Community mapping presentation: Tk’emlups te Secwepemc

Community Mapping Presentation:
Tk’emlups te Secwepemc
By
Joel Arnould

Tk’emlups te Secwepemc
The Tk’emlups te Secwepemc are one of the seventeen bands that form the
Secwepemc Nation.
The bands are united by a common language, Secwepemctsin and a similar culture and
belief system
The word “Tk’emlups” derives from the English translation of the Shuswap word that
means where the rivers meet.
The location of this community is East of the North Thompson River and North of the
South Thompson River.

Tk’emlups te Secwepemc History
The traditional territory was the center of major traffic and trade routes.
The traditional economy was based on fishing, hunting and trading.
The traditional lifestyle, was based on respect for nature, depended on traditional
aboriginal skills and knowledge handed down from generation to generation by oral
tradition.

Tk’emlups te Secwepemc History
When British Columbia became a province of Canada, in 1871, the federal Department
of Indian Affairs assumed control over every aspect of the Secwepemc social, political,
and economic livelihood.
With the backing of the Federal Government, the Catholic Church inflicted religious
conversion onto
the Secwepemc people.
In the 1890s two large "industrial" schools were established in Secwepemc territory.
Residential Schools closed in the 1970s but their legacy continues to be felt in the lives
of Secwepemc people

Moving Forward
Systemic factors including destructive policies and activities by the government,
religious organizations and non-Secwepemc business interests have contributed to the
barriers and problems faced by the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc people, however...
The Tk’emlups te Secwepemc have persevered and have taken positive steps to rebuild
their community and strengthen their capacity to overcome adversity and thrive as
part of the Secwepemc Nation
The Tk’emlups band is about 1000 members strong and is one of the largest among the
Secwepemc bands

Community Mapping
Community Mapping: Needs &
Problems
❖ Identifying community problems
❖ Identifying community needs
❖ Problem-based perspective
❖ Needs surveys
❖ Needs orientated solutions
❖ Deficiency-oriented social service model
Community Mapping: Strengths &
Capacity
❖ Capacity-Focused Alternative
❖ Identifying capacities and assets
❖ Strengths-based perspective
❖ Building blocks;
❖ Primary; assets located inside the
neighbourhood & largely under
neighbourhood control
❖ Secondary; assets located within the

Community Mapping: Needs & Problems
❖Identifying community problems
❖Identifying community needs
❖Problem-based perspective
❖Needs surveys
❖Needs orientated solutions
❖Deficiency-oriented social service model

Needs & Problems: Affordable Housing
Crowded dwellings (defined as more than one person per room)
Among the Aboriginal population in Kamloops, 3.3% live in crowded dwellings,
compared to 1.2% of the non-Aboriginal population
Housing in need of major repairs (defined as housing with defective plumbing,
electrical wiring and structural damages)
Among the Aboriginal population in Kamloops, 17.4% live in homes in need of major
repair, compared to 6.1% of the non-Aboriginal population

Needs & Problems: Education
A 2006 Aboriginal population profile for Kamloops showed that among the Aboriginal
population, 22% of adults had less than a high school education
13% of non-Aboriginals had less than a high school education
The rate of adults with less than a high school education is significantly higher among
the Aboriginal population
Low level education is linked to low earning potential and low income

Needs & Problems: Unemployment & Lower Earnings
The same 2006 Aboriginal population profile for Kamloops showed that the
unemployment rate for the core working age population (between 25-54) was found to
be higher for the Aboriginal population.
12.4% unemployment for the Aboriginal population
4.5 % unemployment for the non-Aboriginal population
Among Aboriginals working full time, full year round, earned approximately 80% of
what their non-Aboriginal counterparts made

Needs & Problems: Low Income
The same 2006 Aboriginal population profile for Kamloops showed that the median
income for Aboriginal workers was $16, 921.00, compared to $26, 275.00 for non-
Aboriginal workers
Using the concept of low income cut-off (LICO), it was found that in Kamloops
approximately 30% of Aboriginal families were living below LICO, compared to 12%
of the non-Aboriginal population.
Among children under the age of 15 years, 38% of Aboriginal children were living
below LICOS, compared to 12% of the non-Aboriginal children under the age of 15
years

