We would like to announce that, by request from the community, we have created a TIB Facebook page.  The page will display news, events and photos from the TIB band office but there will be no wall for comments. Click here to visit us at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tkemlups-Indian-Band/160131284089314.

Chief Shane Gottfriedson will be in Ottawa this week (January 23 – 24, 2012) for the Crown First Nation Gathering with the government of Canada, including the Crown.

The Crown-First Nation Gathering is a major meeting between the Crown (the Prime Minister of Canada and senior Cabinet Ministers) and First Nation leadership.

The Crown-First Nation Gathering is an opportunity to come together as partners – as our ancestors did at the time of Treaty – to strengthen our relationship and set a path forward to give life to First Nations rights, build strong First Nation economies, boost First Nation education and foster healthy citizens and safe communities.

The Gathering will be held in Ottawa on the 24th of January 2012 and will be live streamed on the internet. The link to the website is http://download.isiglobal.ca/afn/2012-01-24/LIVE-EN-DIRECT.html

Chief Shane Gottfriedson will be addressing some of the issues that are most important to the Tk’emlups Indian Band, such as Matrimonial Real Property Law, Day Scholars, and First Nations Property Ownership among others. If you have a chance please tune in as this gathering is really important to all First Nations people.

Have a good week everyone!

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MOVIE: 8th fire, Indigenous in the City.
Airing Thursday January 12 at 9 pm on CBC-TV & Friday January 13 at 10 pm ET/PT on CBC News Network or WATCH IT ONLINE at: http://www.cbc.ca/doczone/8thfire//2011/11/indigenious-in-the-city.html

More than half of Canada’s Aboriginal population now lives in cities. They sometimes call themselves “Concrete Indians”. And they are challenging stereotypes.

In the opening episode of the four-part series 8TH Fire, host Wab Kinew, from the Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation in Northern Ontario, and now a Winnipeg-based TV journalist, invites us to come “meet the neighbours”. It’s about time, since many Canadians say they have never met an Aboriginal person.

This vibrant kaleidoscopic hour, introduces a diverse cast of Indigenous characters living in the cities. They are united in a shared bond as Canada’s First Peoples and in their determination to reassert their culture within a wider population of non-Indigenous Canadians.

“Winnipeg’s Most” are three rising-star rappers, trying to move past their own struggles by using their music to charm kids away from gangster life. In Montreal, Nakuset was adopted in the 1970s by Jewish parents and now, against their wishes, embraces her Aboriginal ancestry. She raises her own kids in their Aboriginal culture and runs a native women’s shelter. In Vancouver we meet siblings Herb Dixon and Leslie Varley. Leslie holds a senior position in BC health, but her much-loved brother has spent years trying to get out of the drug-plagued Downtown East Side. Together their story offers a powerful and moving look at the ties that bind.

Jordin Tootoo, the first Inuk to play in the NHL, escapes the pressure of urban life with trips back to shoot the puck around in Rankin Inlet. In the art markets of Paris, Montreal and Toronto, the work of Cree artist Kent Monkman sells for six figures. His work is fun and subversive, challenging our most widely accepted notions of the colonial relationship.

Litigation lawyer Renée Pelletier works in a law office in the big towers of Toronto, but embraces her Maliseet culture. Successful graphic novelist Steve Keewatin Sanderson loves debunking the notion that as an Aboriginal artist he would only draws buffaloes. In Winnipeg, Ron Linklater teaches Aboriginal ways to aspiring community workers, many of whom are immigrants who have incorporated stereotypical ideas about Canada’s First Peoples.

Dr. Evan Adams, famous for his acting role in the movie Smoke Signals, plays a real-life role as BC’s first Aboriginal Physician Advisor. Kahnawake Mohawk Taiaiake Alfred, an ex-marine, now provocative professor at the University of Victoria, forces us to question our ideas about the place of Aboriginal people in Canada.

As Edith Cloutier, an Algonquin who runs the Native Friendship Centre in Val d’Or, Quebec, says: “Nobody’s going anywhere. Everybody’s here to stay. Now, how do we work it out together?”

