Image: CFJC Today

By Dylana Kneeshaw

HEALING HOUSE CONSTRUCTION

‘We need to start healing’: Tk’emlúps breaks ground for new Healing House

Jul 25, 2025 | 4:57 PM

TK’EMLÚPS TE SECWÉPEMC — Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc (TteS) hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking Friday (July 25) for its new Healing House, which will provide mental wellness care, counselling and cultural supports to Indigenous people impacted by Canada’s Indian Residential Schools.

The construction of the space comes two years after the federal government pledged $12.5 million for it. The Healing House will combine mental health counselling with opportunities for Elders and residential school survivors to reconnect with their culture and language — and the centre is expected to be the first of its kind in the province.

It’s a project years in the making and it stems from generations of trauma. Kúkpi7 Rosanne Casimir says Friday’s event was a monumental step in the healing process.

“I just really appreciate everyone and our neighbouring nations and the various leaderships members from the First Nations Leadership Council and from our chiefs that all came out. They know how important this is. It’s important for all of our people,” said Casimir. “I just really appreciate the collaborative efforts.”

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The idea was pursued in earnest after TteS announced the preliminary findings of GPR work near the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. The technology identified hundreds of anomalies, believed to be the unmarked burials of children who attended the institution. It sparked a larger conversation around what could be done to support residential school survivors.

“All of the survivors, that’s what they said, ‘We need to start healing.’ We can’t carry that grief, that pain and that suffering. We need to start healing so that our children, our grandchildren and future generations (will),” explains Le Estcwicwéy manager Jeanette Jules. “Look at all the problems that we’re having with the youth and everyone with the drug and alcohol addiction that’s out there. We need to start the healing process, and we need a healing house.”

The project team spoke with Elders, community members and other nations in the region about what they’d like to see for the Healing House. The goal is to integrate mental, emotional and spiritual counselling, with the revitalization of Secwépemc cultural practices and language.

“So many of our people, through no fault of their own, because of residential schools, because of the hurt and shame that their grandparents or parents had, they weren’t taught who they were. You need to know who you are,” Jules stresses. “My granny always said that and so did the Elders. If you don’t know who you are, you’ll never move forward.”

The site was chosen for its proximity to the river and the surrounding landscape. The land itself is considered fee simple and the band is in the process of adding it back into the reserve after navigating a lengthy rezoning process.

“There was much work that had to take place between our technical teams and some of the political advocates as well through the Thompson Nicola Regional District, so we just really appreciate the hard work that it took to get us to this place,” adds Casimir.

After several rounds of community input, secured funding, designs and land cleared for development, Tk’emlúps hopes to see people using the space within a year-and-a-half.

“My hope is with all that in place, the money in the bank, then we’re shovel ready and my hope is the end of 2026,” Casimir says.