Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc

On May 27, 2021, it was with a heavy heart that Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc confirmed an unthinkable loss that was spoken about but never documented by the Kamloops Indian Residential School. With the help of a ground penetrating radar specialist, the stark truth of the preliminary findings came to light — the confirmation of 215 anomalies were detected.

Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc offices will be closed Thursday, May 23 in honour of these findings.

For many of us, this announcement has been a stark reminder of a painful chapter in our history. It serves as a starting point for many to learn more about the dark realities of residential schools and the lasting impacts they have had on Indigenous communities. While the number “215” has become a symbol of the children lost at the Kamloops Indian Residential School, it’s important to recognize that it represents far more than just a numerical figure. It stands for the countless spirits of children who never had the chance to return home from residential schools all across Canada. It signifies the enduring connections they had to their communities and the profound impact their loss continues to have across generations.

Chief and Council are designating this day as a Day of Reflection. We urge everyone to set aside time for introspection, learning, and being with loved ones. As we pause to reflect and honour the memory of Le Estcwicwéy̓ (the missing) and all those affected by the residential school system, let us also recommit ourselves to the ongoing work of reconciliation and healing.

Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc thrilled to announce that Sweláps Market has achieved not just one, but two awards at this year’s BC Economic Development Association Awards. The BCEDA Awards honor outstanding contributions to local economies and communities, recognizing those who’ve gone above and beyond in fostering economic growth and community development.

Sweláps Market proudly accepts the following awards for 2024:

Community Project Award (community less than 20,000 population):
The BCEDA Community Project Award recognizes an organization that has implemented various economic development initiatives that provide economic benefits to a community or region.
Winner: Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc Business & Economic Development — Sweláps Market

People’s Choice Award:
BC Economic Summit delegates were asked to vote for one of the award winners as the People’s Choice and the selected project was Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc Business & Economic Development for Sweláps Market.

We wish to extend a heartfelt thank you and congratulations to the entire Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc community, our dedicated staff, and the leadership of Kukpi7 and Council. This achievement is a testament to our collective effort and commitment to driving positive change.

Thank you to the many people that played a part in this project, a special recognition goes to our Ec. Dev Team, VisionQuest Advisors, BIRD construction and Kara Stokes, along with the incredible staff at Sweláps Market. Your hard work and dedication have turned the dream of a community-owned grocery store into a reality.

Let’s celebrate this achievement together and continue our journey of making a meaningful difference in the community.

FULL PRESS RELEASE →

Tk̓emlúps Community Services (Membership team) is diligently working to expedite band membership application processing.

• The Membership Committee & Arbitration Board has been sworn in.
• Key roles have been filled: Chairperson, Vice Chair, Secretary.
• Next three Committee meetings have been scheduled.
• Actively working on administrative policy details.
• Anticipating application review in coming months.

The timeline for application responses is clearly defined, and the forms will be made available as soon as the Membership Committee is ready.

For more information, please reach out to the Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc Membership Administrator team:

Denise Thomas
Indian Registry Administrator
denise.thomas@ttes.ca
(250) 828-9814

Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc hosted opening ceremonies for the Annual Southern Interior Local Government Association (SILGA) Conference; TteS welcomed interior professionals from both First Nations and Non-First Nations Governments to gather for the purpose of learning and networking. The theme of this year’s conference is “Keeping The Ball Rolling” which works to encourage and celebrate current members of Local Governments to continue to uphold the work that has come before them through positive relationship building, teamwork, and seeking a better future for all.

Tkwenem7iple7 Nikki Fraser offered a keynote speech to kick off the event in the Arbour the morning of May 1st. Tkwenem7iple7 Nikki noted the excitement and gratitude she had for this conference being held of the land of TteS, and she welcomed respected dignitaries with open arms. Tkwenem7iple7 Nikki delivered a powerful keynote that focused on the relationship between TteS and the City of Kamloops. In her address, she paid much respect to the past leaders that had come before her, and acknowledged the hard work that has been put into these relationships for over thirty years. Tkwenem7iple7 Nikki celebrated both TteS and the City of Kamloops for their dedication to having valuable, and at times, hard conversations that ultimately work to serve the greater good of all communities. The efforts put into these relationships show up today, and TteS is proud of the work they see through in collaboration and respect with The City of Kamloops.

The Southern Interior Local Government Association (SILGA) gather annually to discuss local government matters, educate themselves and one another on current trends and missions, and network between governments.