We would like to announce that, by request from the community, we have created a TIB Facebook page.  The page will display news, events and photos from the TIB band office but there will be no wall for comments. Click here to visit us at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tkemlups-Indian-Band/160131284089314.

Have a good week!

Kamloops Weather;
Monday: Scattered flurries. -9.
Tuesday; Scattered flurries. -14.
Wednesday; Scattered flurries. -12.
Thursday; Scattered flurries. – 3.
Friday; Scattered flurries. -1.
Saturday; Scattered flurries. -1.

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Highway 27 Blockade
By 250 News Wednesday, January 11, 2012 02:44 PM

Fort Saint James, B.C.- Members of the Nak’azdli First Nation have set up a blockade along Highway 27 in Fort Saint James turning back industrial traffic. The Nak’azdli Band Council Office says the roadblock is not connected with the council. The band office says the protestors are upset by the continued extraction of natural resources from Nak’azdli traditional territory while members of the First Nation receive little to no benefits. The Nak’azdli say they do not have any agreements related to forestry, fishing, mining, or mineral exploration. The protestors are allowing public vehicles and emergency traffic through the blockade site, but industrial traffic is being asked to turn around. Fort Saint James RCMP say they are trying to resolve the situation peacefully, but can’t say when the blockade might end.

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Day Scholar Meeting Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc
(Kamloops Indian Band)

Date: Wednesday January 25, 2012
Location: TIB South Wing Board Room
Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Agenda: Update on Class Action-Future Fund Raising Events & Update on fundraising

All Day Scholars please attend!

For more information contact:
Jo-Anne Gottfriedson 250-828-8788 or jo-anne.gottfriedson@kib.ca

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A Celebration of Life

Gordon Prosper

On January 10 2012  Mr. Gordon James Prosper (aka Boyce Fletcher) passed away at Kamloops Royal Inland Hospital at 8:00 am with his family by his side.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday January 28, 2012 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Memorial Hall in Clinton BC.

In lieu of flowers a donation in the name of Gordon James Prosper SR can be made to the ICU Unit of the Royal Inland Hospital.

For more information contact: Bernice Hook  250-459-7048

Bonnie Slack
Operations Coordinator
Northern Shuswap Tribal Council
#17 South 1st Avenue
Williams Lake, BC  V2G 1H4
PH: 250-392-7361   ext: 200
FAX: 250-392-6158

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Cultural site costs landowner $12,000, report required, gov’t says

January 4, 2012 
By Robert Koopmans
Daily News Staff Reporter

Leo Dinicolo had no idea his land beside his Heffley Creek mobile home park was an important First Nations cultural site.

It wasn’t until he decided to augment his park’s water supply that he found out, and it’s a lesson that will cost him $12,000.

Why? B.C.’s Heritage Conservation Act requires anyone who wishes to do work in a designated cultural area to get a permit first, and to do so requires an archeological assessment.

That report, not yet completed, will cost him $12,000, said Dinicolo, and the local firm that agreed to do it was the best price. It would have cost him $17,000 to have a Vancouver firm do the report.

Dinicolo said all he wants to do is run a pipe underground for about 40 metres from his well to the North Thompson River in order to pump some extra water to the well at times of the year when the groundwater well runs low. He plans to use directional drilling equipment, meaning he does not need to dig a trench.

Regardless, the work requires permission from the guardians of B.C.’s heritage, in order to ensure sensitive historical artifacts are not disturbed or destroyed.

How does the government know there are artifacts there, lurking beneath the soil? It doesn’t.

Peter Lishman, the Interior director of resource authorizations for the Ministry of Natural Resource Operations, said the land’s designation as a cultural site follows a mapping effort done by government years ago.

Researchers prepared maps of cultural sites based on aboriginal oral history, marking any area known to have been used in the past as culturally important.

Lishman agrees there might be no artifacts near Dinicolo’s property, but there might be. The requirement to obtain an archeological assessment is designed to protect B.C.’s aboriginal heritage from being needlessly lost.

