The Tk’emlups Education Department Summer 2021 Newsletter is out! Highlights include program updates, student achievements, and more. We’d like to thank you for taking the time to keep up to date with our programs and services as well as celebrating the accomplishments of our hard-working students and program participants.
Click image to download the newsletter.
FNHA has identified TteS as a First Nations community that qualifies for the FNHA Air Purifier Support Program.
Due to limited quantities, priority and distribution of the purifiers will be based on the following FNHA eligibility:
Currently we are generating a list of names of TteS members who are interested in this program. Please note that eligible members will only receive one air purifier per home.
To put your name onto the waitlist, please contact:
Alysha Sigsworth, TteS Reception
(250) 828-9810
alysha.sigsworth@@kib.ca
July 15, 2021 – Kamloops. Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc calls on people worldwide to bear witness to a very important truth about Indigenous People and Canada. Indian Residential Schools have been referred to as a historic dark chapter – but Indigenous people very much live with the repercussions today.
“We are here today to honour the missing children in our caretaking who may have experienced unthinkable circumstances leading to their death and whose remains were placed in unmarked graves. We are not here for retaliation. We are here for truth telling. We are mapping a way forward to bring peace to Kamloops Indian Residential School (KIRS) missing children, their families and their communities. We will follow the evidence and the science while we pay heed to what oral tellings KIRS survivors share with us,” affirmed Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir
INVITATION TO MEDIA TO ATTEND IN PERSON OR VIRTUALLY
Date and Time: July 15, 2021, 9-11 am Pacific
Location: Virtual and In person
In person: must be pre-registered – DOWNLOAD REGISTRATION FORM
Coast Kamloops Hotel & Conference Centre Ballroom ABC, 1250 Rogers Way, Kamloops, BC
Please note that the public event is being hosted outside of community as all suitable community venues are currently being used to meet the needs of wildfire evacuees.
To register for virtual attendance (zoom): https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYsf-GtrTkqH9P-F-yfc2DCnbr56PonV3br
Event Roll Out:
8:45 am Pacific: Zoom start for media to join and tech check.
9:00 – 10:00 am Pacific: Public Presentation
NOTE: Questions will be deferred to the Media event starting at 10:15.
Speakers: Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Chief Rosanne Casimir, Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Legal Council, GPR specialist and other experts, KIRS survivors and intergenerational survivor
10:00- 10:15: BREAK
10:15 – 11:00 am: Media Event – with speakers from public presentation: Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Chief Rosanne Casimir, Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Legal Council, GPR Specialist and other experts.
NOTE: to be trauma informed, the KIRS survivors and intergenerational survivor will not be participating in the media event.
For media attending in person- there is limited availability for one-on- one interviews with Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Chief Rosanne Casimir. Please send your requests in prior.
Media is permitted to livestream the full event. An HD version of the full event will also be available immediately after the event.
Additionally the livestream will be available over the following platforms:
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/event/1130101
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TkemlupsteSecwepemc
Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc website: https://tkemlups.ca/event/july15-am/
Contact: Racelle Kooy
Media Relations for Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Kamloops Indian Residential School Le Estcwéý (The Missing)
Email: media@kib.ca
Some Background Resources
From the Canadian Archaeological Association:
https://canadianarchaeology.com/caa/sites/default/files/page/caa_remote_sensing_faq_v1.pdf
https://canadianarchaeology.com/caa/sites/default/files/page/caa_remote_sensing_pathways_v1.pdf
Q’wemtsín Health Society (QHS) and Sk’elep School of Excellence have been working in partnership on a food sovereignty program and are thrilled to be able to use products from that project to help feed evacuees from local forest fires.
“The need for food sovereignty became more evident during the COVID pandemic and now again during these times of emergency,” explained Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir, “Tḱemlúps te Secwépemc Council and community are incredibly proud of the students for being able to help out in this way”.
The food security project started through the dedication of Laura Kalina, a dietitian with the Q’wemtsín Health Society, who is committed to being able to produce healthy food locally. “QHS sees land-based programs such as the food security project, as part of the overall strategy to build healthy and resilient communities”.
The idea was brought to the Sk’elep School principal Cheryl Sebastian and Lead Teacher Arlene Dixon, who were immediately committed to the goal of teaching the students about the importance of locally grown food. “Sk’elep students have really enjoyed the experience of planting, tending, and harvesting the crops. Culturally, food is the centre of our family and community relationships, so it is extra special that the harvest from our gardens is feeding our neighbours and friends in a time of stress and need”.
Kukwstép-kucw to all the Sk’elep students and staff and QHS for being able to help so many!
From the Office of the Chief –
On behalf of Council, I just wanted to reach out to membership regarding the extreme fire risk we are currently facing. The severe heat remains, with no end in sight. There were several fires last night and today on TteS lands all caused by lightening strikes.
We are asking that everyone be extra vigilant and fire smart. If you see a fire, please report it to *5555.
Please prepare a “to go” bag and determine an evacuation plan and route for your household and your Elders. We all need to be ready to leave our homes with short notice, if needed.
In the event, you must evacuate, please pack:
Also:
Please check in on any family, friends or neighbours who may need a helping hand due to mobility or other issues and share this information with those family members that may not have access to internet.
TteS has an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in place. Sk’elep school is being set up for evacuees (tables / chairs / cots). The EOC trailer will be manned and is located near MSG.
