Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc

REPORT BY TK̓WENEM7ÍPLE7 NIKKI FRASER

Our Natural Resources and Language & Culture teams came together for a trout fishing outing at Armour Creek. This day on the land was filled with traditional teachings, hands-on learning, and connecting to Secwepemcúl̓ecw. It is extremely important to continue using these areas, resources, and passing on the knowledge in order to expand use by our community. Opportunities for spring time trout fisheries is now, at multiple locations in our Territory.

In addition to harvesting trout, the team also took time to clear out parts of the creek at Tkek Yeel Stem to ensure the trout have a clear and safe path to return and spawn, as well as provide an opportunity to harvest. This restoration effort reflects our responsibility to care for the waterways and ensure healthy fish populations for future generations. Greg and Aaron shared teachings about trout habitat, sustainability, and Secwépemc protocols. Secwépemctsín language and cultural stories were woven throughout the day, bringing our traditions to life in real time.

All trout caught were carefully smoked by the Natural Resources and Language & Culture team. The smoked fish has been packaged and will be distributed to Elders at a later date – honouring the Secwépemc value of caring for and providing for our elders

We’re proud of this collaborative effort and grateful for everyone who took part. These experiences help keep our culture strong and ensure our land and water continue to teach, nourish, and sustain us for generations to come. Moments like these strengthen our connection to Secwepemcúl̓ecw, and remind us that our land is not just a resource—it is a teacher, a provider, and a relative. We are grateful to everyone who participated and made this outing possible. Continuing to centre language, culture, and land-based learning in our work is vital for the health of our people, our identity, and our future.

COUNCILLOR NIKKI FRASER

Primary Portfolios:
Natural Resources / Rights & Title / Language & Culture / Archaeology

Secondary Portfolio:
Lands, Leasing & Taxation / Sc.wén̓wen

Nikki is a grassroots member of Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc (TteS), with strong ties to both the Fraser and Paul Grassroot families. Nikki is proud mom to Trey, Aiyana, and Nipiy. She has worked for TteS in many different capacities since she was 15 years old. Nikki brings experience, knowledge and tools from her volunteer elected roles at BC Native Women’s Association, Native Women’s Association of Canada and the United Nations Youth Envoys office. Nikki is honoured to server her community & membership and continues her passion advocating and upholding TteS Rights and Title.

We are honoured to share that Meste’si Llucmetkwe Colleen Seymour has been named one of the 2025 Community Award recipients by the BC Achievement Foundation. A respected teacher, spiritual helper, and knowledge holder, Colleen’s lifelong work in Indigenous education, health, and cultural revitalization continues to uplift and inspire across generations.

As a member of Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc, Colleen’s leadership reflects deep love for the people, the land, and Secwepemctsín—the language she is reclaiming through the First Peoples’ Cultural Council’s Language Revitalization program. She plays a vital role in programs such as the BC Indigenous Health Nursing Research Chair, Rainbow Healing Society, and the I-GEN Initiative, and is known for offering transformative, land-based learning rooted in Indigenous knowledge systems.

Colleen will be honoured at the 2025 Community Award presentation ceremony on May 7 at 2:00 p.m. in Victoria, BC. Watch the livestream at bcachievement.com or tune in later on TELUS Optik TV Channel 707.

Learn more about Colleen’s remarkable work: https://bcachievement.com/awardee/mestesi-llucmetkwe-colleen-seymour/

Kukwstsétsemc, Colleen, for your unwavering dedication to community, healing, and cultural resurgence.

Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc – April 21, 2025

On behalf of Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc we extend heartfelt condolences and collective prayers for the soul of Pope Francis. We honour his journey to be welcomed by the Creator. I offer prayers of comfort and much condolences to all those grieving at this time.

Pope Francis was the first Pope to formally recognize and apologize for the atrocities committed through the Indian Residential School system in Canada. I hold my hands up to him for his humility, courage, and commitment to reconciliation.

In 2022, I had the honour of joining a national delegation coordinated by the Assembly of First Nations to travel to the Vatican. Survivors, Elders, youth, leaders, and spiritual advisors came together to speak directly to the Holy See. We presented on four key areas: Residential Schools and unmarked graves, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), the Papal apology and visit to Canada, and the urgent need for healing and reconciliation.