“For 98 per cent of the time people have lived in British Columbia, no written records were made. Archaeological sites and oral tradition are the only vestiges of a rich history extending back at least 12,000 years,” states the government’s archeology website.

“This resource is of great value to First Nations, local communities and the general public. We need to protect and conserve this rich but fragile legacy.

“The Provincial Government recognizes the importance of archaeological sites through the Heritage Conservation Act. Under this Act, the Archaeology Branch is responsible for maintaining and distributing archaeological information and deciding if permits can be issued to allow development to take place within protected sites.”

Consultants can provide landowners with solid advice about how to proceed with their work while minimizing the potential for disturbance to historically important areas, Lishman said.

Even if no one knows they are there.

Lishman said the map of cultural sites is not a public document, as the branch fears sites could be exploited by those seeking historical artifacts for personal purposes.

Then how are landowners to know their land is deemed culturally important?

“On private land, it is a bit of a challenge,” he agreed. “That is a good question.”

People can ask B.C.’s archeology branch to check their records and indicate if land is known to be a cultural site, he added.

The government expects anyone who begins work and finds something underground — either human remains or artifacts — to stop work immediately and report the find.

The legislation applies on private land as well as Crown land. He suggested those who are in doubt about the nature of their land should contact local First Nations bands and ask about what they know of the sites.

Such investigation is worthwhile. In fact, most local bands have their own archeological assessment staff to help with these sorts of inquiries.

Dinicolo said he will pay the money required to get his archeological assessment, as he wants to provide his tenants with decent water service. The report adds considerable cost to the project, however.

“If I want to get this through, I have to pay it. What am I going to do?” he said.

“The lady told me, who knows if there is a (burial site) in there? They have to inspect the soil to see if there is something in the soil.”

Representatives from Golder Associates, the firm hired by Dinicolo to do the archeological assessment, could not be reached for comment.

rkoopmans@kamloopsnews.

Source:
http://www.kamloopsnews.ca/article/20120104/KAMLOOPS0101/120109928/-1/kamloops/cultural-site-costs-landowner-12000-report-required-govt-says?utm_source=newsletter20120105&utm_medium=email&utm_content=toparticle_morelink&utm_campaign=newsletter

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Real-life example of the spirit of generosity
Kamloops Daily News
By lawyer with Michelle Good and Company

Letter to the Editor

(December 24, 2011) I am a lawyer here in town and have for many years represented survivors of Indian residential schools. In and of itself, this experience has been remarkable. My clients, deeply injured as they are by the atrocities they were subjected to, never fail to humble me with their strength and courage, their dignity and integrity and their ability to forgive the unforgivable.

However, even among this stellar group, there are standouts. I write about one of them today.

I will speak of him as the Unknown Survivor, as he is acting in anonymity. He was indeed a victim of atrocities and, as a result, has carried through his life a profound suffering. Recently he received a compensation award through the Indian Residential School Independent Assessment Process. Upon receiving his compensation, he came to me with a bank draft made out in the name of the New Life Mission (NLM) in the amount of $14,462.46. He asked me if I would forward it on for him, anonymously.

Having been helped by the NLM during hard times, this was his way not only of thanking them, but of giving of his abundance as the God of his understanding requires. His donation represents 10 per cent of his compensation. There were many years when this man’s annual income was less than this amount. He has lived with little most of his life and now, when he has a little something, his first thought is to share it with those who have walked in his shoes.

It helps to understand the extraordinary nature of this act by noting that the United Way’s contribution to the NLM this year was $15,000.

So many survivors of residential school abuses walk among us unseen, unrecognized and uncompensated, perhaps the most harmed most unable to step forward. To have this man step forward then, unknown in this profound act of generosity, is as poignant a moment as I can recall.

At a time of year when we are often overwhelmed by a drive to consume this natural generosity, kindness and caring is a standard to reach for. Perhaps readers will remember this, be touch by it, and inspired to their own accts of kindness.

