Tk’emlups councillor asks for respect following bone discovery in Valleyview

Aug 28, 2018 | 9:51 AM

KAMLOOPS — A Tk’emlups te Secwepemc councillor is asking the public for respect following the discovery of a bone during hydro work out in Valleyview.

Councillor Jeanette Jules confirms the bone discovered on Aug. 17 was a human bone, though investigators won’t know how old it is until carbon dating is completed.

The discovery was made while BC Hydro was conducting excavation work along Valleyview Drive. BC Hydro halted work in the area due to its “chance find procedure” — a process that stops work immediately if a potential artifact or heritage object is discovered at a work site.

Jules says the band is now following its own ancestral remains policy which includes exhuming the body — should more remains be found in the area — and re-interring those remains on its reserve.

She says it wouldn’t be surprising should more human remains be found.

“All along the South Thompson we have numerous village and hunting and fishing sites… The oldest ancestral remains are along the South Thompson that have been discovered in North America.”

Jules also asks the public for some respect while the investigation continues.

“We don’t want anybody disturbing (the site). Just like we wouldn’t go and disturb where any other remains have been found, we don’t want anybody disturbing what’s there because we’re all working together to make sure everything is done in a respectful manner.”