As a non-Indigenous person, it’s not my place to lead in this area, but to listen, learn, and enter with a spirit of humility and willingness.
I’m proud of the relationship that Kamloops and Tk’emlups te Secwepemc enjoy. It should be celebrated, never taken for granted, and needs to be fortified. Continuing the efforts of truth and reconciliation cannot happen without an honest understanding of our history and how Indigenous people have been intentionally disadvantaged through colonial systems. This learning should be promoted by the city through efforts like sharing circles and other educational opportunities in order that we decolonization both our thinking and our systems.
Furthermore, economic reconciliation is often misunderstood or ignored. Acknowledging that the Indian Act subjugated Indigenous people financially by removing them from our economy while squelching their own helps us move toward collaborative solutions.
Under the guidance of our neighbouring community, TteS, we can begin making these things right at the local level by offering innovative partnership opportunities on capital and infrastructure projects that benefit both peoples. Perhaps joint proposals at provincial/federal levels and a joint marketing approach that attracts economic opportunity through a unified strategy?
Tk’emlups, “where the rivers meet”; a great symbolism for how our two communities must come together and function as one.