We shared the deep and lasting impact of the Residential School system, our languages and cultures were taken, our children were lost. We called attention to the TRC’s 94 Calls to Action, including #58, which called for the Pope to apologize on Canadian soil. We also addressed the Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

A key request we made was for Pope Francis to travel to Canada and offer a meaningful apology to survivors and their families. His apology delivered during his visit acknowledged the spiritual, cultural, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse inflicted by the Church. He also denounced the Doctrine of Discovery and Terra Nullius. These steps, while symbolic, had profound emotional and spiritual impact for many.

Healing is an ongoing process. We made clear that apology must be followed by concrete actions: full disclosure of residential school records, funding for cultural revitalization, and direct collaboration between dioceses and First Nations to support community healing.

Here in Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc, we have taken further steps. On Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024, we signed a Sacred Covenant with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver and the Diocese of Kamloops at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School site. This historic agreement, publicly released on June 21, 2024 National Indigenous Peoples Day commits us to:

• Memorialization and honouring the lives of the children who never came home through ceremonies and permanent memorials.

• Truth Seeking while working together to identify missing children and bring answers to their families.

• Support Services and providing mental health and healing support to our community members.

• The Covenant also acknowledges the Church’s role in the residential school system and outlines a shared path forward based on reconciliation, transparency, and long-term healing.

Yesterday, on April 20, 2025, we marked the one-year anniversary of this Covenant, and for the first time, I shared a message from Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State to His Holiness Pope Francis. In his words, the Pope sent “cordial greetings” and prayers for all present. He reflected on his 2022 visit and reminded us of the need to “walk together, pray together, and work together.” Those words carry the power of unity and responsibility.

As we look to the future, we also reflect on the transition now underway within the Catholic Church. We are grateful for Pope Francis’ leadership and example. We now look to the next Pope to continue this journey with humility and action.

Needed is creating a clear mandate for all dioceses to work with First Nations, supporting reparations not only through words but through meaningful investment in language and cultural revitalization.  Addressing colonial structures such as the Papal Bulls and working toward true Land Back.  Working with us to repatriating sacred items and ensuring transparency in the acquisition. Continuing to support the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022–2032) with active commitment to revitalization.

We must also stand firmly against denialism and from the highest level as well as the deliberate distortion of truth meant to discredit survivors and perpetuate harm. It is our collective responsibility, including that of the Catholic Church, to call out and confront these harmful narratives.

This moment is not just about a single leader it is about the journey of all people and the shared responsibility of institutions, nations, and communities. I am proud to have walked this path alongside so many brave survivors, youth, and leaders.

Together, we have made history. And together, we will continue walking the path toward truth, justice, and healing.

Kukwstsetsemc,
Kúkpi7 Rosanne Casimir

On behalf of Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF

Weyt-kp xwexwéytep Membership,

Your leadership is calling on you to vote in the upcoming Federal Election. Your Vote Matters!

Did you know that we as First Nations people were denied the right to vote in federal elections until 1960, unless we gave up our status and rights. This means that our right to vote is barely 65 years old, a right our ancestors fought hard to reclaim.

Voting today is a powerful expression of reclaiming a voice that was stolen for generations. It’s a way to honor those who came before us and fought for the rights we now hold.

By casting your vote, you are sending a clear message: our Indigenous lives, voices, and futures matter. You are standing up for our communities and supporting your elected Chief and Council hold government to account and include us in all decision-making matters.

When we vote, we bring attention to the critical issues that impact us directly, such as:

• A renewed, respectful nation-to-nation relationship between Canada and First Nations
• Asserting our Nationhood and unity in the face of ongoing colonial challenges
• Infrastructure and affordable housing
• Improved mental health services and culturally grounded healthcare
• Support for Indigenous languages, culture, and education
• Protection of our lands, waters, and traditional rights
• Truth and accountability for the impacts of Indian Residential Schools and the harmful rise of denialism
• Economic sovereignty and sustainable development
• Jurisdiction over our children, education systems, and Membership governance
• Justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG)
• Full recognition of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Upholding our sovereignty and achieving reconciliation is a prerequisite for Canada’s future success, we need continued progress, we need to continue that path forward like our ancestors did that for us, we need to do that for those not yet born.

