VOICE NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY
ADAMS LAKE
WHISPERING PINES
TK’EMLUPS
JUNE 21
BONAPARTE
SPLATSIN
SKEETCHESTN
NESKONLITH
SHUSWAP
SEMPCW
OUR MISSION:
To promote & ensure the physical, mental, emotional & spiritual well-being of our people and community.
tkemlups.ca
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WEDNESDAY, June 20, 2018
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VOICE What does National Indigenous Peoples Day mean to you? Thompson Rivers University chancellor Nathan Matthew: “For me, it’s a day set aside to reflect, a time to have specific discussions about where we are as Indigenous people and talk about how we can become stronger and to also celebrate our history and culture,” he said. He said it’s important to recNATHAN MATTHEW ognize this day because of the historical oppression of First Nations peoples throughout the history of Canada. “In order for change to take place, there has to be some emphasis put on the relationship and some recognition of that, and a day set aside to recognize aboriginal people is significant in that way,” Matthew said. “It provides a time and a bit of space for people to think about that relationship and for First Nations people to recognize where they are in the evolution of the country.” Kamloops-based archeologist Joanne Hammond: “It means it’s the beginning of some kind of recognition of [the people] to whom we owe our presence in this country, and I hope it means we can start to come to some sort of resolution about how colonialism impacted Indigenous people,” she said. Hammond said it’s important to recognize this day because Canada has some problems coming to terms with its own past.
“There’s a lot of guilt associated with the truths of colonialism and I think it helps to have a day where we can look at the positive and be invited in to Indigenous cultures and celebrate with them instead of always having the attention always on the wrongs we’re trying to reconcile.” JOANNE HAMMOND
Lori Marchand, National Arts Centre’s managing director of Indigenous theatre and former executive director of Western Canada Theatre: “I am first of all thrilled that we’ve come to a place in time where there is a National Indigenous Peoples Day, where we celebrate the contribution of indigenous people across the land. “It’s an opportunity for all of us to celebrate the richness and history that Indigenous people have contributed over centuries.” LORI MARCHAND
Lil Michif Otipemisiwak executive director Colleen Lucier: “In honour of all that our ancestors experienced, from the fear of persecution for being Michif (Métis) to the extreme hardship of life as Road Allowance People, I am
National Indigenous Peoples Day The District of Logan Lake recognizes, acknowledges and celebrates the traditional territory of the Nlaka’pamux and Secwepemc Nations.
We join you in celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day on Thursday, June 21. Councillor Claire Newman Councillor June Waddell
Mayor Robin Smith Councillor Al Smith
Councillor Charlie Weir Councillor Garry Youd
called to contribute to reconciliation by remembering who I am as a Michif woman, our traditional values, our language, our cultural teachings and all the gifts I have inherited from my ancestors. “ As executive director of Lii Michif Otipemisiwak Family and Community Services, a Métis-delegated child and family services agency, I bring this commitment to our agency’s practice. “By drawing on our traditional values, such as kindness, compassion, respect and the importance of kinship relationships, we are reminding our children, youth and families of who they are as Métis People and reclaiming our long legacy of keeping our children and families safe, strong and together. “While National Indigenous Peoples Day marks a particular day on which many will celebrate and take part — perhaps for the first time — in an Indigenous COLLEEN LUCIER ceremony or celebration, as First AND HUSBAND Nations, Métis and Inuit people, DARYLL LABOUCAN every day is an opportunity to BOLDFISH VIDEO PRODUCTIONS INC. PHOTO remember the strength and resiliency, evident among our ancestors, is still running in our veins today and alive in each of our spirits. “Reminding ourselves and our children, youth and families of this brings hope and where there is hope anything is possible.”
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Help celebrate this year’s National Indigenous Peoples Day June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day. It is a day for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. The Canadian Constitution recognizes these three groups as Aboriginal peoples, also known as Indigenous peoples. Although these groups share many
similarities, they each have their own distinct heritage, language, cultural practices and spiritual beliefs. In co-operation with Indigenous organizations, the federal government chose June 21, the summer solstice, for National Aboriginal Day, now known as National Indigenous Peoples Day. For generations, many Indigenous peoples and communities have celebrated their culture and heritage on or near this day due to the significance
of the summer solstice as the longest day of the year. National Aboriginal Day was proclaimed in 1996 as a result of consultations and statements of support for such a day made by various Indigenous groups. On June 21, 2017, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a statement announcing the intention to rename this day National Indigenous Peoples Day.
MARKING THE DAY AT TK’EMLUPS At the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc Powwow Grounds: • From noon to 5 p.m.: Museum and heritage park tours, Lahal tournament, Moccasin Mile, hand drumming and dancing by Sage Hills and much more. • From 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.: Performances by various artists, followed by fireworks at 10 p.m. AT TRU National Indigenous Peoples Day will be marked at Thompson Rivers University with a gathering to acknowledge first relationships and to provide a welcome to the unceded territory of Secwepemc, where TRU is located. TRU elders and Tk’emlups te Secwepemc repre-
sentatives will be at the event, which will take place from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the Old Main Building, at the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc Territory Marker Stone, located on the ground floor by the glass elevator AT QUAAOUT LODGE The Little Shuswap Lake Indian Band is hosting the event, which will run from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and include cultural activities and tours from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. That will be followed by an official welcome by Little Shuswap Lake Indian Band Chief Oliver Arnouse and the Secwepemc Youth Drummers. The evening will be capped off with a live concert featuring DJ Shrub with opening act Mihirangi.
