Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc

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:

• Your emergency bag and important legal documents
• Several days of clothing
• Any medicines you require
• Activities and comfort items for your children
• Leashes, carriers, and food for your pets
• Any precious photos or mementos that cannot be replaced

Also:

• Ensure your car has a full tank of gas
• Shut off any propone tanks
• Designate a safe meeting place with family and loved ones

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.

• TteS Facebook or Twitter
• City of Kamloops and the TNRD website or Twitter
• EmergencyInfoBC: https://www.emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca/
• Keep up-to-date on the provincial wildfire situation at bcwildfire.ca.
• Track road closures at http://www.drivebc.com.

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 Secwépemcúl̓ecw 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 Secwépemcúl’ecw, TteS Chief and Council have passed a motion, to cancel any and all events from June 28 to July 5^th.

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

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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 1^st 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:

• Stay in an air-conditioned indoor location as much as you can.
• Drink plenty of fluids even if you do not feel thirsty.
• Schedule outdoor activities carefully.
• Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing and sunscreen.
• Pace yourself.
• Take cool showers or baths to cool down.
• Check on a friend or neighbor and have someone do the same for you.
• Never leave children or pets in cars.
• Check the local news for health and safety updates.

If your home is not air-conditioned, do not rely on a fan as your main cooling device during an extreme heat event.

• Drink more water than usual and do not wait until you are thirsty to drink.
• Do not use the stove or oven to cook—it will make you and your house hotter.

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.

• Limit your outdoor activity, especially midday when the sun is hottest.
• Wear and reapply sunscreen as indicated on the package.

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.

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From the Office of the Chief –

On behalf of Tk’emlúps Council, I would just like to say Yerí7 re sxexé7 (congrats) to all the TteS graduates of 2021.  We would like to pay tribute to your hard work and dedication that you have had to get you to this very important milestone – graduation.  Education is a priority for us at TteS and we have many k̓wséltkten who are celebrating with you! Yerí7 re stsweswísentlmen (I am proud of you “all”).

We consider education an investment into our future.  You are our future leaders, innovators, problem solvers and trendsetters.  We all encourage you to do your best, be your best and strive to make this world a better place for all of us.  We are counting on you.

You have already shown strength, resiliency, and the ability to be flexible by living through the COVID pandemic.  Challenges will always be there, so it is up to you how to face them and grow and learn from them.

We celebrate your successes and take pride in your accomplishments.  We also want to acknowledge all your family and mentors that have supported you through this process.  They may have coerced you to do your homework or took away your cell phone until your homework was done.  They believed in you, as do we. Xwexwéyt te k̓wséltkten wenecwem7úy tsweswísentlmen (your family is proud of you “all”).

We also acknowledge and celebrate the teachers that have influenced, inspired and supported you throughout the years.

As you move forward in life, we also want you to carry with great pride your identity as Tk’emlúpsemc.  Never forget your roots and the importance of culture, language, and traditions.  These values are what links generations to generations.   The recognition of the interconnectedness of all, and respect for our lands, water, medicines, plants, and each other, will help guide you towards a successful future.  Try to maintain balance in your life to create health and happiness.

Knowledge is power, and always be devoted to positive change and continue to inspire others to shape a better future for us all.

Always uphold your integrity and live your lives to the fullest.  Be true to yourself.

Here are the words I live by: “Know your Passion, Visualize your Plans, Collect your Resources, and always be Determined to Succeed!”  I practice those values in both my personal and professional life and share that with all of you as you continue with your academic paths.

We at TteS truly wish you so much success today and in the future!! Congratulations to all the Grads of 2021!! You did and Le7es ke7s w7ec wel me7 yews!!  ( we wish you the best forever/always!!)

TteS Post Secondary

TteS High School Graduates

• Oscar Bennett
• Ethan Bottle
• Apache Casimir
• Skylah George
• Madison George-Jules
• Savanna Jules
• Kiara Lampreau
• Talon Manuel
• Brian Mullins
• Delwyn Neveu
• Nolan Virgo
• Aliza Wells
• Kionna Wells

Congratulations to all the TteS Graduates of 2021!

Yours truly,
Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc
Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir (Chief)
On behalf of Council

Tḱemlúps te Secwépemc Council and members would like to say kukwstép-kucw to Adams Lake Band for the “Walking the Spirits Home” ceremony that took place from June 11 to 13 2021.  We want to also acknowledge and thank all the Elders, Knowledge keepers, survivors, intergenerational survivors, the Kukukpi7 and our K̓wséltkten from throughout Secwépemcúl’ecw that came together in unity and solidarity to support the survivors and the lost children in bringing their spirits home.

We are collectively grieving and this is one step towards reconciliation and healing. The truths of the survivors and the lost children are finally being heard by so many.

In light of the preliminary findings regarding the unmarked burial site of 215 children from the Kamloops Residential School, it is fitting that the healing journey started here, at the home campfire of the residential school.

Kukpi7 Arnouse and to your leadership, and all those who helped organize “Walking our Spirits Home”, we at TteS want to acknowledge the continued work that you and your campfire have done to bring healing to your community. We were honoured to assist with protocols, resources, and support.

From the Office of the Chief –

On behalf of Council, I want to provide you an update on what Council has been doing to follow up on the recent, heartbreaking findings at the Kamloops Indian Residential School. This was but the beginning of what will be a long and emotionally challenging process. Chief and Council are committed to providing regular updates to our membership.

For Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Council and I, as well as what we have heard in community, ceremonies, protocols, and justice are top of mind for all. This is only the beginning.

I want to take a moment to acknowledge the grief that we have all felt. This is traumatic and each and every one of us have been impacted by residential schools. It is time to be gentle with ourselves as this brings up so many emotions and hurts. I know that I am reaching out to my loved ones and encourage you to do the same. Please note that we have included mental health supports at the end of this letter.

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From the Office of the Chief –

On behalf of Council, I just wanted to provide you an update on the follow up that has happened on the findings of the lost children on KIRS.

There was a pipe ceremony held on June 10^th.  On behalf of Councillor Jeanette who took the lead on behalf of Council, we are truly grateful to our TteS departments and the SNTC for attending and volunteering.  A lot of work went into the ceremony, from preparing flags and tobacco ties, to getting everything ready for the pipe carriers, ceremonial knowledge keepers, youth dancers, drummers singers and the Residential and Day Scholar Survivors.

From what I witnessed at the ceremony, people were truly engaged and present to what took place.  I lift my hands to all who attended, witnessed and participated in these important moments of ceremony and healing.

There were also several “follow ups” this week.

TteS was the host community for the Adams Lake Band’s journey  for the “Walking the Spirits Home” ceremony.

Meetings that Chief and Council attended this week included:

• With staff to share information and plan for the next steps
• With our legal team and
• First Nations Health Authority

We absolutely appreciate how other organisations, are showing their support as well. This week, Qwelmínte Secwépemc launched the 215+ Days for the Children, which includes a thoughtfully curated collection of resources and tools relevant to the impacts of Residential Schools and Trauma-Informed approaches. Please feel free to share and visit the website (https://www.qwelminte.ca/for-the-children) to access these resources.

As these are still early days, I would encourage you to reach out to loved ones. Check in on each other.

There are mental health supports in place.  Please see our website for more information.

Kukwstéc-kucw