Douglas Reserve Initiative

The Tk’emlúps Indian Band is one Band of 17 within the Secwepemc Nation. The Specific Claim of the Tk’emlúps Indian Band arises from the facts that our Secwepemc people occupied and controlled these lands prior to European contact. After contact, the settlers created their own form of Government and one of the things they did was to create the Band system and a reserve system for our people. The peoples occupying the Kamloops area were placed onto a list and an area of land was set aside for their use and benefit. The original Tk’emlúps Indian Band reserve was 136,200 acres in size.

Several years later, our reserve lands were reduced without the consent of the people or without compensation. The Tk’emlúps Indian Band never accepted this reduction and in fact vigorously protested it until 1927 when the government adopted laws to prevent the band and other First Nations from actively pursuing land claims. More than 140 years have passed since our reserve was cut-off. Our band members have never given up hope that one day the provincial and federal governments would return these lands to the reserve as originally intended.

We have followed the process and policies that the government has developed to try and resolve our specific land claim. Not surprisingly, these processes have not been successful or productive. Our Band feels that it’s time to start thinking outside the box, that is, take the initiative to put forward a proposal, from our own people, that will show/illuminate the path that will need to be taken in order for this matter to be put to rest.

Contact Douglas Reserve Initiative

Linda Thomas, DRI Coordinator/Acting CRM Administrator
Tel:  (250) 314-1551 or Fax: (250) 314-1586 or e-mail:  lthomas@kib.ca

Marie Sandy, DRI Researcher
Tel:  (250) 314-1594 or Fax (250) 314-1586 or e-mail:  msandy@kib.ca