TNRD, Tk'emlups ink deal

by · Castanet
TNRD Board Chair Barbara Roden (L) and Tk'emlups te Secwepemc Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir (R) sign an MOU.Photo: Kristen Holliday
Nikki Fraser, TteS councillor, speaks in front of attendees as TteS gifts a blanket to the TNRD.Photo: Kristen Holliday
TNRD director Lee Morris (L) shakes hands with TteS Coun. Justin Gottfriedsen (R).Photo: Kristen Holliday
TNRD board chair Barbara Roden and Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir raise the TteS flag outside the TNRD civic building in downtown Kamloops.Photo: Kristen Holliday
The Tk'emlups flag flies outside the TNRD civic building in downtown Kamloops.Photo: TNRD

Thompson-Nicola Regional District and Tk’emlups te Secwepemc leadership gathered Monday to sign a government-to-government commitment to work together on shared goals for the benefit of the region — a summit that included the raising of a Tk'emlups flag outside the TNRD Civic Building.

TNRD and band officials also signed a memorandum of understanding in the lobby of the building and exchanged gifts before raising the flag outside.

Barbara Roden, TNRD board chair, thanked TNRD and Tk'emlups staff for their work in finalizing the memorandum of understanding, noting the agreement “represents a new path forward for our two governments.”

“This isn't just a finish line, it's a start line. This is a long race, we’re in it together, we’re in it as partners.” Roden told Castanet Kamloops. “Today, we took steps to acknowledge that partnership and to show the respect that exists between the TNRD and Tk’emlups te Secwepemc.”

Roden said the TNRD has committed to communication around shared goals and the challenges faced in the region, including things like land use and planning for disasters and emergencies.

“It's just about establishing that respect, that trust, and committing to working together between staff and elected officials,” she said.

The ceremony opened with a prayer, welcome song and honour song. The TNRD gifted the band a printed photograph of the seven Thompson hoodoos. Roden said a copy of the photo will also hang in the TNRD board room as a reminder of the joint relationship.

Tk'emlups council members gave the TNRD a meeting of the waters blanket, depicting the South Thompson and North Thompson rivers meeting.

Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir said she was grateful to see so many attend to support the ceremony and “take pride” in what is happening between the two governments.

“People were coming together in a good way, and they were all here to uplift and support, but also to stand behind a memorandum of understanding that we are going to have a relationship, we're going to continue that relationship, and we're going to have a relationship moving forward,” she said.

Casimir and Roden together raised the Tk'emlups flag.

“I think that's really good for our people to see, to see that they're represented in this side of the river — at one time, we weren't. We weren't even allowed to come on this side of the river,” said Tk'emlups Coun. Nikki Fraser.

“It's good to see our flag flying, and Kukwstsetsemc [thank you] to TNRD for extending and wanting to build a bridge of relationship.”