Happy Indigenous Peoples Day Welcome to Secwepemc Territory
The Chief and Council of the Little Shuswap Lake Indian Band welcomes you to the territory known as Skwlax. The settlers could not say the Shuswap name so it is known today as Squilax. Skwlax in the Shuswap language is known as black bear. Visit as a guest and leave as a friend. This is our home for the short time that we are here on Mother Earth, but it is the home of the great spirit for eternity.
1663 LITTLE SHUSWAP LAKE RD, CHASE, BC. 45 MIN. EAST OF KAMLOOPS 30 MINUTES WEST OF SALMON ARM OFF HWY. 1 | QUAAOUTLODGE.COM
WEDNESDAY, June 20, 2018
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IN THE LAND OF THE PEOPLE OF THE CONFLUENCE A brief history of the Secwepemc people, who at one time had territory across 145,000 square kilometres
T
he word “Kamloops” is the English translation of the Shuswap word Tk’emlúps, meaning “where the rivers meet” and for centuries has been the home of the Tk’emlupsemc, “people of the confluence.” At one time, the Secwepemc people occupied one large traditional territory covering approximately 145,000 square kilometers. In 1811, after European contact, the colonial government divided the Secwepemc people into 17 distinct groups, with specific parcels of land designated to each. The Kamloops reserve land base was established in 1862 under the direction of Gov. James
Douglas. It is located east of the North Thompson River and north of the South Thompson River, adjacent to the City of Kamloops. Tk’emlúps has always occupied a place of great economic importance in the region. Traversed by two major waterways, traditional Tk’emlupsemc territory was the center of major traffic and trade routes. Due to the community’s great economic and military strength, as well as its ancestor’s pivotal role in the creation of peace accords, the Tk’emlupsemc were designated the Secwepemc7uwi, “the real Shuswap.” The Tk‘emlúpsemc, now known as the Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc, are members of the Interior-Salish
Secwepemc (Shuswap) speaking peoples of B.C. The Secwepemc people occupy a vast territory of the interior of the province, stretching from the Columbia River valley along the Rocky Mountains, west to the Fraser River and south to the Arrow Lakes. The traditional Secwepemc lived as a selfgoverning nation grouped into bands. Although the bands were separate and independent, a common language and a similar culture and belief system united them. Before the smallpox epidemic of 1862 there were 32 Secwepemc bands with four Secwepemc dialects. Today, there are 17 remaining bands that make up the Secwepemc
Nation and three Secwepemc dialects. Traditionally, the Secwepemc depended on the natural resources of the land. Each band usually spent the winter in its own village of pit houses. During the rest of the year, most Secwepemc people lived a nomadic lifestyle. They moved from place to place, as foods became available in different areas. They developed a unique, self-sufficient culture. Two European fur trading posts were established in Kamloops in 1812, utilizing Aboriginal skills to harvest animal populations, such as beaver. By 1826 the effects of trapping on these populations were already noticeable.
Population increased in the Kamloops area from the late 1850s with gold miners, followed by ranchers in the 1860s and railway workers in the 1880s. Chief Louis, born in 1828, was Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc chief from 1855 until his death in 1915. Petit Louis, or Hli Kleh Kan, was a dominant figure in the development of the Kamloops region and the construction of St. Joseph’s Church. On several occasions, he went to Ottawa in an attempt to negotiate for more land for his people and travelled to England to plead the case for the Band to Queen Victoria. His leadership did much to improve conditions for the Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc during white settlement.
The seasonal round shows that the pre-contact Kamloops economy had three sectors: fishing, gathering (roots and berries) and hunting. The relative importance of these has been much discussed in the archaeological and anthropological literature. A reasonable guess for the ratio of the sectors in the diet of the people at the time of first contact with Europeans is in the region of one third fish (principally salmon), one third roots and berries and one third hunted meat. — tkemlups.ca
Celebrating unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding achievements of the Aboriginal peoples.
Indigenous Peoples DAY NATIONAL
Thursday, June 21, 2018 The Village of Chase is honoured to be part of celebrating National Indigenous Peoples day in beautiful Secwepemc territory.
Peter Milobar, MLA Kamloops – North Thompson
618B Tranquille Road, Kamloops, BC Phone: 250.554.5413 Toll Free: 1.888.299.0805 peter.milobar.mla@leg.bc.ca www.petermilobarmla.ca
Todd Stone, MLA
Kamloops – South Thompson 446 Victoria Street, Kamloops, BC Phone: 250.374.2880 Toll Free: 1.888.474.2880 todd.stone.mla@leg.bc.ca www.toddstonemla.ca
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Celebrating First Nations culture
K
amloopa Powwow has grown into one of the largest celebrations of First Nations culture in Western Canada. The powwow represents many years of stories and events of Aboriginal culture, celebrated over three days at the Secwepemc Powwow grounds alongside the South Thompson River, running this year from Aug. 3 to Aug. 5. Organized by a handful of volunteers, Kamloopa Powwow attracts people from throughout B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Washington and Idaho. The Shuswap Brothers and Sisters Society held the first Kamloopa Powwow in 1979. In 1993, in conjunction with the Canada Summer Games, the Tk’emlups Arbour was built. Upon the retirement of the Shuswap Brothers and Sisters Society in 2000, the Kamloopa Powwow Society was created. The first powwow organized by the new non-profit organization was held in 2001.
