The Chief of the Tk’emlups te Secwpemc First Nation says funding for First Nations in this year’s provincial budget is “long overdue.”

Rosanne Casimir says B.C. is the only province in Canada where First Nations didn’t receive a cut of provincial gaming grants.

The province is now committing $3 billion for First Nations in the next 25 years, which will be funding through gaming grants.

“This is something that’s truly historic. We’re very excited about receiving those monies, our membership has already decided and voted towards accessing that money for our language and our culture. We want to make sure that it’s not only revitilized but that it’s practiced. And that is at the forefront of who we are,” she says.

“I know that I’ve been tracking and I’ve been advocating with various ministers and the Ministry of Finance as well for sometime, as to what’s that going to mean,” she says.

Casimir says the Tk’emlups First Nation doesn’t know exactly how much money they’ll be getting, but says they have committed to spend money they do receive on language and culture.

“What percentage we’re going to get and how many dollars we’re going to recieive, we do not know at this time. But we know that it’s forthcoming and it’s going to be effective any time after April 1st.”