Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc

Trigger Warning: Unmarked Graves

From: TteS Le Estcwicwéy̓
Date: May 19, 2022

NOTICE: LATEST ROUND OF GROUND PENETRATING RADAR

The latest round of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) at Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc is set to begin later this week.

Under the direction of Doctor Sarah Beaulieu of the University of the Fraser Valley, the GPR operation will be focused on the Chief Louis Centre lands within the CLC Roadway remediation.

Doctor Beaulieu will be supported by Le Estcwicwéy̓ (The Missing) team along with the Tk̓emlúps Natural Resources Department.

The most recent survey work will take over a month to complete.

The latest GPR work comes almost a year after the announcement of the Le Estcwicwéy̓ that were located in unmarked graves at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. A Memorial marking that anniversary will take place at the Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc Arbour on Monday, May 23, 2022.

There are mental health supports available by calling 1-800-721-0066 or visit:

• https://www.irsss.ca
• https://tkemlups.ca/supports/

For more information, please contact: le.estcwicwey@ttes.ca

• No owner or possessor of a dog will allow the dog to run at large.
• Animal Control Officer may seize and impound any dog running at large.
• After 96 hours, the dog may be disposed of by means of destruction, adoption, or sale, at the discretion of the Animal Control Officer.
• Where a dog has been impounded under authority of this bylaw and the Animal Control Officer determines that one or more fines or fees provided for in this bylaw have not been paid, then the dog shall not be released from the pound until the owner or authorized person pays the fines and fees in full up to and including the date of impoundment.
• Fees:
  • 1st impoundment $75
  • 2nd impoundment $100
  • 3rd + impoundment $200
  • Board & maintenance fee
    • Dog $12 per day
    • Aggressive dog $20 per day

If you are missing your dog phone bylaw to see if it has been impounded. Call 250-314-1570 or 250-819-8287. Pleae leave a message if no answer.

North and South Thompson Rivers

Three factors create conditions for flooding: snowpack levels in Thompson River catchments, weather (warm temperatures & rain on snow events), and/or the time at which the North and South Thompson river levels peak.

April 1st 2022 snow pack throughout BC is near normal.
North Thompson Snow Basin: 119% of Normal
South Thompson Snow Basin: 101% of Normal

TteS Dykes are constructed to one-in-200-year flood design standards. TteS inspects its dykes throughout the freshet.

Paul Creek

Residents and businesses located in low-lying areas or along creeks are reminded to prepare early and protect their properties.

Community members who live and work alongside waterways, culverts, and riverbanks are asked to stay as far back from the banks as possible and use extreme caution. Banks may be unstable as high-flowing waters can cause erosion under the visible surface.

Resources

To report flood-related concerns, contact:
Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc Public Works
(250) 318-6400

ARGO Road Maintenance – (Kamloops Service Area)
East Shuswap Road, Paul Lake Road, and Chief Louis Way are Provincial highways located on reserve.
Please report all concerns to Argo Road maintenance’s 24-hour call-in number:
1-800-661-2025
argokam@argoroads.ca

Sand Bags
If flooding seems like a real possibility, employ sandbags around the foundation of your house. Sand and sandbags are available for loading at:
TteS Public Works
762 East Athabasca Street
(Mt. Paul Industrial Park)

TteS will provide updates on flood protection efforts should conditions change.
For additional information regarding City of Kamloops flood protection efforts, go online to: www.kamloops.ca/flooding

Kúkpi7 Rosanne Casimir was chosen to represent British Columbia, as one of thirteen delegates, that recently went to Rome to meet with Pope Francis. On April 12, 2022, Kúkpi7 provided an update to membership about what was presented during the 2-hour time slot with his Holy See.

There were 4 major themes to the presentation:

• Residential Schools and Unmarked Graves
• Truth and Reconciliation Commission
• Papal Apology and Visit to Canada
• Healing and Reconciliation

For Residential Schools and Unmarked Graves, the delegates explained the impacts of residential school and the mark that it left on a survivors and intergenerational survivors. We lost our language and culture, our ties to families and thought that the abuse and neglect was normal. As adults we have unresolved trauma, and many suffer from issues with family life, intimacy, low self-esteem and lack of self-regulation resulting in high rates of poverty, homelessness, and interactions with police. The Pope was provided with 2 pairs of moccasins that had been taken to ceremony that that the Father could see them and reflect on the children that did not make it home. When he comes to Canada, he is to return the moccasins. The finding of the unmarked graves at TteS and then other places across the country was discussed. The delegates requested that the church to cover the costs of the locating these unmarked graves, recovering the lost children, and dealing with intergenerational healing. The Pope was called on to apologize directly to survivors.