At the original powwow held 37 years ago, there was one drum and maybe 20 dancers. Today, the powwow plays host to around 20 drums, hundreds of dancers, awards almost $80,000 in prize payout and attracts upwards of 20,000 attendees. Categories include traditional, chicken, jingle, grass, fancy feather and fancy shawl for adult, teen and junior. In addition to the regular dances, there is a selection of specials, which are hosted by families. Chief and council host specials each year, which signifies council recognizing visitors. A grand entry takes place everyday, at 7 p.m. on the opening night and then at 12 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The powwow also welcomes nonFirst Nations people to partake, learn and enjoy. Kamloopa Powwow is known for its special competition which invites non-Aboriginal people to try the traditional dances.
The 39th annual Kamloopa Powwow is set to held from Aug. 3 to Aug. 5. KTW FILE PHOTOS
Rich history of the Secwepemc is at your fingertips The Secwepemc Museum and Heritage Park is a place to learn the cultural history of the First Nations people of the Thompson Valley. While history books chronicle historical information about aboriginal peoples, the Secwepemc museum provides a unique perspective into the local First Nations community that has called the banks of the Thompson River home for thousands of years. The museum exhibits incorporate the oral history and legends of the Secwepemc people, along with historical photographs, illustrations and artifacts. The museum is used as a repository and has hundreds of artifacts discovered through archeological digs. Artifacts displayed in the museum are up to 10,000 years old. The collection is so large, that space is very limited. Additionally, a five-hectare park includes more than a
kilometre of trails through the archeological remains of a Secwepemc winter village. The trail leads visitors through the remains of the 2,000-year-old village site, four reconstructed winter pit houses and a summer village. The village features a tule mat lodge, hunting lean-to, fish-drying rack, fish trap, smoke house and traditional plant foods. The heritage park also features the Secwepemc Ethnobotanical Gardens, divided into five zones, each representing a different ecosystem found within the Secwepemc territory. Interpretive signs located at each garden describe the ecosystem in which the plants grow naturally. The Secwepemc Museum and Heritage Park is located at 200-330 Chief Alex Thomas Way, right off Highway 5 North.
Neskonlith Indian Band
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SECWEPEMC MUSEUM AND HERITAGE PARK The Sewepemc Museum also acts as a repository for archeological artifacts.
City of Kamloops Office of the Mayor
National Indigenous Peoples Day My colleagues on City Council and I join you in celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day. We are proud of our long-standing relationships with local First Nations and the Kamloops and area MĂŠtis.
Celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day Share with us our pride, our culture and our status as stewards of this great country.
Box 318, Chase, BC V0E 1M0 Phone: (250) 679-3295 Fax: (250) 679-5306 Home of the 2014 Secwepemc Gathering
www.neskonlith.org
We look forward to a day of celebration and recognition on June 21. Sincerely, Mayor Ken Christian Councillor Donovan Cavers Councillor Ray Dhaliwal Councillor Dieter Dudy Councillor Tina Lange
kamloops.ca
Councillor Kathy Sinclair Councillor Arjun Singh Councillor Pat Wallace Councillor Denis Walsh
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Chancellor Nathan Ma hew
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National Indigenous Peoples Day
Hosted by: Tk’emlups te Secwépemc
Tk’emlups te Secwépemc Special Events Facility (Powwow Grounds) 100–345 Powwow Trail
June 21, 2018 12 – 10:30 pm
Kamloops BC
Events & Contests • • • •
Fireworks 6th Annual Moccasin Mile Entertainment by: KASP, Jeremy Kneeshaw, Specials Guests: Sk’elep School of Excellence Gr 7
• • • • • •
Face painting Bouncy Castles Food Vendors Artists Information Booths Mountain Bike Demo
• • • •
Flint Knapping with Ed Jensen Storytelling and Dancing with Bernice Jensen Museum Tour with Secwépemc Museum and Heritage Park Lahal Tournament coordinated by Peter Michel
For more information please contact or visit: Nicki Wolfenden Tk’emlups te Secwépemc Communications Assistant Phone: 250.314.1502 nicki.wolfenden@kib.ca
Community Services
@TkemlupsteSecwepemc tkemlups.ca/events Dolan Paul Tk’emlups te Secwépemc Communications Advisor Phone: 250.828.9775 Cell: 250.320.6385 dolan.paul@kib.ca
Lyle Paul Tk’emlups te Secwépemc Marketing Coordinator Phone: 250.828.9736 Cell: 250.318.7493 lyle.paul@kib.ca