Needs & Problems: Families
The same 2006 Aboriginal population profile for Kamloops showed that Aboriginal
children living with lone parents (mainly single mothers) was 38% compared to 17%
for the non-Aboriginal population
2.7% of Aboriginal children were not living with either parent (home of a relative or
foster care)
0.5% of non-Aboriginal children were not living with either parent (home of a relative
or foster care)

Needs & Problems: Mental and Physical Health
Suicide
The Canadian average is for suicide ideation and attempts is approximately 4% of
females and 2% of males. For Aboriginal people, it is approximately 19% of females and
13% of males.
Completed suicides among First Nation young adults is five to seven times the
Canadian average for the same age group.
Youth with a parent who attended a residential school, were more likely to have
experienced suicidal thoughts
Aboriginal communities with low rates of suicide are those that are working towards self-governance, are actively
engaged in settling their land claims, have recovered many traditional practices and enjoy greater control over
the delivery of local services.

Major Depression, Anxiety & Distress
Major Depression is a life-changing mental illness in the Canadian population.
In Canada, Aboriginal people, experience major depression at twice the national
average.
A 1997 survey found that 16% of First Nation adults living on reserve experienced
major depression, compared to 8% of the general Canadian population
13% of First Nations adults living off-reserve were classified having major anxiety
versus 8% of the general Canadian population

Alcohol use is of great concern to people in First Nations communities.
Surveys show that approximately 75% of all residents feel alcohol use is a problem in
their community
33% indicate that it’s a problem in their own family or household
25% say that they have a personal problem with alcohol
Communities with high problematic substance use leads to fetal alcohol syndrome and
fetal alcohol effects that influences learning ability and illegal behaviour that results in
time in prison.

Domestic Violence
The rates of domestic violence are up to 5 times higher than average on First Nation
reserves.
According to a Statistics Canada survey in 1999, almost one-half of the spousal
violence experienced by Aboriginal women was severe or life-threatening
During over ½ of these incidents, children were present. This is harmful to the child's
mental health and may help to perpetuate the cycle.

Needs & Problems: Influences
Some of the main factors that influence the mental health of
children and youth,
and the development of suicide, abuse, and problematic
alcohol and substance abuse
are as follows:

Negative Factors
❖Residential schools; a generation of parents disconnected from their roots and
culture.
❖Multi-generational losses. Some of these losses come from the residential school
experience and others from colonization.
❖Social racism and oppression contribute to a sense of hopelessness and isolation.
❖Inadequate culturally appropriate services and lack of recognition of the need for
change among agencies providing services.
❖Lack of adequate housing.

Positive Factors
❖Connections among the young and the old as the elders pass along their stories
and wisdom.
❖Community-based healing initiatives that nurture autonomy of will and spirit,
sharing, spirituality, respect, honour, compassion and cultural pride support
healing and good mental health.
❖Youth pursuing higher education to expand knowledge and skills.
❖Economic development that gives families stability and youth opportunity.

Community Mapping: Strengths & Capacity
❖ Capacity-Focused Alternative
❖ Identifying capacities and assets
❖ Strengths-based perspective
❖ Building blocks;
❖ Primary; assets located inside the neighbourhood & largely under neighbourhood
control
❖ Secondary; assets located within the community but largely controlled by outside
❖ Potential resources; generated outside the neighborhood and controlled by

Community Mapping: Strengths & Capacity
Aboriginal people are likely to have a more holistic view of wellness; a state of "balance"
with family, community and the larger environment.
As a result, the programs developed by Aboriginal groups tend to focus on social causes
and cultural approaches
Approaches developed by Aboriginal communities tend to emphasize research that
identifies the strengths of families and communities and programs that build on these
strengths.
This is seen as the most effective approach and an antidote to the damage done by much
of the existing "deficiency-oriented" research that emphasizes the problems of First
Nations

Potential resources; generated outside the neighborhood and
controlled by outsiders
BC Government Funding for post-secondary institutions across BC
BC Government contributed 3.7 million dollars for funding public post-secondary
institutions across British Columbia
The funding is intended to build on existing programs and activities that will give
Aboriginal students a strong sense of belonging
Service plans are intended to help increase access and successful completion of
educational programs for Aboriginal learners, strengthen partnerships and ensure that
programs are relevant to the Aboriginal students