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The Aboriginal Pre Cadet Training Program is a go this year and we are looking for applicants. Please review the attached poster including the basic requirements for this summer employment opportunity and have any individuals contact me as soon as possible? Deadline to apply January 31, 2011.

http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/recruiting-recrutement/aboriginal-autochtone/aboriginal-autochtone-cadet-eng.htm

As this program just received approval, unfortunately there is a very tight deadline of January 31, 2012 for application submission.

Again please have any interested person(s) contact me directly via email or phone at (204) 984-2971. As well I have attached a poster for review.

Thank you,

Cst. Ronald M. BUMBRY
Recruiting Services “D” Division
North West Region
Office: (204) 984-2971
Cellular: (204) 293-7632
Fax: (204) 983-3495
ronald.m.bumbry@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

Aboriginal training group grads seven more but future unclear

January 12, 2012

Kamloops Daily News

Seven women walked to the stage at Chief Louis Centre Thursday to receive certificates from BCIT in human resource management.

But questions remain whether the federal and provincial governments will continue to fund a program that advocates say is helping B.C. industry fill needed positions in mining and First Nations people acquire stable employment.

The formal ceremony saw the seven women receive certificates from British Columbia Institute of Technology, a partner with B.C. Aboriginal Mine Training Association. The mine training group, which operates to train workers around B.C. has offices in Kamloops, Vancouver and Northern B.C.

“In the last year and a half since we’ve been open we’ve placed 229 people in full time positions,” said association president Leonard Jackson.

“Overall we’re placing 10 or 11 in full-time jobs each month.”

The association is funded by government as well as the mining industry. New Gold Inc. is a major partner and has recruited a number of workers out of the program.

Its funding ends March 31.

The program helps train First Nations people in skills ranging from underground mining to administration. The seven most recent graduates will work in human resources, whether in mining or elsewhere.

Three of the grads are members of Tk’emlups Indian Band. Chief Shane Gottfriedson said they are qualified to work in any human resources capacity.

“I challenge the (mining) companies and others to give these people a chance… . A lot of time all our people need is a chance to succeed.”

The program has three phases: assessing needs; upgrading worker qualifications; and identifying or creating specific programs. Its educational partners include BCIT, Thompson Rivers University and Northwest Community College.

Jackson said the jobs are there and so are the workers. But funding is needed to put them together and make sure the workers succeed in their training.

Katy Gottfriedson, Jackie and Barb Jules are the Tk’emlúps Indian band members and three of the very accomplished women who graduated from the BCIT program. The program, which ran Monday to Thursday from 4:00pm – 9:00pm for the last ten month was very intense and fast paced.

“This partnership with BCIT, BCAMTA and TIB has provided some great opportunities for our people,” said Chief Gottfriedson. “It has shown the dedication and success of the individuals who have committed to getting their certification, and proven we can work together to generate meaningful employment.”

Happy New Year and welcome back everyone! We hope that all of you have had an amazing holiday break with lots of rest and happiness.

We would like to announce that, by request from the community, we have created a new TIB Facebook page.  The page will display news, events and photos from the TIB band office but there will be no wall for comments. Click here to visit us at:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tkemlups-Indian-Band/160131284089314.

Enjoy.

Kamloops Weather;

Tuesday; Low -6, high 1. Cloudy periods.

Wednesday; Low -8, high -3. Mainly sunny.

Thursday; Low -9, high -4. Mainly sunny.

Friday; Low -8, high -2. Sunny.

Saturday; Low -2, high 2. Variable cloudiness.

Sunday; Low -5, high 0. Cloudy periods.

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Day Scholar Meeting

Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc

(Kamloops Indian Band)

Date:
Wednesday January 25, 2012

Location:
TIB South Wing Board Room

Time:
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

 Agenda: Update on Class Action-Future Fund Raising Events & Update on fundraising.

 All Day Scholars please attend!

 For more information contact:
Jo-Anne Gottfriedson
250-828-8788 or
jo-anne.gottfriedson@kib.ca

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Council Briefs: Chances goes big

Chances Gaming Entertainment centre wanted City council’s support to more than double its licensed occupancy from 210 to 445 people.

