May 27, 2021, Kamloops – It is with a heavy heart that Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Kukpi7 (Chief) Rosanne Casimir confirms an unthinkable loss that was spoken about but never documented by the Kamloops Indian Residential School. This past weekend, with the help of a ground penetrating radar specialist, the stark truth of the preliminary findings came to light – the confirmation of the remains of 215 children who were students of the Kamloops Indian Residential School.
Census is Canada’s Storyteller
Starting now and throughout the summer you will see Statistics Canada staff on Tk’emlúps te Secwe̓pemc Lands. The Census is Canada’s storyteller. Every five years, data is collected about every household to understand how Canada is changing over time. The data collected is used for planning and policy development in many areas.
Tk’emlúps te Secwe̓pemc Lands is its own Census Subdivision. That is great news for Ttes! That means we can use the census data to better understand the dynamics of those that live on Ttes Lands. Ttes can use census data to support our own decision-making on government services, and in negotiations with other governments.
When you do the census, you ensure that your situation is accounted for.
If you did not complete the Online questionnaire you received one of the following Indigenous Enumerators will be going door-to-door to help each household complete the Census Survey.
Enumerators will be wearing red vests and name tags, and are required to follow COVID-19 Safety Proto-cols:
- Two masks
- Social distancing
- Frequent hand sanitizing
- Not allowed to enter your home
Crew Leader Rae-Anne can be contacted at 250-574-6069 if you have questions.
SAVE MONEY – BC Hydro’s GST exemption for on-reserve residential accounts
Approximately 67% of residential accounts on Tk̓emlúps reserve land have NOT registered for the BC Hydro GST exemption. Register today and SAVE MONEY!
Tax Exemption
- First Nations residential account holders living on-reserve and with a Certificate of Indian Status card are eligible for a GST exemption on their BC Hydro bills.
- The primary account holder must be the person named on the status card, and a scanned or photographed copy of both sides of the account holder’s status card is required to verify GST exemption.
- First Nations Bands, Tribal Councils or Band Empowered Entities may also be eligible for GST exemption. To ensure the correct taxes are being charged, please call Customer Service at the number below.
- BC Hydro is required to collect GST if the First Nation has implemented First Nations GST on their reserve lands.
Refunds for GST payments
- BC Hydro will credit up to two (2) years of GST charged to exempt customers.
- If you have been charged GST longer than two years, you will need to contact the Canada Revenue Agency for any remaining GST refund (i.e., beyond 2 years) and submit Form GST189.
To apply for GST exemption or to find out more information:
- Please call BC Hydro Customer Service at 1-800-224-9376 between 7am-8pm M-F, 9am-5pm on Saturdays.
- The status cards can be scanned and sent by email (scan@bchydro.com) or mailed to PO Box 8910 Vancouver, BC V6B 4X3.
- Additional information on customer service rules, taxes, etc. can be found on the BC Hydro website at https://app.bchydro.com/accounts-billing/bill-payment/customer-service-rules.html
TRU and TteS unveil new student awards
Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc (TteS) students will now be closer to achieving their education dreams with the new Indigenous Students Awards program announced by Thompson Rivers University (TRU). These financial incentives will be for as many as 16 TteS students per year who are each eligible to receive up to three awards with every award worth $2,500.
Results of Amendments to the CER
On behalf of Council, Kúkpi7 provided an update on the results of the voting on the changes to the Custom Election Regulations.
After the count was completed, all the proposed amendments were passed. The biggest changes our amendments now allow are:
- Both on reserve and residents of the TteS traditional territory are eligible to run for Chief and Council.
- Electronic voting is now allowed.
- Variances to the Custom Election Regulations can be made during a state of emergency (for example to comply with Provincial Health Orders).
- Elections can now still take place during a State of Emergency, using electronic voting.
Many of the other amendments were technical amendments. These changes will prepare us for an election this fall.
UPDATE: Information for Amendment Vote
Packages have been sent out to membership with information on the upcoming Amendment Vote. The contents of those packages are available here, along with the full Custom Election Regulations with all proposed amendments included as tracked changes for anyone who wishes to review the document as a whole. If you wish to be sent a hard copy of the Custom Election Regulations with tracked changes, please contact Veronica Seymour at 250-828- 9837 or veronica.seymour@kib.ca.
May 5 | Red Dress Day
RED DRESS DAY — Kúkpi7 encourages us to wear red today, Wednesday May 5th in recognition of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people.
Spring Challenge!
IT’S THAT TIME!!! The Spring Challenge registration is now open!
We are now accepting people off the wait-list! New deadline is May 7th. Please note that all previous challenges (Winter Challenge) will be added to a waitlist to ensure other TTES community members get to participate.
To register please email Alexis your completed registration form to alexis.gosselin@kib.ca
If you are needing assistance please call Alexis at 250-318-5330.
SIGN UP FORM | Spring Challenge
Education Department | Spring 2021 Newsletter
Weyt-kp Tk̓emlúpsemc,
The Tk̓emlúps Education Department would like to share our Spring 2021 highlights with our TteS community. Inside you will see program updates, student achievements, and more.
Kukwstsetsemc for keeping up to date with our Department, we will ensure to have another Newsletter for you soon.
Photovoice for our Community Youth
Photovoice projects are an interactive way for individuals to participate in a group where they can collectively participate in reflection learning, sharing, and awareness to other participants in the group and potentially a larger community.
This project will utilize digital media to allow participants to share valuable lived experience so they can explore their perspectives on their community, mental health, families, and the future. Through this photovoice project you will have the opportunity to encourage discussion, investigate experiences, bring awareness to social justice issues, collaborate for change and improvement, identify need, and potentially more.
Please contact David Croteau at 604 217 2073 if you have any questions.
