Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc

(Ottawa, ON) – The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is finalizing details for a meeting with Pope Francis in Vatican City as part of broad efforts to seek justice for genocide in Catholic-run residential institutions, including to seek an apology to be delivered in Canada. A delegation of First Nations survivors and leadership will gather with the head of the Catholic Church March 31, 2022. The gathering will include separate meetings with Inuit and Métis delegates and a cultural presentation.

“Since the beginning, as told in our Creation stories, we are the original nation of families of these lands. It has always been our hope of a good life for our children, grandchildren and the ones who have yet to come that our work is based in. When the European sovereign arrived on our shores, their international laws known as the doctrines of discovery was applied to our lands and denied us our existence as human beings.

We began to experience relentless attempts to destroy our way of life. We were uprooted, displaced and relocated from our home. However, we have never given up our teachings and how we perceive our existence.

Meeting with Pope Francis is an important step as we continue to address the Catholic Church’s culpability about genocide and complicity in what many First Nations children experienced in the institutions. It was responsible for managing, including in many instances, the spiritual, cultural, emotional, physical, and sexual violence inflicted on our children,” said AFN Northwest Territories (NWT) Regional Chief Gerald Antoine, who is leading the AFN delegation to Rome.

“The examples all constitute evidence of the genocidal intent in forcefully removing Indigenous children from their families. Our delegates are messengers for all Survivors when we seek acknowledgement of the truth, an acknowledgement of where the permissions directed the responsibility for the destruction caused against our peoples and children and to rescind the Papal Bulls of 1493.”

The AFN delegation includes Survivors of Residential Institutions of Assimilation and Genocide, two youth representatives and 13 First Nation delegates representing the AFN. The delegates represent Indigenous Peoples from coast to coast to coast. The AFN acknowledges the work and leadership of former NWT Regional Chief Norman Yakeleya for his efforts leading up to this important gathering.

Michelle Schenandoah, a traditional member of the Onʌyota’:aka (Oneida) Nation Wolf Clan of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and Fred Kelly, a citizen of the Ojibways of Onigaming of the Anishinaabe Nation in Treaty #3 and an Elder in Midewin, the Sacred Law and Medicine Society of the Anishinaabe will accompany the delegation.

The delegation seeks acknowledgement of the claim by the Roman Catholic Church related to the right of domination over everyone and everything and its role in the spiritual, cultural, emotional, physical and sexual violence of First Nations in Catholic-run Residential Institutions to be delivered by the Pope in Canada.

The delegation will call on the Pope as the Head of the Holy See, the Vatican and the Catholic Church to repeal the Papal Bull of 1493 issued by his predecessor Pope Alexander and all other Papal Bulls that enshrined the doctrine of discovery that led to the genocide of Indigenous peoples in all regions of the world.

Please visit www.afn.ca/vatican/ for a full list of AFN delegates.

The AFN is the national organization representing First Nations Chiefs in Canada. Follow AFN on Twitter @AFN_Updates.

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Contact information:

Jamie Monastyrski
Press Secretary
Office of the National Chief
613-612-7229 (mobile)
jamiem@afn.ca

Andrew St. Germain
Communications Coordinator
Office of the National Chief
416-543-1690 (mobile)
ast-germain@afn.ca

Kelly Reid
Communications Officer
Assembly of First Nations
604-340-3117 (mobile)
kreid@afn.ca

Leanne Goose
Press Secretary
Office of Regional Chief Antoine
587-986-6215 (mobile)
communications@denenation.com

The Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc Kúkpi7 and Tkwenem7íple7 had an information session with attending Membership Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at Moccasin Square Garden (MSG) where Dan George of Four Directions presented the Draft TteS Strategic Plan Framework outlining the top 8 Priorities in alphabetical order. To help inform the Strategic Plan and the implementation of its priorities, we are seeking your value-added feedback as members. Please let us know what you think success would look like within a 5-year timeframe. (2022-2027)

Membership feedback and input is important to Kúkpi7 and Tkwenem7íple7. Please see the fillable PDF form below.

Deadline for submissions: Friday, March 18, 2022 4:00pm.

