over 82 years in this region. During that time, generations of Indigenous children were denied their childhoods, stripping them of language, culture, identify, love, and safety.
The Nzen’man’ (Birds Nest) will stand as a beacon of hope, healing and resilience, a space where the Indigenous children can grow up to be happy, healthy, and safe.
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The Nzen’man’ Birds Nest is a building shaped by the voices of many. From the very beginning, families, Knowledge Keepers, youth, and community members came together to imagine what a safe, healing space for our children could truly look like.
Through design and visioning sessions and storytelling, every element of the Nzen’man’(Birds Nest) reflects the values of belonging, culture, and care. The result is a deeply intentional space featuring 66 licensed child care spaces, a Family Resource Centre and teaching kitchen, a cultural gathering room, an Indigenous library, and an intergenerational social space. A community coffee area invites connection, while the entire building is designed to Net Zero Carbon standards, using rammed earth walls, geothermal energy, anaerobic digestor, and reclaimed wildfire timber.
Built not just for today, but for many generations to come. This is a building our community dreamed together into being.
This project is made possible through the collaboration and support of:
Please feel free to submit your questions and comments below: