Tk’emlups, City sign Cultural Heritage Letter of Understanding

Feb 26, 2019 | 2:32 PM

KAMLOOPS — The City of Kamloop and Tk’emlups te Secwepemc signed a letter of understanding this morning, a document meant to underscore both groups’ commitments to promoting Secwepemc heritage and cultural values. 

The agreement includes commitments from both the City and Tk’emlups te Secwepemc to promote and protect cultural heritage sites and explore areas of mutual benefit. 

According to Chief Rosanne Casimir, today’s signing is the first step towards joint initiatives like the proposed cultural centre at the old Stuart Wood school building. 

“It’s the first step, it’s acknowledging the relationship,” she said, “it’s about the intent of what the LOU is working towards and striving for.

The cultural heritage protocol agreement has been in the works for a few years, with the idea originating from a community forum between TteS and the City. 

Kamloops Mayor Ken Christian says it’s important to recognize and celebrate the traditional territory of the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc. 

“We have to recognize that this valley is their traditional territory, and we ought want to do what’s right and we ought want to celebrate some of the cultural findings that we are living in and around,” Christian said. 

“That’s the basis of it. We will follow the BC Conservation Act in terms of that, and we will be working with archaeologists to preserve anything that we find in the occupation of this valley.”