If you are evacuated and are going to an evacuation centre, remember to sign up with the registration desk so you can be contacted or reunited with family and loved ones. Please don’t forget to register online, at https://ess.gov.bc.ca/.
Please check the following sites to monitor the ongoing fire situation.
Phone your loved ones to check in. As a community we need to make sure everyone stays safe.
Yecwestsútce
Respectfully,
Tḱemlúps te Secwépemc
Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir
On behalf of Council
Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc Chief and Council have past a motion to postpone ceremonies and events surrounding Le Estcwéy̓ for the week of June 28 through July 5, 2021 due to the extreme heat wave and for the safety of all
If anyone wants to access TteS during any events between June 28th through July 5th it will be at their own risk!
As an unprecedented heat wave has hit Secwepemcúl̓ecw the threat of heat related illness and possible death are health risks that are real and pose a threat.
Municipalities and health authorities are warning to the dangerous risk of heat stress during this extreme heat wave, where record breaking temperatures continue.
We are concerned with individuals suffering from heat-related illness and those most at risk such as Elders, infants, people with heart problems and breathing difficulty as well as the risk to animals in this extreme heat.
Heat-related illness is caused when your body gains heat faster than it can cool itself down and includes symptoms such as heavy sweating, muscle cramps, dizziness and/or fainting, nausea and/or vomiting, fever, seizures, hallucinations, and unconsciousness/coma.
Our partners at Interior Health have released information to the public dually expressing these concerns and state that risks from extreme heat exceed risk from Covid-19.
This unprecedented heat wave leaves the region with the driest conditions ever noted. Wildfires are evident and the smoke from the fires burning close by is presenting harmful effects.
Please practice all protective guidelines of keeping yourself protected from exposure to the heat, keep hydrated, move around as little as possible and continue to check in on one another.
Be prepared for power outages, utility failures and vehicle problems – the heat presents havoc with all energized equipment where function is compromised.
For more information on how to best manage your health through this heat wave, please refer to interiorhealth.ca and fnha.ca.
From the Office of the Chief –
On behalf of Council, I wanted to provide membership an update. Chief and Council’s top priority is always for the health and safety of community members and for those who wish to visit our monument at the Kamloops Indian Residential School at TteS. We are asking all to uphold the integrity of Council and staff and follow the Secwépemc way of mutual respect.
Given the extreme heat dome ranging from 38-46 plus degrees Celsius throughout Secwepemcúl’ecw, TteS Chief and Council have passed a motion, to cancel any and all events from June 28 to July 5th.
The decision is based on recommendations from FNHA due to the health and safety concerns and the potential for heat related illness. Currently there are more risks from heat, than there are from COVID 19. This heat wave is potentially very dangerous, and we are asking all to be very careful.
If anyone wants to access TteS during any planned events between June 28th to July 5th, they will be doing so at their own risk.
Chief and Council have also decided to close the range due to the extreme fire risk.
We want to acknowledge there is a fire at Red Lake and pray for all those who are fighting that fire.
Due to the extreme heat, Sk’elep School has opened its gym as a community cooling centre from 10 am – 10pm. COVID 19 safety protocols are in place and no food is allowed in the gym. We encourage all to take advantage of this space as it is really important to stay cool in this extreme heat.
TteS community members are asked to please use water for essential needs only. Water conservation measures necessary due to extreme dry weather. Water conservation measures are necessary due to the extreme dry weather. Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc water restrictions will be in effect until August 31. No sprinkling is allowed between 11:00 am and 6:00 pm on any day. Even numbered addresses may sprinkle only on even numbered days. Odd numbered addresses may sprinkle only on odd numbered days.
The province has prohibited campfires throughout B.C. as of Wednesday at noon. The ban will stay in effect until Oct. 15 at noon or until the order is rescinded.
Yecwestsútce and stay safe.
Yours truly,
Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc
Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir (Chief)
On behalf of Council
Meteorologists are calling for a “dangerous long duration heat wave.” Almost all of B.C. is now under this heat warning. Please note that these dangerously high temperatures are forecasted to last for at least the next two weeks.
Daytime highs are predicted over 40° Celsius for all next week, starting tomorrow; Thursday, July 1st is expected to reach 47° Celsius; the week following is still forecasted for temperatures in the high 30s, with no precipitation in the forecast.
In many parts of the province, temperatures are not expected to dip below 20 C, even at night.
Daytime winds will remain strong; while offering some relief to the intense heat, strong wind conditions also cause quicker evaporation-dehydration and present extreme potential for spreading fires.
When temperatures are extremely high, take steps to protect yourself and your loved ones:
If your home is not air-conditioned, do not rely on a fan as your main cooling device during an extreme heat event.
When outdoors, protect against the sun’s rays. If applying sunscreen, check the expiration date on the product you are using; expired products should be disposed of as sunscreen agents can start to change chemically – changes in the formula over time can make it both ineffective and problematic for skin.
June 24, 2021, Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc – As Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Chief and Council, we would like to openly acknowledge the horrific truth that Cowessess First Nation, survivors and intergenerational survivors of the former Marieval Indian Residential School are grappling with.
We mourn the confirmation of the hundreds of unmarked graves in Cowessess First Nation. We wish to acknowledge the leadership and truth that Chief Cadmus Delorme and Cowessess Knowledge Keeper Florence Sparvier, as well as FSIN Regional Chief Bobby Cameron, showed the world this morning at their press conference.