Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc

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.

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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.

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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.

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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

Do you have the Tk̓emlúps Communications App? This is how we alert band members of jobs, events, news and emergencies. Scan the QR code or use the link below from your phone or tablet.

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Natural Resources Department is issuing a notice to Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Community to create awareness surrounding human-wildlife interactions regarding Coyotes and provide ways to reduce conflict.

Coyotes Background Information

• Coyotes usually breed in February, resulting in greater activity.
• Litters of 5-7 pups (maximum 19) are born 60-63 days later (April to early May) in a den.
• Breeding begins at one year age, and coyotes’ mate for life.
• The lifespan is approximately 10-11 years in the wild.
• They cooperate in hunting, denning, and raising young.

Human Coyote Conflicts

• Do not feed Coyotes.
• Monitor pets and small children while outdoors.
• Never run away from a Coyote.
• Do not set your trash out for pick-up until the day of pick-up to reduce attractants.

Aggressive Coyote behavior should be reported to NRD Assistant Manager Barry Bennett, or R.A.P.P. 1-877-952-7277.

Winter snow removal is a huge task for Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc (TteS) small crew. TteS responsibility to public roads, businesses, and elders driveways continues to grow.

TteS first priority is to keep the arterial roads open so that traffic and emergency vehicles can move as needed.

Help out snowplow operators with the following tips:

• Give distance. Snow plows and sanders need extra space to make wide turns. Keep your distance and ensure the operator sees you.
• Keep curb free from personal property, debris, and garbage bins in areas to be plowed.
• Shovel snow onto your property. Not the street.
• Pile snow on the right side of your driveway (facing the road) when shoveling. This allows you to see any oncoming traffic as you back out and, when plows go by, they won’t drag your shoveled piles of snow back into your driveway.

Help Your Neighbours
Give your neighbours a hand shoveling snow, especially if they are elders or have limited mobility.

Park Off-Street
Avoid parking on the street to allow plows and salt trucks room to safely clear streets.

Talk to your neighbours about all parking on one side of the road. Keeping one side curb free allows for better snow plow access. It also helps avoid possible snow pileup on your car from the snow plow.

Argo Road Maintenance
Please report all road maintenance concerns for any provincial routes (including East Shuswap Road and Paul Lake Road) to Argo Road Maintenance (Kamloops Service Area):

Telephone: 1 800 661-2025
Email: argokam@argoroads.ca
Facebook: @ArgoRoadsThompson
Website: argoroads.ca/service-areas/thompson
Twitter: @Argo_Thompson

TteS Public Works will make every effort to keep the roads passable and with patience, residents will be able to travel safely throughout the community.

Kukwstsetsemc,
Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc Public Works

The TteS Natural Resources department is working in collaboration with conservation officers to address a situation involving a bear in the community. The well-being of our residents is our top priority, and we appreciate your cooperation and understanding during this process.

Bear Trap Installation – Safety First!

To ensure everyone’s safety, a live bear trap has been placed at the end of Kamloopa Road (near the 4-Plexes). We kindly ask for your cooperation and adherence to the following safety guidelines:

• Keep a Safe Distance: Please avoid approaching the area where the bear trap is located. This is for your safety and the safety of the conservation officers working on the operation.
• Pets Locked-up: Keep your pets locked up at home and on a leash when walking them in the vicinity. This precaution helps prevent any unintentional interactions.
• Stay Informed: Follow our updates on social media for real-time information about the bear. We will keep you informed every step of the way.
• Post Sightings WITHOUT Photos: If you come across the bear, feel free to share its location on social media. Refrain from trying to capture photos, as doing so could pose a risk to your safety.
• Remove Food Sources: Please remove all food sources for the bear from your property. This includes garbage, pet food, and processing of fish/game.

Thank you for being a responsible and caring part of the Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc Community.

Kukwstép-kuc,
TteS Natural Resources Department

Summer 2023

Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc lifted Level 5 Drought Water Restrictions in October 2023. Enhanced water use restrictions introduced in August effectively reduced community-wide water use by 25%.

Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc acknowledges and appreciates the efforts of all community members and businesses who played their part in helping to conserve our local water supply and protect the environment.

TteS has kept a record of drought related activities, conversations, and interactions. Best practices and lessons learned will continue to build the community’s Made-in-Tk̓emlúps drought response plans.

Winter 2023

Level 2 Drought conditions continue to persist, and we continue to experience historically low river levels in the North and South Thompson River Basins.

Seasonal snow accumulation has gotten off to a slow start. October and November have been drier and warmer than normal across British Columbia. Mountain snow accumulation is well below normal throughout the province. The North and South Thompson River Basins are at 60% of average for this time of the year.

Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc will continue to monitor drought conditions over the winter and spring and continue to work closely with the Thompson Okanagan Region Drought Response Team.

Secwépemc Fisheries Commission Update

Watershed wide water conservation measures may be required again in 2024, in a proactive measure to assist in mitigating for potential fish mortality caused by extreme drought conditions. SFC will continue to be active in drought monitoring and bringing that information to the Thompson Okanagan Drought Response Team process.

Kukwstsetsemc,

Tk̓emlúps TE SECWÉPEMC
TteS Drought Response Team

TteS Bylaws and water restrictions are implemented by TteS, not the provincial government.

All British Columbians are responsible for the sustainability of water and aquatic ecosystems. All water users in drought-affected areas are asked to cooperate and contribute to the goal of conservation.

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