City council voted unanimously in favour of the expansion.

Mayor Peter Milobar, who owns a liquor store, excused himself from the vote.

Chances agreed to comply with a voluntary good-neighbour agreement.

Towne Lodge lets loose

There could be dancing in licensed parts of the Kamloops Towne Lodge soon.

City council voted Tuesday to authorize distribution of a notice of intent for the slight change to the hotel’s liquor licence.

City development and engineering services director David Trawin said the City’s support is required because it is a change to the licence.

The lodge wasn’t asking for an increase in capacity or change to its floor area, simply that patrons could have a dancing space in a licensed area. It needed to go to the Liquor Control branch for approval, so the City’s support was sought.

Band chief welcomes new council

Tk’emlups Indian Band Chief Shane Gottfriedson extended his congratulations to the newly elected City council Tuesday.

And he came bearing a gift.

He presented it to Mayor Peter Milobar, who unwrapped what turned out to be a new gavel.

Gottfriedson also requested a joint council meeting to be held soon, before the two sit down in a community-to-community forum this spring.

Standing alone, but standing up for his point

Coun. Donovan Cavers stood up for his motion, literally, Tuesday, despite knowing he didn’t have the support of his fellow council members.

Last week, at his first official council meeting, Cavers put forward a notice of motion that he wanted council members to stand for their votes rather than raise their hands.

The idea was to promote exercise and brain stimulation, he said.

Unfortunately, he didn’t stimulate any other council members to join him.

“This is not a pilates class,” said Coun. Ken Christian, who added lightly that he didn’t run for council to get exercise.

Despite knowing he wasn’t going to get other councillors to vote with him, Cavers stood when he voted in favour of his motion.

Source: http://www.kamloopsnews.ca/article/20111213/KAMLOOPS0101/111219934/-1/kamloops/council-briefs-chances-goes-big

Sisiaskit Jules lost a diamond from his ring at the Kamloops Airport.
Weeks later an eagle-eyed worker found it.

Watch the Daily News video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6z5KU3eaUo&feature=player_embedded

Sources:
http://www.kamloopsnews.ca/article/20111209/KAMLOOPS0113/111209751/video-lost-diamond-found-at-airport

http://www.kamloopsnews.ca/article/20111209/KAMLOOPS0101/111209753/search-for-diamond-goes-against-the-odds

TNG Tree Removal Service

Tree Assessment is FREE!

Rates pending assessment

No clean-up pending assessment

Contact Tuhani George at (250) 377 4092  or at his cellphone (250) 852 9154.

Thank you!

High-risk Missing Woman

The Surrey community and the Surrey RCMP are concerned about a missing woman.

If you have any information that may assist in confirming that Ramona PIERRE is safe or in need of help, please contact Cst. Percy Hall with the Missing Persons Unit at 604-834-9709 or email Cpl. Allison Douglas at Allison.douglas@rcmp-grc.gc.ca and quote Police File No. 2011-167477.  Ramona’s mother reported her missing on December 6, 2011.  Ramona was last seen on December 3, 2011 and there is a previous history of domestic violence.

Callers may remain anonymous and there is no requirement to report where Ramona is residing, etc.

Information may also be reported to Surrey Women’s Centre to increase the likelihood of service providers or individuals confirming information as to Ramona’s well-being.

The attached photo is the only one currently available.

You are receiving this email as part of a network of service providers who may have contact with women who are at risk for experiencing violence which may result in death, serious bodily harm or their disappearance.  Thank you for your assistance.

Corrine Arthur
Special Projects Coordinator
Surrey Women’s Centre
Tel: 604-589-1868 ext. 221
ca@surreywomencentre.ca

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Job Posting RE: Special Education Coaching Consultant

Short term funding has become available for Special Education Coaching consultants. The positions are term until March 31, 2012. The positions will be under the Direction of FNESC Special Education staff, and will report to the Specialist of Instructional Services FNESC.