On Election Day Monday April 28, 2025 voting takes place at Moccasin Square Gardens between 7am -7pm. Advance Voting Days are April 18,19,20,21 from 9am-9pm also taking place at Moccasin Square Gardens.

“Re xyemstéms te tnk’we7 re xyemstéms xwexwéyt te swet,” “The honor of one is the honor of all” is the wisdom that we must embody and embrace.

Your vote matters. Let’s show up, speak out, and be heard. Let’s show our unity and our strength and support your leadership by giving them your voice and vote in the federal election!

Yours truly,

Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc
Kúkpi7 Rosanne Casimir (Chief)
On behalf of Council

DOWNLOAD LETTER ►

Earlier this afternoon, some dark smoke was seen coming from the Stswékstem Engineered Waste Management Facility. It was a small fire that was quickly extinguished. There is no cause for concern, and the community remains safe.

This is a good reminder for everyone: if you see a fire, please don’t hesitate to call 911 right away.

NOTICE TO IMPACTED PROPERTIES

Lafarge Road closure | April 14-16, 2025 (nightly)

The City of Kamloops has been advised that CPKC will be performing rail work that will result in the nightly closure of Lafarge Road from April 14-16, 2025. During the day, the corridor will reopen, which may result in periods of single lane alternating traffic.

The closure timeline is as follows:

• April 14: 2:00 am-8:00 am
• April 15: 2:00 am-8:00 am
• April 16: 2:00 am-paving completed (exact time unknown)

During the work, the alternative (detour route) is along East Shuswap Road. Please note the current load restrictions in place on alternative routes as listed on the MoTT website. Please expect delays and increased commercial traffic along the detour route. Motorists should plan for additional drive time as alternative routes are quite long. Please obey all signage and traffic control personnel when travelling in the area.

Questions? Contact City of Kamloops Transportation Department at 250-828-3561 for more information.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 4, 2025

Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc extends heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Airini on her appointment as the fifth President and Vice-Chancellor of Thompson Rivers University (TRU). We are encouraged and inspired by this significant step forward, not only for the institution but for the broader landscape of Indigenous education and reconciliation across Canada.

Dr. Airini brings with her a wealth of experience in advancing equity in education and working in partnership with Indigenous communities. As an internationally respected scholar and former Dean of the Faculty of Education and Social Work at TRU, she has already demonstrated a strong commitment to Indigenous engagement and inclusive leadership. Her return to TRU as President signals a renewed opportunity to strengthen relationships between the university and the original peoples of this land.

As Secwépemc, we have carried values and laws that guide us in how we build relationships—with the land, with each other, and with institutions like TRU. At times, that relationship has not been easy. The appointment of Dr. Airini gives us hope and we see a real opportunity. Her leadership reflects a shift—one where Indigenous voices are not just acknowledged, but respected, included, and uplifted. We are hopeful that this new chapter will bring deeper collaboration, where our ways of knowing and being are recognized as foundational to the future of education.

We look forward to working with Dr. Airini and TRU in good faith, building a relationship that honours the principles of respect, responsibility, and reciprocity. Her leadership is an example of what reconciliation in action can look like—one where Indigenous voices are not only heard but are central to shaping the future of post-secondary education.

This is a powerful and inspiring moment. With Dr. Airini at the helm, we are confident that great things lie ahead—not only for TRU, but for Indigenous students, learners, and communities. Her presidency stands as a model for other Canadian institutions to follow: a university grounded in collaboration, accountability, and respect for Indigenous peoples.

We raise our hands to Dr. Airini and wish her all the best in this important role.

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Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc Media Contact:

Rosanne Casimir, Kúkpi7
250-819-2255
kukpi7.rosanne@ttes.ca

After careful consideration, Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc are thrilled to unveil that the Red Bridge, tragically destroyed by fire, will be replaced with a state-of-the-art ZIPLINE!