The messaging on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission included explaining the Calls to Action, the 10 principles to advance reconciliation and the Calls to Justice for the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). It is expected that UNDRIP will be used as a framework for reconciliation. Our treaty, constitutional and human rights must be respected. It was explained that reconciliation is a process, not a destination. There is the need to look to other forms of reconciliation. We are hopeful for the future. We want to be heard, respected, and ensure that no one is left behind.

The request for the Pope to visit Canada and apologize to our survivors was the next main theme. Residential schools are a very dark chapter in our history. We want to bring honour and dignity to our children, that were literally cast aside at residential schools. A formal, meaningful apology to the survivors and families is a first step. Other acts of contrition include real accountability from the church, full disclosure of documents, funding to revitalize of our languages and cultures and a mandate for all the local diocese to working with First Nations to determine what we need to heal. We need this work to start immediately as we are losing our survivors. This is about truth telling.

The fourth theme was Healing, and this was led by the youth delegates. The request included investment into long term healing for survivors and intergenerational survivors. The government of Canada and the Catholic Church spent billions of dollars destroying our language and culture so can commit that to rebuilding. The Doctrine of Discovery needs to be repudiated as a racist document and the system of colonization needs to be addressed. We are still being imprisoned for protecting our lands. We are calling on the Pope the acknowledge the harm done.

Kúkpi7 also provided an overview of the AFN media release that spoke to similar themes.

Secwepemc Territory, BC — On March 9, 2022, the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council, (“SNTC”), Kukpi7 (Chief) Rosanne Casimir, Kukpi7 of Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc was the only nominee for the position of Tribal Chief, therefore elected by acclamation.

Kukpi7 Casimir is of Secwépemc ancestry with strong Secwépemc lineage to hereditary Chief Louis Clexlixqen. She is a proud mother of three with one grandchild. Her community of Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc has elected her to a political role for the past nine years.

According to Macleans, on February 10, 2022, the le estcwéý. (The missing), the children who never came home are leading the top fifty power list, giving the necessary honor, respect, and recognition to those who never made it home, while attending Residential School. Kukpi7 Casimir is listed as #6 on this same list, known for her leading voice and advocacy for the children when her community of Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc released the horrific truths of Canada’s history with residential schools and attained an apology from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. She continues to pave the way for other residential schools, advocating for survivors and their families and further ensuring supports are in place for their truths.

Kukpi7 Casimir would like to acknowledge former Tribal Chief Wayne Christian for his forty years of contributions at a community level and twelve years as former Tribal Chief of Shuswap Nation Tribal Council, where he was and continues to be a trailblazer leading with exercising enhanced jurisdiction for children and families.

Kukpi7 Casimir says, “It is an honor to be acclaimed in the role of the Tribal Chair and spokesperson for the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council. I am committed to the challenge of continuing the inspiring work of the Secwépemc Nation along with the Kukwkukpi7, and I uphold and honor the work of my predecessor Kukpi7 Wayne Christian who served all our member communities with much dedication for many years.”

The Shuswap Nation Tribal Council (“SNTC”) was formed in 1980 as an effort of the Secwépemc Chiefs to advance the issues of aboriginal rights. It is an organization that works on common-concern matters, including the development of self-government and the settlement of the aboriginal land title question. SNTC provides technical support to member communities to improve services in fisheries, health, child welfare, employment and training, and research on diverse topics of interest to the Secwépemc Nation.

SNTC carries out activities, wherever possible, in cooperation with non-member Secwepemc Bands and, in all circumstances, without prejudice to their rights and interests.

Media Contact:

Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir, Tribal Chief, Shuswap Nation Tribal Council
P: 778-471-8200
E: tribalchief@shuswapnation.org.

(Ottawa, ON) – The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is finalizing details for a meeting with Pope Francis in Vatican City as part of broad efforts to seek justice for genocide in Catholic-run residential institutions, including to seek an apology to be delivered in Canada. A delegation of First Nations survivors and leadership will gather with the head of the Catholic Church March 31, 2022. The gathering will include separate meetings with Inuit and Métis delegates and a cultural presentation.

“Since the beginning, as told in our Creation stories, we are the original nation of families of these lands. It has always been our hope of a good life for our children, grandchildren and the ones who have yet to come that our work is based in. When the European sovereign arrived on our shores, their international laws known as the doctrines of discovery was applied to our lands and denied us our existence as human beings.

We began to experience relentless attempts to destroy our way of life. We were uprooted, displaced and relocated from our home. However, we have never given up our teachings and how we perceive our existence.

Meeting with Pope Francis is an important step as we continue to address the Catholic Church’s culpability about genocide and complicity in what many First Nations children experienced in the institutions. It was responsible for managing, including in many instances, the spiritual, cultural, emotional, physical, and sexual violence inflicted on our children,” said AFN Northwest Territories (NWT) Regional Chief Gerald Antoine, who is leading the AFN delegation to Rome.

“The examples all constitute evidence of the genocidal intent in forcefully removing Indigenous children from their families. Our delegates are messengers for all Survivors when we seek acknowledgement of the truth, an acknowledgement of where the permissions directed the responsibility for the destruction caused against our peoples and children and to rescind the Papal Bulls of 1493.”

The AFN delegation includes Survivors of Residential Institutions of Assimilation and Genocide, two youth representatives and 13 First Nation delegates representing the AFN. The delegates represent Indigenous Peoples from coast to coast to coast. The AFN acknowledges the work and leadership of former NWT Regional Chief Norman Yakeleya for his efforts leading up to this important gathering.

Michelle Schenandoah, a traditional member of the Onʌyota’:aka (Oneida) Nation Wolf Clan of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and Fred Kelly, a citizen of the Ojibways of Onigaming of the Anishinaabe Nation in Treaty #3 and an Elder in Midewin, the Sacred Law and Medicine Society of the Anishinaabe will accompany the delegation.

The delegation seeks acknowledgement of the claim by the Roman Catholic Church related to the right of domination over everyone and everything and its role in the spiritual, cultural, emotional, physical and sexual violence of First Nations in Catholic-run Residential Institutions to be delivered by the Pope in Canada.

The delegation will call on the Pope as the Head of the Holy See, the Vatican and the Catholic Church to repeal the Papal Bull of 1493 issued by his predecessor Pope Alexander and all other Papal Bulls that enshrined the doctrine of discovery that led to the genocide of Indigenous peoples in all regions of the world.

Please visit www.afn.ca/vatican/ for a full list of AFN delegates.

The AFN is the national organization representing First Nations Chiefs in Canada. Follow AFN on Twitter @AFN_Updates.

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Contact information:

Jamie Monastyrski
Press Secretary
Office of the National Chief
613-612-7229 (mobile)
jamiem@afn.ca

Andrew St. Germain
Communications Coordinator
Office of the National Chief
416-543-1690 (mobile)
ast-germain@afn.ca

Kelly Reid
Communications Officer
Assembly of First Nations
604-340-3117 (mobile)
kreid@afn.ca

Leanne Goose
Press Secretary
Office of Regional Chief Antoine
587-986-6215 (mobile)
communications@denenation.com

The Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc Kúkpi7 and Tkwenem7íple7 had an information session with attending Membership Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at Moccasin Square Garden (MSG) where Dan George of Four Directions presented the Draft TteS Strategic Plan Framework outlining the top 8 Priorities in alphabetical order. To help inform the Strategic Plan and the implementation of its priorities, we are seeking your value-added feedback as members. Please let us know what you think success would look like within a 5-year timeframe. (2022-2027)

Membership feedback and input is important to Kúkpi7 and Tkwenem7íple7. Please see the fillable PDF form below.

Deadline for submissions: Friday, March 18, 2022 4:00pm.

Upon completion, save file and email to CouncilSupportTeam@ttes.ca

DOWNLOAD TteS Strategic Planning Member Feedback

Le7es ke7 sw7ec ne Tsítslem te Petpénye (Happy New Year to you). On behalf of Council, we just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year. We are looking forward to a more peaceful 2022.

The COVID pandemic is still of great concern with the Omicron variant being very transmissible and easily spread. The safety of membership and staff is Council’s utmost priority.

We are encouraging all to continue to be vigilant in protecting themselves and their loved ones from the COVID virus. We encourage all to get your booster and vaccines if you have not already done so. Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself against the worst outcome if you come down with COVID.

For the time being, TteS Council and staff will be working from home, whenever possible. Offices are closed to the public, unless you have a scheduled appointment. TteS will continue to provide programs and services and COVID supports.

TteS does have an organizational plan to protect our essential services staff.

We appreciate everyone’s continued patience and understanding during this ongoing challenging situation. Please stay home as much as possible to reduce your change of getting or spreading the virus. If you have any signs of illness, please stay home.

Yecwests’utce – Look after yourselves.

Chief Rosanne Casimir
On behalf of Council

~ from the Office of the Chief

On behalf of Council, I wanted to provide you an update on the Day Scholars Settlement.

The individual claims process in the Gottfriedson Indian Residential Schools Day Scholars Class Action settlement is now open. The deadline to submit a claim is October 4, 2023.  Claim forms can be completed and submitted online at:  http://www.dayscholarsclaims.com.

Paper versions of the claim forms can be requested from the Claims Administrator at 1-877-877-5786 or dayscholarsclaims@deloitte.ca. The claim forms require basic information only and do not require claimants to provide information about their experiences at Indian Residential Schools. For assistance with filling out a Claim Form, contact the Claims Administrator at 1-877-877-5786.

If you need help determining if you are eligible for compensation, or have any other questions regarding the class action and settlement, please contact Class Counsel at dayscholars@waddellphillips.ca or call 1-888-222-6845.

Diena Jules, Day Scholar and Survivor Class Representative Plaintiff, Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc: “Today is an historic day. After having been left behind for so many years, the experiences of students who attended Residential Schools as Day Scholars are finally being recognized, and Day Scholars can finally apply for compensation. I encourage all of my fellow Day Scholars to apply as soon as possible.”

Each Day Scholar who attended an Indian Residential School during the day only (but did not sleep there overnight) is eligible to apply for a $10,000 Day Scholar Compensation Payment. For a full list of Indian Residential Schools that had or might have had Day Scholars and are included in the settlement see: http://www.justicefordayscholars.com/schools-lists/

In cases where the Day Scholar died on or after May 30, 2005, the deceased Day Scholar’s estate may apply for the Day Scholar Compensation Payment. Claims may be made by the estate Executor/Administrator/Trustee/Liquidator, or if none is appointed, the deceased Day Scholar’s highest priority heir.

There is also $50-million Day Scholars Revitalization Fund which will be used to support healing, wellness, education, language, culture, heritage and commemoration.   That is not a direct payment to survivors but will be based on an application process.

I am proud that Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, together with shíshálh Nation and the Grand Council of the Crees has championed the cause of Day Scholars over their ten-year battle for recognition. It was wrong that Day Scholars were excluded from the common experience payment of Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement, and we are pleased Day Scholars’ are now able to apply for compensation.

On behalf of Council, I wanted to take this time to say Kukwstép-kucw to all the former Chiefs, Leaders, Plaintiff’s and technical staff that have worked so hard to get us to this resolution.

The Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line (1-866-925-4419) is available 24 hours a day for anyone experiencing pain or distress because of their residential school experience.

DOWNLOAD LETTER

Related Links:

• Media Release: Waddell Phillips, Class Counsel in the Indian Residential Schools Day Scholars class action
• Media Release: Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

Le7es ke7 sw7ec ne Tsítslem te Petpénye (Happy New Year to you),

In response to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, we are recommending all TteS Community members remain vigilant in protecting themselves and their loved ones from the COVID-19 virus. QHS and Interior Health continues to recommend everyone who is eligible to receive their first, second, and/or third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to make those appointments as soon as they can. The vaccine remains the best protection against having the worst outcome when someone comes down with COVID-19.

• interiorhealth.ca/health-and-wellness/disease-outbreaks/covid-19/immunization-clinics
• interiorhealth.ca/health-and-wellness/disease-outbreaks/covid-19

Starting on Tuesday, January 4th, TteS services will be provided as usual, however Kúkpi7 and Tkwenkwenem7íple7 (Chief and Council) as well as a majority of TteS staff will be performing their roles remotely, when possible. It is our hope these proactive measures will lessen the chance of creating a ‘super-spreader’ event within the TteS offices. We are recommending and requesting TteS Community members avoid coming to the office in person until further notice, however in-person appointments may be considered on a case-by-case basis. We will provide a further update as we continue to monitor and react to this evolving situation under the current Provincial health and safety recommendations and regulations.

We greatly appreciate TteS Community members’ continued patience and understanding during this challenging situation we find ourselves navigating as we begin 2022.

Stay well, stay safe, and please take care of each other.

Kukwstsétsemc.