The Coaches will be required to support FNESC Special Education initiatives, for example DIBELS training or instructional coaching. Coaches will be required to travel to First Nations schools across BC to offer direct training and support.

Please send a letter of interest outlining qualifications by January 13, 2012 to:

Susan Gower
Specialist of Instructional Services
sueg@fnesc.ca
113-100 Park Royal South
West Vancouver, BC V7T 1A2.

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BCAMTA is pleased to offer the above program to you!! The courses covered will include:

• Goal Setting
• True Colors
• Time Management
• Defining your product/services
• Market Research
• Opportunity Analysis
• Setting up your  business
• Human Resources
• Operations Management
• Business Law/Intellectual Property
• Financing
• Cash Flow
• Bookkeeping
• Taxation/Remittances
• Marketing Plans
• Professional Selling/Negotiation Skills
• Customer Service and Media Relations
• Presentation Skills
• Business Writing
• Internet Marketing/Social Networking

It is proposed that this program will be offered in Kamloops by way of in class weekend delivery, supplemented  by online instructions. This may be adapted/altered depending on the needs of the majority. This is a full time program, enrolment in individual courses will not be allowed. Certification will be provided by BCIT. The proposed start date is February 10^th, 2012.

If you, your department staff, or other TIB members want to enrol in this program, please contact me immediately.

ALL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROGRAM WILL BE COVERED BY BCAMTA!!

Leonard Jackson, Regional Manager.
274B Halston Connector Rd. Kamloops BC. V2H 1J9
P: 250 314 9959 | C: 250 682 0779 | Fax: 250 314 9919
E: ljackson@bcamta.ca

The Christmas holiday is coming up quickly, check out some of the exciting events below! And don’t forget about the Open House, on Friday the 16^th from 11 to 1 at the TIB south wing board room. Come and enjoy the great food!

Kamloops Weather;

Monday; Partly cloudy. High -5, low -9.

Tuesday; Flurries. High -4, low -9.

Wednesday; partly sunny. High -4, low -9.

Thursday; Flurries. High -3, low -1.

Friday; Variably cloudy. High -4, low -10.

Saturday; Flurries. High 5, low -4.

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Watch Councilor Connie Leonard and Chief Shane Gottfriedson speak in front of the Senate:

http://senparlvu.parl.gc.ca/Guide.aspx?viewmode=4&categoryid=-1&eventid=7865&Language=E

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Harper government condemned for using police to conduct political surveillance of First Nations instead of resolving Canada’s violations of Indigenous Peoples’ constitutional and international rights

Unceded Algonquin Territory/Ottawa, December 6, 2011—The Defenders of the Land (DotL), a network of Indigenous Communities, today condemned reports that in 2007, the Harper government established a national and international police surveillance network to spy on Indigenous Peoples and their supporters for defending Indigenous Peoples’ self-determination and land rights. The RCMP surveillance operation shared its findings with private industry.

Arthur Manuel, spokesperson for DotL said today “Many of the so-called ‘communities of concern’ identified in the recently disclosed RCMP documents are members of our network. They are not extremists or terrorists. All of their protests or political actions were in defense of their constitutionally recognized and internationally affirmed right of self-determination and land rights as Indigenous Peoples. These documents show that the federal government cares only about extracting wealth from Indigenous lands, and will criminalize Indigenous Peoples who are protecting their lands and livelihoods from destruction. While governments are taking hundreds of millions of dollars in resource monies out of Indigenous communities like Attawapiskat, they are underfunding those same communities to the point of destitution and disease. As in Attawapiskat, those who speak out are blamed and punished.”

Norman Matchewan, a spokesperson for the Algonquins of Barriere Lake said, “both Canada and Quebec have been not only spying on us as these documents confirm, but these two governments are coordinating the political use of the police to criminalize our people. As in Attawapiskat, the federal government imposed Third Party Management on our community, to bury signed agreements between our Customary Chief and Council and Canada and Quebec. These agreements were intended to improve living conditions in our community through co-management and revenue resource sharing. Rather than deal with outstanding land issues, then the federal government extinguished our right to self-determination in 2010 by forcing our community into the Indian Act elective system with the support of only 10 members in our community. The surveillance of our community directly reflects the lucrative natural resources that the governments wish to access on our lands. By criminalizing our defense of our lands, they demonstrate their intent to exploit the territory without community consent.”