Aboriginal Post-Secondary Education Training Policy and Framework Action Plan
Goal is to increase the number of credentials awarded to Aboriginal learners by 75%
by 2020-2021
From the 2009-2010 school year to the 2013-2014 school year, credentials awarded
increased by 23% showing significant improvement
In the 2013-2014 school year, 3,241 credentials were awarded

Interior Health Authority: Aboriginal Health Program
The Aboriginal Health program is guided by the Aboriginal Health & Wellness
Advisory Committee and it’s focus is on improving Aboriginal health and reducing the
gap in the status quo
The 5 key strategies are to develop a sustainable Aboriginal Health Care Program, to
ensure Aboriginal people access to integrated services, to deliver culturally safe
services across the care & service continuum, to develop information monitoring and
evaluation approaches, and to ensure ongoing meaningful Aboriginal participation in
healthcare planning
Aboriginal Health contracts are awarded to local not-for-profit agencies

Contracts provide funding for programs and services that promote health, prevent
diseases, and preserve mental, physical, emotional and spiritual well-being
Educational Grants are also awarded for locally accessible programs such as Relapse
prevention, Substance Abuse Facilitation, Group facilitation methods, Suicide
prevention training and Mental health First Aid
Direct Service Grants are also awarded and include funding local programs such as
Community kitchens, Parenting Skills programs, Street outreach programs and the
Secwepemc Needs Assessment

First Nations Health Authority
The Government of Canada, the Province of British columbia and BC First Nations
forged president-setting agreements that led to the creation of the First Nations Health
Authority
Directives include:
❖Program, services and policy driven by grassroot levels
❖Increase of local decision-making & control over health services and expenditures
❖Improvement of services that support health & wellness and development of
programs at local levels
❖Development of Human & Economic capacity; for current and future healthcare
professionals at all levels through education & training methods & opportunities

Secondary Building Blocks; Physical part of the community but
largely directed & controlled outside the community
Thompson Rivers University’s Aboriginal Mentor Program
❖Provides mentor training
❖assists new students with a successful transition into Thompson Rivers University
Gathering Place - "Cplul’kw’ten"
❖Aboriginal centre that provides information on all aspects of university life
❖Assistance in finding services on campus, supporting band funding applications,

Aboriginal Health and Nursing School/Faculty Initiatives
❖Initiatives to promote success of Aboriginal students, create a culturally safe
educational experience for all, and build relationships with Aboriginal individuals,
groups, and communities.
Elders in the House Program
❖Elders provide personal consultation, conversation, guidance, and mentorship to
aboriginal students.

Aboriginal Training and Employment Centre
❖Is a Work BC Employment Services Centre
❖It is funded by the Government of Canada
❖Is a department of the Shuswap Nation Tribal Counsel
❖Goal is to assist Aboriginal people in the Kamloops area identify and overcome
their potential barriers to employment; find and maintain meaningful
employment that fits their skills, abilities, and interests

Aboriginal Training and Employment Centre
ATEC is committed to helping clients enter into the workforce or explore and discover
a new career path. The offer the following:
❖ Employment counselling
❖ Self-directed job search
❖ Industry training
❖ Essential Skills assessments and training
❖ Academic assessments
❖ Funding for training
❖ Funding for job starts

Primary Building Blocks; Assets of Individuals and
Organizations or Associations
Kamloops Native Housing Society
❖ Incorporated in 1987, Kamloops Native Housing Society’s mission is to enhance
the living conditions of urban Aboriginals in the city of Kamloops.
❖This mission is carried out by the work and dedication of the Board of Directors,
membership, staff and other interested individuals and groups to ensure safe,
clean, comfortable and affordable housing.
❖The society currently manages 84 units of affordable housing for Elders, singles
and families in Kamloops

White Buffalo Aboriginal & Metis Health Society
Mission Statement: To raise the health status of Aboriginal peoples by providing
holistic health care which includes physical, emotional, spiritual and mental health
provision for individual, family and community. White Buffalo Aboriginal Health
society is a culturally based holistic health centre dedicated to balanced and healthy
lifestyles. Programs and services support traditional Aboriginal values encompassing
the connectedness of physical, emotional, spiritual and mental well-being.
It employs Aboriginal Community members and utilizes the unique talents and gifts of
these members for helping fellow community members

