COMMUNITY BULLETIN

Sunday, December 17, 2023

Winter Closure

The Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc offices will close for the winter break at 4pm on December 22, 2023. Offices we re-open 8am January 8, 2024. Qilqéltes k sw7éc-emp (Happy Holidays to you all).

Scheduled Power Outage

On Monday, December 18 from 9:30am - 2:30pm there is a scheduled power outage for several addresses along East Shuswap and Sunridge Court. Exact address are provided by BC Hydro.

Christmas Open House

Please join us at the Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc Chief and Council Christmas Open House on Friday, December 22, 2023, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Red Brick Building Assembly Hall. Come mingle with the Chief, Council, and staff, enjoy delightful refreshments, and engage in conversations before the winter break. Your presence will be warmly welcomed, and we anticipate a wonderful time together. We look forward to seeing you there!

Community Notice: Bear Trap

The TteS Natural Resources department is working in collaboration with conservation officers to address a situation involving a bear in the community. The well-being of our residents is our top priority, and we appreciate your cooperation and understanding during this process. To ensure everyone's safety, a live bear trap has been placed at the end of Kamloopa Road (near the 4-Plexes).

Free Computer Training

Time to get Tech Savvy!! FREE Computer Training coming this Winter 2024. Programs include: Elder Computer and Mobile Device (cell) Training in early January 2024. Microsoft Excel for Staff and Community in February 2024. Adobe Basics in March 2024. All details in poster, below. Click/tap for larger PDF version. Contact Terri in Education at 250-819-0428. Seats are limited.

QHS Newsletter

The Q’wemtsín Health Society (QHS) newsletter for Pelltíteq̓em (December) is now available. Click or tap the image below to download and read the newsletter.

Holiday Gifts at Sweláps

Exciting news! Sweláps Market has your holiday needs covered with gift baskets, gift cards, and lottery sales. Find the perfect gifts for family, friends and colleagues. For details and to order in advance, please email info@swelapsmarket.ca

Kukwstsétsemc,
The Sweláps Market Team

Blaise Klein Recognized

Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc member Blaise Klein was one of the successful applicants for a BC Hydro scholarship. Blaise is studying Computer System Technology at BCIT. Congratulations, Blaise!

"After completing CST, I want to become a software developer or software engineer to gain some experience in the field. To facilitate this, I have worked hard to gain a co-op position between term 2 and 3. After gaining work experience I would like to continue my schooling towards cybersecurity by completing a Bachelor’s of Science in Applied Computer Science"

Holiday Garbage Collection

Garbage and recycling collection will not take place on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, or New Year's Day in the lower neighborhoods of Sun Rivers. If your regular collection day is Monday (Christmas Day), it will be rescheduled to Wednesday, December 27. For Tuesday (Boxing Day) collections, they will occur on Thursday, December 28. Collection on Monday (January 1) will be conducted on Tuesday, January 2. Lé7es k sw7écemp ne Xyum te Sitq̓t! (Merry Christmas!)

Christmas Eve Mass

We are thrilled to share the news of our annual Midnight Mass at the historic St. Joseph's Church on Christmas Eve. Join us as we open our doors at 11:30 pm on Sunday, December 24, for a special public mass welcoming everyone.

Accessible Garbage Cart

Please ensure that your garbage cart is placed on the street by 6:30 am, as required by the solid waste bylaw. Make sure it is accessible to the truck with no obstructions and has a 1-meter clearance on all sides. Keep the lid closed with the garbage bagged inside, and do not place anything on top of the cart. During winter, avoid putting the cart on top of a snow plow pile, as the truck won't be able to reach it. In such cases, position the cart in front of the snow pile on the street. Failure to comply with these guidelines will result in non-pickup of garbage. The collection operator will record the address and time of the attempted pickup, and may take a photo for verification purposes. Kukwstsétsemc!

TteS Land: Cultural Landscape

In 2022 the TteS Natural Resources Department secured NRCAN TSI Funding through the SSN to facilitate a land based cultural landscape project. The TteS NRD in conjunction with the Grassroots Family Panel facilitated the training of TteS youth and NRD staff as certified drone pilots so that they could accompany TteS knowledge keepers out on the land to discuss cultural landscapes of their choosing. The interactions were documented and recorded to create a short documentary style video to share with the community and inspire intergenerational knowledge transfer within TteS ancestral lands.