The Kamloops-Thompson school district has named the new school in Pineview Valley “Sníne Elementary” following a consultation process with over 1,300 public responses on potential names. The decision was made by the SD73 board of education during a meeting on Monday, April 22. “Sníne,” which means owl in Secwépemctsín, reflects the significance of Secwépemc culture, where the owl symbolizes wisdom and growth in traditional stories. The inclusion of Secwépemc words in school naming is seen as crucial for language revitalization and cultural representation in the region. Members of the Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc band, Jackie Jules, Jade Seymour, and Tk̓wenem7íple7 Morning-Star, served on the naming committee, marking a significant step towards decolonization efforts.

READ FULL STORY →

Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc Elder, Charlotte Manuel, is celebrating 45 years of sobriety!

This Saturday, April 20th, 2024, will mark 45 years of sobriety for Charlotte Manuel. April 20th is her Auntie’s birthday, who was one of Charlotte’s biggest supporters on her healing journey. “I quit on my Auntie’s birthday because I told her I would.”

Charlotte is a proud Grandma and Mother, she is the oldest of 18 siblings, and has so much gratitude for her family and friends.

Charlotte talks about her healing journey and relates so much of her process to the medicine wheel. She has worked on emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual healing. Charlotte describes herself as a “whole person”. She keeps busy with traditional crafting, beading, staying involved with her community and her children, keeping a healthy diet and exercise, and practicing Native spirituality. Charlotte said through her healing she re connected with Secwépemc culture, stories, song, dance, and tradition. She encourages her community to learn these ways.

Charlotte believes in the power of sharing. She says that being able to name her emotions and work through them is part of her growth.

Time and again, Survivors have shown incredible courage to step forward. They were pivotal to the National Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Recently, in British Columbia, they stepped up again – such as the Lhtako Dene Survivors speaking in Council Chambers in Quesnel, the Survivors who helped the Ahousaht investigation or the Survivors who have shared vital information in our investigation of the Kamloops Indian Residential School. Now is the time for allies to be unrelenting in upholding the truth and calling out misinformation.

READ LETTER →

The following is a joint statement regarding the unprecedented and historic Easter Sunday ceremonies between Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver, and Roman Catholic Diocese of Kamloops. They signed a Sacred Covenant on Easter Sunday, marking a significant step forward in healing and reconciliation.

DOWNLOAD STATEMENT →

Media Contacts:

Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc Nation
Racelle Kooy
Media Relations
racelle.kooy@ttes.ca

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver
Matthew Furtado
Director of Communications
media@rcav.org

Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc, BC – The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver, Roman Catholic Diocese of Kamloops, and Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc have announced a significant step on the path of truth and reconciliation with a new Sacred Covenant to be signed Easter Sunday after a visit to the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School.

DOWNLOAD MEDIA RELEASE →

Media Contacts:

Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc Nation
Racelle Kooy
Media Relations
racelle.kooy@ttes.ca

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver
Matthew Furtado
Director of Communications
media@rcav.org

Weyt-kp Tk̓emlúpsemc,

As you may know, Chief and Council are working, with the assistance of Forward Law LLP, to update the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Custom Election Regulations (the “CER”). The overall goal is to create Custom Election Regulations that:

1. are clear and unambiguous;
2. provide better communication of election information with Band Membership;
3. provide the greatest opportunity for all Band Members’ votes to be included;
4. allow for fair and open election processes;
5. allow for a broad pool of qualified Candidates to run for Chief and Council;
6. allow for an option of online voting in future Elections; and
7. reflect the values of Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc.

Any change to the CER must be passed by a vote of membership, and as such Chief and Council will be holding a vote on the proposed amendments to the CER (the “Amendment Vote”).

There will be a General Band Meeting, starting on May 10, 2021 and running to May 12, 2021, to decide on this important issue, as follows:

1. presentation and discussion of the proposed amendments from 4:30 – 7:30 pm at the online portion of the Band Meeting on May 10, 2021;
2. online voting on the proposed amendments will take place on May 11, 2021 from 8am – 6pm;
3. paper ballot voting on the proposed amendments will take place on May 12, 2021 from 8am – 6pm.

VIDEO | Information about Proposed Election Amendments

Packages have been sent out to membership with information on the upcoming Amendment Vote. The contents of those packages are available below, 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.

Chief and Council understand the importance of making sure the information required for the Amendment Vote is being received by Band Membership. We are doing our best to circulate this information to full membership with the contact information we have on our mailing list, however, we encourage you to share this information with your friends and family and direct them to the website if they have yet to receive their packages in the mail.

Kukwstép-kuc.

Documents

Amendment Vote Cover Letter

Proposed Amendments

Proposed Election Timeline with 2021 dates

Voting Instructions

How to Join a Teams Meeting via Tablet or Smartphone

How to Join a Teams Meeting via Laptop or Computer

TteS Custom Elections Regulations with tracked