Mireille Lapointe, past Chief of the Ardoch Algonquins said “these documents show that we were under police surveillance because we were protecting our lands and people from the potential development of a uranium mine on our traditional territory, a project that we were not meaningfully consulted about, despite the Supreme Court of Canada’s 2004, decision in the Haida case, which clarified the Crown’s duty to consult with Aboriginal Peoples.”

Mel Bazil, Co-Founder of the Lhe Lin Liyin of the Wet’suwet’en people said ”what these RCMP documents show is that the Harper government doesn’t respect the international standard that before developments like pipelines can take place on Indigenous Peoples territories, their free, prior, and informed consent must be obtained. If this international standard were respected and implemented on the part of governments, law enforcement and industry, Indigenous Peoples response to proposed development would probably not escalate to the point where protests and blockades are felt to be necessary by the affected Indigenous Peoples.”

Arthur Manuel, DotL spokesperson stated “the RCMP can change the name of the unit keeping Indigenous Peoples under surveillance, but until the Harper government respects the constitutionally protected and internationally recognized Aboriginal Title & Rights and Treaty Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Canada, then Indigenous Peoples are justified in using political action in protecting and defending their right to self-determination and their rights to their respective traditional territories. We are encouraging grassroots peoples to mobilize and defend themselves and their lands from bad agreements involving their lands and resources, which do not meet the standards of constitutional and international law.”

Arthur Manuel concluded by stating “Indigenous Peoples will be watching the upcoming First Nations-Crown Gathering in Ottawa. If there are no tangible results addressing the recognition of Indigenous self-determination and land rights coming out of that meeting, you can be sure that resource development in Canada without fair and honest agreements with the affected Indigenous Peoples will be in trouble.”

-30-

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Arthur Manuel, Spokesperson, Defenders of the Land: Cell: (250) 319-0688
Norman Matchewan, Spokesperson, Mitchikanabikok Inik (Algonquins of Barriere Lake): Cell: (819) 435-2171
Mireille Lapointe, Past Chief, Ardoch Algonquin First Nation: (613) 273-3530
Mel Bazil, Co-Founder, Lhe Lin Liyin, Wet’suwet’en Peoples: Cell: (250) 877-2085

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Tk’emlúps Band members selected to Kamloops-Thompson Honor Choir

Kimberly Loucks (12 years old), daughter of Carrie Leonard, was accepted into the Kamloops-Thompson Honor Choir (KTHC) for the 2011/2012 season. Loucks, who had tried out years previous, was over joyed when she received her acceptance letter this year. She spent the last two years in vocal training lessons at Lee’s Music honing her skills and technique and it paid off in a big way.

To be a member of the KTHC is a great honor as they only accept a limited number of members each year and try-outs are really competitive. John Noonan, son of David Noonan is also a member of the choir.

This year, however, is more special than ever to be involved in the ensemble. The Honor Choir has teamed up with the Western Canada Theatre Company to be a part of this holiday seasons production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat at the Sagebrush Theatre. The choir is featured throughout the entire play and is a focal point for the musicality of the performance.

It’s an amazing opportunity for the students as this is the first time ever the choir has worked with the theatre company and had the opportunity to work with adult mentors. The actors in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat are professionals and have been working in the industry for a long time. It’s a rare and special chance that the kids are getting to work directly with the professionals and get an idea of what it’s like to work in the industry; most people don’t get an opportunity like this one until they are adults.

The choir practices weekly and often attends weekend retreats out of town; it’s a really big commitment to be a part of this. It’s a great opportunity for kids who are interested in the arts to have something to be a part of while learning to work as part of a team and the hard work and dedication it takes.

The Tk’emlups Indian Band is excited to have representation in this very prestigious group and is really proud to see our youth out in the community making an impact.

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