White Buffalo Aboriginal & Metis Health Society Programs and Services:
❖ Aboriginal Child and Youth Mental Wellness
❖ Aboriginal Infant Development Program
❖ Aboriginal Supported Child Development
❖ Spirit Visions Health Empowerment
❖ Aboriginal Suicide and Critical Incident Response Team (ASCIRT)
❖ Gift Givers Family Empowerment Program
❖ Affordable Recreation for Community Health (ARCH)
❖ Primary Health Care Practitioner
❖ Aboriginal Family Response Worker

Other White Buffalo Aboriginal & Metis Health Society Services:
School Supplies Program
Annual Events for National Aboriginal Day, Christmas
Christmas Hamper Program
Literacy & Reading Club
Community and Resource Bulletin Board
Quarterly Newsletter
Aboriginal Breakfast Club
Secwepemc Language Initiative
Grief and Loss Support Groups

Tk’emlups Indian Band
❖The Tk’emlúps te Secwe̓pemc is a progressive community committed to attaining
self-sufficiency and independence through education and economic development.
❖The Band has strengthened their community with childcare, education and health
care facilities as well as other initiatives and infrastructure.
❖They have created over 200 direct jobs, generated $200 million in regional
economic activity, and pioneered the development of Indian property taxation
authority.

❖The Band currently has approximately 1,000 members living on and off its 33,000-
acre (130 km2) reserve.
❖The reserve supports a variety of uses including residential, industrial, commercial
and agricultural. In 1999, the TIB purchased Harper Ranch, now known as
Spiyu7ullucw Ranch Corporation, which added 20,000 acres of fee simple land
and crown leases for resource development and other economic opportunities.
❖It provides services promoting social development, Housing & Education
❖It has a Natural Resources Division that looks after: range, forestry, fisheries, and
water management, as well as traditionally related duties such as cultural resource

❖Planning & Engineering Department: services provided encompass a host of
activities above and beyond just Planning and Engineering. In all cases, the
objective is to provide services to band members and to facilitate growth
❖Water Treatment Plant: Water Treatment Plant provides clear, clean and safe
potable water to the Tk’emlúps te Secwe̓pemc including the Sun Rivers
Community and the Mt. Paul Industrial Park.
❖Lands, Leasing & Taxation: Since 1991, the band has collected property taxes from

References
Canadian Mental Health Association. (2013). CMHA Kamloops Branch. Suicide. Accessed November 28, 2015 from
. http://www.kamloops.cmha.bc.ca/node/165
First Nations Health Authority. (2015). Interior Region. Accessed November 28, 2015 from
http://www.fnha.ca/about/regions/interior
Government of Canada. (2006). Aboriginal mental health and well-being. In The human face of mental health and mental illness
in Canada (Chapter 12). Ottawa: Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada. Accessed November 28, 2015
from www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/human-humain06/index-eng.php.
Interior Health. (2015). Interior Health Program report 2011-2012. Accessed November 28, 2015 from
https://www.interiorhealth.ca/YourHealth/AboriginalHealth/Documents/Aboriginal%20Health%20Program%20Report.pdf
McKnight, J., and Kretzmann, P. (1996). Mapping Community Capacity. Accessed
November 28, 2015 from, http://www.abcdinstitute.org/docs/MappingCapacity.pdf

Milligan, S. (2010). 2006 Aboriginal population profile for Kamloops. Statistics Canada. Accessed November 28, 2015 from
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/89-638-x/2010004/article/11083-eng.htm
Ministry of Housing (2009). Kamloops Aboriginal housing.Accessed November 28 2015 from,
http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2005-2009/2009HSD0069-000797-Attachment1.htm & Social Development.
Secwepemc Cultural Education Society. (2007). Our language and culture. Accessed November 28, 2015 from
http://secwepemc.org
Tk’emlups. (2015). Our history. Accessed November 28, 2015 from http://tkemlups.ca
Visions Journal. (2008). Aboriginal People, 5 (1), pp.6-7). Accessed November 28, 2015 from
http://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/visions/aboriginal-people-vol5
White Buffalo Aboriginal and Metis Health Society. (2015). About us. Accessed November 28, 2015 from
https://www.whitebuffalosociety.ca
References

Community mapping presentation: Tk’emlups te Secwepemc

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