FILE PHOTO — Kúkpi7 Rosanne Casimir, Tkwenem7íple7 Jeanette Jules, and Mayor Ken Christian pose together at the Jan. 7, 2019 town hall with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

(SHELBY THEVENOT / iNFOnews.ca)

KAMLOOPS - Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc and the City of Kamloops signed a letter of understanding today stating both of their commitments to preserving and promoting Secwépemc values and the protection of cultural heritage resources.

The document serves as a building block for a future engagement plan and cultural heritage protocol agreement, according to a joint media release.

Some of the items on the cultural heritage protocol agreement include the commitment to promote awareness and understanding of the history and culture of Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc and the City of Kamloops as well as enhancing awareness of the cultural and heritage sites.

The agreement also includes the protection of cultural heritage resources and sites, and opportunities for joint initiatives.

“Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc has lived on these lands for over 10,000 years. We have a rich history of communities, villages, hunting and fishing grounds, and innumerable oral stories in this region," Kúkpi7 Rosanne Casimir says in the release. "We are so pleased the City of Kamloops is working with us to create awareness and preservation of our cultural heritage.”

"The City of Kamloops is proud to be signing this important document today," Mayor Ken Christian says in the release, "We have a long history with Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc on governmental matters, however, today’s commitment on understanding and protecting cultural heritage is a statement on how we will work together on preserving our shared history.”

Under the agreement the City and Tk'emllúps te Secwépemc will determine the scope, tasks, schedule, and funding to complete the engagement plan and protocol agreement.

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