Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc

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

Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc invites Pope Francis to bear witness to Le Estcwéý and meet Kamloops Indian Residential School Survivors

October 28, 2021, Tk̓emlúps – Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc Chief and Council state the following regarding the announcement from the Holy See’s Press Office indicating that Pope Francis plans to come to Canada in the context of the long-standing pastoral process of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples:

“It would be deeply meaningful to welcome the Holy See, Pope Francis, to Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc, as our heart wrenching news was the first of the wave of confirmations of unmarked graves with thousands more lives lost coming to light. It’d be a historic moment for Kamloops Residential Indian School Survivors and for our community who continues to navigate the impacts following the horrific confirmation of the missing children,” declared Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir.

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October 7, 2021, Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc – This statement is in follow up Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc leadership and grassroots family representatives discussions regarding the public apology made by the Prime Minister of Canada on October 6, 2021, as well as the call between Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that took place on October 2, 2021.

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From the Office of the Chief –

On behalf of Council, I just wanted to take the time to say Kukwstép-kucw to all those that honoured the first official National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Here at Tk̓emlúps, our membership and ḱwséltkten came together to support each other as we remember our collective experiences at residential school and to honour the missing children.  We also celebrated the beauty of the Secwépemc people, language, lands, and culture.  There was such great power and unity in having our community, Nation and country drumming the honour song for all the children of residential schools across Canada.  We drummed together for the healing of ourselves and Mother Earth so that our future generations will never have to suffer the painful injustices of genocide.

We were honoured to have National Chief Roseanne Archibald, BC Regional Chief Terry Teegee, Kukpi7 Wayne Christian, Kukpi7 Judy Wilson, Minister Murray Rankin, Minister Mike Farnworth, and Mayor Ken Christian join us to recognize the day and honour our survivors, intergenerational survivors, and the “Le Estcwéý,” the missing.  Your presence and words were truly appreciated. We also want to acknowledge the many other dignitaries that also joined us at our arbor.

Thank you, George Casimir, Josh Gottfriedson for hosting, Kyle Kreutzer, Julie John and FNHA for helping to organize the event and for all those who were there to support our people.

Let us all be the hope and change in making a difference to ensure that every child matters. Reconciliation can only happen when we work together and take time understand each other.  We extend our deep appreciation to all for standing in solidarity with Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc.   It is our time to stand up and celebrate our pride as indigenous people of the land.   Kukwstép-kucw (on behalf of all of us, we thank you all) for the outpouring of love, prayers for our community and the missing children in our care. Thank you for being with us on a historical day – the very first National Indigenous Truth and Reconciliation Day.

Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir

On behalf of Council

We are absolutely thrilled to premiere the video, me7 w7ec-kt wel me7 yews (We Will Always be Here) for the very first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It bears witness to the beauty of Secwépemc people, language, lands, and cultural expression. Kukwstsétsemc to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation for helping us bring this project to light.

Our vision to create a video where we could honour Kamloops Indian Residential School Survivors, the missing children in our care, and intergenerational survivors. We chose to honour them by demonstrating how, despite the concerted efforts of the federally mandated Indian Residential Schools to eradicate our culture, language, and ways of being, we are reclaiming, and revitalizing our Secwépemc language, traditions, and ways of knowing. We get to share our cultural treasures with the world!

September 30, 2021, Kamloops – In the buildup to the very first National Day For Truth and Reconciliation, Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc Chief and Council reflected on both words and actions offered to them since the confirmation of the Kamloops Indian Residential School missing children in unmarked burial sites on the former residential school grounds.

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Join Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc on September 30 at 2:15 pm Pacific to drum and sing for the missing children of Indian Residential Schools.

Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc calls on people worldwide to drum simultaneously for the missing children of Indian Residential Schools for the first Canadian National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, this September 30 at 2:15 pm Pacific time.

More Info and How To Participate

Watch LIVE event at Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc PowWow Arbour

We have received 20 tickets to BC Lions Game for Friday, September 24, 2021 7:30pm for IRS Survivors of Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc.

Check list of what is required:

• Must have email to receive the tickets and ticket master account https://www.bclions.com/mobiletickets
• Must have a smart phone to log into Mobile Tickets at the Gate Entrance, No screenshots or printouts (Free Wi-Fi available)
• Must have Proof of Vaccination with valid Provincial/Federal Identification
• Must have own transportation to/from and organize your own accommodation

Note: NO honoraria or travel will be paid for those in attendance

Please contact Alicia John, Executive Secretary to Chief and Council alicia.john@kib.ca if you can have all the required checks complete by Friday, September 24, 2021 at 12:00pm. Alicia will transfer the tickets via email.

Thank you to BC Lions & Kids Up Front for the generous donation.

Here is some GAME DAY Info:

If you would like to receive a complimentary BC Lions Every Child Matters Shirt Suzette Amaya will be on site at GATE E at a Tent giving out T-Shirts ONLY TO THOSE WHO RECEIVED TICKETS FROM IRSSS.

Each IRSSS Guest will receive: 1 T-Shirt + 1 Food Voucher (Hot Dog, Chip & Pop) both kindly provided by the BC Lions.

THIS IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVED! NO HOLDS and ONLY FROM 6:30-7:30pm SO COME EARLY!

We cannot accommodate to people who miss out as this is first come first served and T-shirts have been set aside for IRSSS Ticket Holders though once the Game starts T-shirts are Not Available.

PLEASE NOTE: NO PURSES OR BAGS IN THE STADIUM. BRING PROOF OF VAX + PHOTO ID

For Mobile Ticket Info please go to  https://www.bclions.com/mobiletickets

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Join Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc on September 30 at 2:15 pm Pacific to drum and sing for the missing children of Indian Residential Schools.

September 17, 2021, Kamloops – Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc calls on people worldwide to drum simultaneously for the missing children of Indian Residential Schools for the first Canadian National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, this September 30 at 2:15 pm Pacific time.

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More info:
tkemlups.ca/drum