Upon completion, save file and email to CouncilSupportTeam@ttes.ca

DOWNLOAD TteS Strategic Planning Member Feedback

Le7es ke7 sw7ec ne Tsítslem te Petpénye (Happy New Year to you). On behalf of Council, we just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year. We are looking forward to a more peaceful 2022.

The COVID pandemic is still of great concern with the Omicron variant being very transmissible and easily spread. The safety of membership and staff is Council’s utmost priority.

We are encouraging all to continue to be vigilant in protecting themselves and their loved ones from the COVID virus. We encourage all to get your booster and vaccines if you have not already done so. Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself against the worst outcome if you come down with COVID.

For the time being, TteS Council and staff will be working from home, whenever possible. Offices are closed to the public, unless you have a scheduled appointment. TteS will continue to provide programs and services and COVID supports.

TteS does have an organizational plan to protect our essential services staff.

We appreciate everyone’s continued patience and understanding during this ongoing challenging situation. Please stay home as much as possible to reduce your change of getting or spreading the virus. If you have any signs of illness, please stay home.

Yecwests’utce – Look after yourselves.

Chief Rosanne Casimir
On behalf of Council

~ from the Office of the Chief

On behalf of Council, I wanted to provide you an update on the Day Scholars Settlement.

The individual claims process in the Gottfriedson Indian Residential Schools Day Scholars Class Action settlement is now open. The deadline to submit a claim is October 4, 2023.  Claim forms can be completed and submitted online at:  http://www.dayscholarsclaims.com.

Paper versions of the claim forms can be requested from the Claims Administrator at 1-877-877-5786 or dayscholarsclaims@deloitte.ca. The claim forms require basic information only and do not require claimants to provide information about their experiences at Indian Residential Schools. For assistance with filling out a Claim Form, contact the Claims Administrator at 1-877-877-5786.

If you need help determining if you are eligible for compensation, or have any other questions regarding the class action and settlement, please contact Class Counsel at dayscholars@waddellphillips.ca or call 1-888-222-6845.

Diena Jules, Day Scholar and Survivor Class Representative Plaintiff, Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc: “Today is an historic day. After having been left behind for so many years, the experiences of students who attended Residential Schools as Day Scholars are finally being recognized, and Day Scholars can finally apply for compensation. I encourage all of my fellow Day Scholars to apply as soon as possible.”

Each Day Scholar who attended an Indian Residential School during the day only (but did not sleep there overnight) is eligible to apply for a $10,000 Day Scholar Compensation Payment. For a full list of Indian Residential Schools that had or might have had Day Scholars and are included in the settlement see: http://www.justicefordayscholars.com/schools-lists/

In cases where the Day Scholar died on or after May 30, 2005, the deceased Day Scholar’s estate may apply for the Day Scholar Compensation Payment. Claims may be made by the estate Executor/Administrator/Trustee/Liquidator, or if none is appointed, the deceased Day Scholar’s highest priority heir.

There is also $50-million Day Scholars Revitalization Fund which will be used to support healing, wellness, education, language, culture, heritage and commemoration.   That is not a direct payment to survivors but will be based on an application process.

I am proud that Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, together with shíshálh Nation and the Grand Council of the Crees has championed the cause of Day Scholars over their ten-year battle for recognition. It was wrong that Day Scholars were excluded from the common experience payment of Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement, and we are pleased Day Scholars’ are now able to apply for compensation.

On behalf of Council, I wanted to take this time to say Kukwstép-kucw to all the former Chiefs, Leaders, Plaintiff’s and technical staff that have worked so hard to get us to this resolution.

The Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line (1-866-925-4419) is available 24 hours a day for anyone experiencing pain or distress because of their residential school experience.

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Related Links:

• Media Release: Waddell Phillips, Class Counsel in the Indian Residential Schools Day Scholars class action
• Media Release: Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

Le7es ke7 sw7ec ne Tsítslem te Petpénye (Happy New Year to you),

In response to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, we are recommending all TteS Community members remain vigilant in protecting themselves and their loved ones from the COVID-19 virus. QHS and Interior Health continues to recommend everyone who is eligible to receive their first, second, and/or third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to make those appointments as soon as they can. The vaccine remains the best protection against having the worst outcome when someone comes down with COVID-19.

