Nzen'man' Child and Family Development Centre Society
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The Nzen'man' Birds Nest is more than just a facility - it's a promise to our children, our families, and our future.
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In 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 the young ones—the ShchEma-mee.tkt, 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.
And now, we have just broken ground—construction of the Nzen’man’ Birds Nest has officially begun.
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 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.
Photos of the site, renderings, community engagement workshops, materials, and construction progress are coming soon.
This section will include:
For over 30 years, Nzen'man' has delivered early childhood, youth and family support programs without a permanent home, operating out of leased and borrowed spaces. The need for a dedicated centre was identified as far back as 1993. After the Lytton fire in 2021 destroyed our operations, the urgency became undeniable.Thanks to tireless efforts by staff, leadership, and community partners, we secured $15.3 million to date, but we are not done yet.
A female- and Indigenous-led architecture firm working exclusively with Indigenous communities across western and northern Canada. Since 2016, they’ve specialized in culturally reflective, environmentally responsive designs that prioritize longevity and sustainability. Their approach, known as “generational architecture,” builds for the long term by slowing down the design process, engaging communities deeply, and hiring locally.
A General Contracting and Construction Management firm serving Indigenous Nations across British Columbia. They manage day-to-day construction operations, maintain strict adherence to codes and best practices, and prioritize hiring and training local community members. Their projects include longhouses, schools, health centres, administration buildings, and childcare facilities—all delivered with cultural sensitivity and logistical expertise.
Together, Obsidian and Built are delivering a building that is not only to spec, but to spirit—rooted in place, purpose, and people.
Together, we’re building a safe and healing space for children and families — every gift brings us closer.
Your support will help us open the doors to the Bird’s Nest
— contribute today and be part of this community legacy.
Will you help us complete the nest?
This project is community-led, but it can’t happen without broader support. We’re calling on donors, organizations, and individuals 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.
(DRAFT - We’re in the Final Stretch — Help Us Bring the Birds Nest to Life)
With $15.3 million already secured, we’re close — but we need your support to cross the finish line. An additional $5 million is needed to complete construction, furnish and equip our spaces, and launch transformative programs that will support children, families, Elders, and community members for generations to come.
The Nzen’man’ Birds Nest directly addresses the legacy of residential schools by creating a culturally rooted space where Indigenous children can grow up proud, safe, and connected to their language and land.
Your donation helps replace what was lost in the Lytton Fire—a home for childcare, family programs, and community gathering.
Funds will support Net Zero Carbon features like geothermal energy and reclaimed wildfire timber, ensuring the building honors the earth while serving future generations.
This is a model for Indigenous-led design and construction, employing local talent and embedding traditional knowledge into every beam and wall.
Be a part of a story of resilience, renewal, and a brighter future for Indigenous children and families.
A Placeholder for Our Capital Campaign