Safe Drinking Water Class Action

A final reminder that the individual claims deadline for First Nations Safe Drinking Water Class Action Settlement is quickly approaching. Deadline to submit is March 7, 2024. For any questions regarding the specifics of your claims, including eligibility and questions about the Claim Form, the Settlement Administrator can be reached toll-free at 1-833-252-4220.

Watch for reminders by email, social media and regular mail over the coming months... but don't wait! Complete your claim today using the link below.

Trade Sampler Program

Tk̓emlúps is launching a 13-week Mechanical Trade Sampler program in January. This program covers math upgrading, and introduces Welding, Auto Mechanics, and Millwright, while also providing work safety certificates. This program will start the beginning of January and includes a one week work practicum for those wanting to go directly into the workforce. Band members could be eligible for a monthly student stipend. This is an amazing program to introduce you to the trades and prepare you for an upcoming foundations trades program towards an apprenticeship.

Notice of Construction

Below is the detour map for the upcoming utility servicing and modular office construction at TteS. Starting this week, staff and visitors are advised of detours in place. Kindly refrain from parking within the designated orange shaded areas during construction. Construction activity is expected to continue until the Christmas break. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this phase of improvement. Your safety and convenience are our top priorities. Refer to the detour map for alternate routes, and thank you for your cooperation!

2023 Drought Update

Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc acknowledges and appreciates the efforts of all community members and businesses who played their part in helping to conserve our local water supply and protect the environment. Enhanced water use restrictions introduced in August were successful and contributed to reducing community-wide water use by 25%. Also, a reminder to the community that we continue to experience drought conditions and 2024 may require another year of water conservation efforts.

Hydro Meeting

Tḱemlúps te Secwepemc Tkwenem7íple7 Thomas Blank and TteS Managers John ter Borg and Victoria Casimir met with BC hydro representatives Kipp Fennell and Robin Fowler, and their team, to tour their facilities and continue working on a relationship protocol.

Secwepemctsín Season Greetings

The Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc Language and Culture Department has provided a few Secwepemctsín Season Greetings for everyone to use! There are two ways to say each one: the first one is singular (from you to one) and the second is plural (from you to many)

Qílqeltes ke7 sw7ec! / Qílqeltes k sw7écemp!
Happy Holidays

Lé7es ke7 sw7ec! / Lé7es k sw7écemp ne sqílqelt te sw7ec!
[You/You all] be well on this holiday!

Lé7es ke7 sw7ec ne Xyum te Sitq̓t! / Lé7es k sw7écemp ne Xyum te Sitq̓t!
Merry Christmas!

Lé7es ke7 sw7ec ne Tsítslem te Petpénye /Lé7es k sw7écemp ne Tsítslem te Petpénye!
Happy New Year!

Lé7es ke7 sp̓úsmen ne Xyum te Sitq̓t / Lé7es k sp̓úsmenep ne Xyum te Sitq̓t
Be Happy this Christmas

Lé7es ke7 sp̓úsmen ne Tsítslem te Petpénye / Lé7es k sp̓úsmenep ne Tsítslem te Petpénye!
Be Happy this New Year!

Chief Louis Crossing

The Tk̓emlúps Commercial Complex, strategically located at a busy intersection with easy access and extensive highway frontage, is gaining popularity as a sought-after location. The newly opened Sweláps Market, a grocery store situated within Tḱemlúps te Secwépemc lands, provides unique advantages for Indigenous entrepreneurs and shoppers. The Project Team announces progress in decision-making and confirms timelines for the 100% TteS owned and operated commercial development property. The complex is officially named Chief Louis Crossing, symbolizing the intersection of the Yellowhead Highway and Shuswap Road, where the Chief Louis Center East and West Collide. This name also continues to honour the legacy of Chief Louis who was recognized as one of the best chiefs in the Interior and a dominant figure in the Kamloops region when he was chief from 1855 to 1915.

Chief and Council Highlights

November 28, 2023 & December 5, 2023

Chief and Council are committed to continuous improvement in communications between Chief and Council, staff, and membership. Chief and Council will be releasing regular updates to ensure staff and members are aware of the work of Council. This is not intended as a comprehensive update, but rather a high-level overview of Council discussions. As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to any Council members.

Chief & Council Weekly Meeting

Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc Chief & Council Meeting every Tuesday starting at 8:30am. 

Link:https://vimeo.com/event/10049
Email communications@ttes.ca for the password.