Tkemlúps and Kamloops urge peace and calm as decade-old land claim ‘does not seek private or city-owned land’

In the claim, SSN, which is comprised of Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc and the Skeetchestn Indian Band, sought title over an estimated 12,543 square kilometres of its traditional territory. It claims title over Crown land, private property, railway and road infrastructure, and mineral rights.

The claim was opposed by both the provincial and federal governments after it was filed in part to prevent the establishment of the Ajax mine near Kamloops, which was subsequently rejected by both the provincial and federal government.

The Kamloops land claim is back in the spotlight following the recent B.C. Supreme Court ruling that granted the Cowichan Tribes (Quw’utsun Nation) fishing rights and Aboriginal title to about 300 hectares of land in Richmond.

The SSN claim was last in court in September, though no trail date has been set.

According to the statement – which comes after a November meeting between the city and Tk’emlúps – the two governments are also urging people to “seek out factual information.”

“These issues are too important to be shaped by social media, rumours, or those seeking to create division,” the statement added. “We encourage residents to rely on credible news outlets and read the decisions directly by name here, or to seek a legal opinion to understand the facts.”

The statement comes a few days after Kamloops Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson said he asked former Tk’emlúps chief Shane Gottfriedson to “consider withdrawing the claim.” Gottfriedson and former Skeetchestn Chief Ron Ignace were the plaintiffs in the 2015 court filing.

“I’ve asked [him] if he would consider withdrawing his claim,” Hamer-Jackson said at the Dec. 9 city council meeting. “I just believe that we need to get all parties involved, get the bands involved, get our council involved, the city involved, the provincial government and the federal government.

“That’s just something that I’ve asked him to consider.”

Hamer-Jackson said he made the request to Gottfriedson and that he is “in talks with him” claiming there that as the elected mayor of Kamloops, he gets “a lot of people asking what’s going on?”

“I actually just had a realtor the other day tell me that he was contacted by three clients that were looking for housing, but they’ve cancelled now,” Hamer-Jackson added.

“Hopefully, we can get everybody [together] because in talking to him on Facebook, there’s a lot of divide and I think we’ve got to try to work together and try to lessen that that divide.”

CFJC is attempting to contact Gottfriedson for comment, though he has told Castanet Kamloops that withdrawing the claim is not something he nor the band is willing to do.

CFJC is also attempting to contact incumbent Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Kúkwpi7 Rosanne Casimir for comment. Casimir has not responded to previous requests for comment from CFJC.

In their joint statement, the City of Kamloops and Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc tout their “award-winning partnership,” which they note has been recognized with the UBCM Community Excellence Award in 2023 and the BC Reconciliation Award in 2022.

That relationship, they add, is grounded in collaboration, problem-solving, and a shared vision for long-term stability and prosperity.

“We stand firmly together against hate speech, racism, and residential school denialism,” the statement noted. “Truth, understanding, and education, including the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions 94 Calls to Action, are essential to reconciliation.”

This is a developing story, and more information will be provided once it’s available.

by Victor Kaisar

Tkemlúps and Kamloops urge peace and calm as decade-old land claim ‘does not seek private or city-owned land’

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