Why a zipline, you ask? Here are just a few of the many benefits:

✔️ Eco-Friendly: No emissions, no concrete, just pure gravity-powered travel!
✔️ Efficient Commute: Get across the river in seconds—no more traffic delays!
✔️ Unforgettable Views: Enjoy a breathtaking, high-speed tour of the river while commuting!
✔️ Cost-Effective: A fraction of the price of a new bridge!
✔️ Local Job Creation: We’ll need highly trained “Zipline Operators” and “Landing Zone Recovery Specialists.”

Construction begins soon—just hold tight! (Literally.)

Happy April Fools! 😆

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF

On behalf of Tḱemlúps te Secwépemc (TteS) many of us are wearing pink to stand up for our commitment to choose kindness and remind everyone of our shared responsibility to treat one another with compassion, understanding, and respect.

We have all seen and experienced bullying in workplaces, on social media, and within communities. It truly has rippling effects that are hurtful and for those who are already marginalized. We need to be role models for future generations.

Denialism is a violent form of bullying that has risen since the announcement of unmarked graves, and I extend my heartfelt appreciation to allies that uphold the collective history and the impacts that Survivors have lived.

Denialists are those who willfully misrepresent well documented, historical facts to promote hate against Indigenous people and more specifically with the intention of targeting Survivors, families, and communities.

We all need to continue supporting change; we have seen real progress, so we must continue to call out all forms of bullying so that everyone feels united and respected. Building inclusive communities is the vision we should all want: a community supported by all of our neighbours, lifting each other up, and where everyone feels safe.

We recognize that bullying and division are sometimes fueled by those in power who seek to distract from the real issues impacting Survivors, communities, and the public.

Today on this Pink Shirt Day, let’s send a powerful message: bullying and denialism will not be tolerated. We stand for kindness, empathy, solidarity, and respect. From all of us at TteS, take action by wearing pink and giving kindness; it goes a long way and embraces real change.

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REPORT BY TK̓WENEM7ÍPLE7 VICKI

Background:

In 1999 Secwepemc Leadership approved the creation of a legal entity that would be the venue for asserting our Secwepemc rights and jurisdiction over the care of our children and families. Secwepemc Child and Family Services was formed. Over the years and for many reasons, the entity became a delegated agency implementing BC law. Our goal is to implement Secwepemc Law.

In 2009 Secwepemc leadership unanimously supported a declaration to assert our jurisdiction for the benefit of our children and families.

In 2010-2013 – research and planning was conducted for the development and revitalization of our Secwepemc Law.

The Goal of TteS Chief and Council since 2009 was to assert full jurisdiction over children and family services based on our own Secwepemc Laws. On December 19, 2024, Kukpi7 and Tkwenem7iple’s made this goal a reality by signing a Band Council Resolution adopting the Stsmémelt and Kw’séltkten Law.

The law is based upon principles guided by Secwepemc stories and our oral traditions as told by our Elders. There are six Secwepemc Stories that define our Stsmémelt and Kw’séltkten Law that will be shared with community at a future presentation.

Total jurisdiction over the care of our children and families based on our own Secwepemc Laws is so exciting.

There is much to share about TteS adopting the Stsmémelt and Kw’séltkten Law and future Lexéy’em Articles will address “what does adopting the Stsmémelt and Kw’séltkten Law mean for TteS moving forward?”

COUNCILLOR VICKI MANUEL

Primary Portfolios:
Community Service and Membership

Secondary Portfolio:
Education and Four Pillars

Vicki W. Manuel, from Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc, is a mother of 3 adult daughters, grandmother to Aveah and living with her partner Peter in beautiful Tk̓emlúps. Previously Vicki managed Le Estcwicwéy̓ (the Missing – 215+) and was a project developer and planner for the First Nation Health Authority (FNHA). From 2003 to 2009, Vicki served two terms on Tk̓emlúps Chief and Council. Vicki also had her own consulting business and has supported Indigenous organizations in Planning and Project Management. Vicki earned a Master’s degree in Community Development from the University of Victoria and a Bachelor of General Studies in First Nation Administration and Leadership, with a minor in First Nations Studies, from Simon Fraser University. Passionate about culture, education, health and family. Vicki is excited and passionate about supporting her community through community led initiatives.