• interiorhealth.ca/health-and-wellness/disease-outbreaks/covid-19/immunization-clinics
• interiorhealth.ca/health-and-wellness/disease-outbreaks/covid-19

Starting on Tuesday, January 4th, TteS services will be provided as usual, however Kúkpi7 and Tkwenkwenem7íple7 (Chief and Council) as well as a majority of TteS staff will be performing their roles remotely, when possible. It is our hope these proactive measures will lessen the chance of creating a ‘super-spreader’ event within the TteS offices. We are recommending and requesting TteS Community members avoid coming to the office in person until further notice, however in-person appointments may be considered on a case-by-case basis. We will provide a further update as we continue to monitor and react to this evolving situation under the current Provincial health and safety recommendations and regulations.

We greatly appreciate TteS Community members’ continued patience and understanding during this challenging situation we find ourselves navigating as we begin 2022.

Stay well, stay safe, and please take care of each other.

Kukwstsétsemc.

Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Community Services Department will be unavailable Thursday December 16th from 12pm to 4pm.

From the Office of the Chief –

I wanted to provide an update on the Vatican trip that was scheduled for December 2021 to meet with The Holy See, Pope Francis. The Vatican meeting has been postponed. A new date will be confirmed and further notice to follow January 2022.

I wanted to ensure that membership was aware of this change in plans. The decision was made due to the health and safety concerns for the entire 13-member delegation from Canada that was scheduled to meet the Pope.

This delay in the meeting will allow me to do additional reach out to TteS survivors as well as survivors from other Nations that also attended KIRS. I want to ensure that survivors have the opportunity to be part of the dialogue to inform me about the messages that I will bring forward.

Membership will be kept informed of the updated plans and I look forward to continued dialogue with membership.

Sincerely,
Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir
On behalf of Council

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Hampers are available for pickup for Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc band members.  There is only one hamper per household.

The location for the pickup is at the Chief Louis Centre dining hall (same place as last year’s). There will be a sign marked ‘HAMPERS’ on the door. Please enter as the door is unlocked and wear a mask.

The contents of the hampers are similar to last year’s hamper items.

Open today to 4:00 PM.

Open every day 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM from today, Monday, December 6, 2021 to Wednesday, December 15, 2021.

The delivery to the homes will begin today, Monday, December 6^th, 2021. We will deliver to your home upon contacting you first.

For delivery or information, call me at 778-220-6209.

Ron Tronson
Health & Safety

From the Office of the Chief –

December 6^th is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. This day is about remembering those who have experienced gender-based violence and those who we have lost to it.

On behalf of Council, I want to take this opportunity to remind everyone that we all have a role and responsibility to assist in ending violence. We want to build a community and a Nation that values all people and where all people can be safe and secure in their homes and communities. We need to end the gendered and racialized violent crimes against aboriginal women.

We all must uphold and declare that there should be no tolerance for any form of bullying, racism, or harassment or violence. This is particularly true as gender-based violence in Canada has been magnified and amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic.

We need to stand in unity to work together to end the violence and create a healthier safer future for our friends, family and loved ones. We need to STOP THE VIOLENCE!

If you need additional resources, please contact:

Ending Violence BC

Kamloops Community YMCA – Women’s Emergency Shelter (shelter@kamloopsy.ca, 250-374-6162 or text 250-682-7931)

CMHA -Emerald Hostel Emergency Shelter – Temporary Shelter – For men and their children 250-372-3031

CMHA-Emerald Hostel Emergency Shelter – Temporary Shelter – For Women and their children 250-828-1122

Mustard seed New Life Community – temporary shelter 250-434-9898

Elizabeth Fry Society 250-374-2119

BCAAFC – Ending Violence

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Please be advised that K-12 school cheques have been printed and mailed. Due to road closures and recent natural disasters, Canadian postal mail is delayed.

Please be patient in receiving your cheque in the mail. The Education and Finance Departments have done everything we can to get cheques in the mail as fast as possible. However, we have no control of when they will be delivered.

As we don’t have estimates on delivery dates, you could follow up with the postal office for delivery times. In the meantime, please check your mailboxes regularly.

Thanks in advance for your patience,
The Education Department