Kamloops City Councillors have unanimously approved a $10,000 contribution in support of Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc’s bid for the 2027 North American Indigenous Games.

The money is meant to help with the bid selection committee’s site visit in April.

“These funds will contribute towards flight, ground transportation, and special event expenses,” a report from Indigenous and Community Relations Manager, Tammy Robertson, said.

“To cover the City’s contribution, funding can be provided from the 2023 Community and Protective Services, Tournament Capital Services Special Bids budget.”

The city of Kamloops has already committed up to $500,000 of in-kind support in the form of facilities, staff time, and a potential cash contribution as part of the bid.

“On behalf of Kamloops City Council, I write today to offer our full support for Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc’s bid for the 2027 North American Indigenous Games,” former Kamloops mayor, Ken Christian, wrote in an Oct. 20, 2022 letter to Rick Brant, the CEO of the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I·SPARC).

As many as 6,000 athletes, coaches, team staff, and cultural performers from over 756 Indigenous Nations in Canada and the United States are expected to take part in the games, generating as much as $15 to 20 million in economic spending in the host community.

“As Canada’s Tournament Capital, Kamloops is Canada’s premier location for hosting tournaments; provincial, national, and international competitions and cultural events,” Christian added.

“We recognize the benefits of this prestigious event and welcome the opportunity to be involved in the 2027 North American Indigenous Games.”

Back on Nov. 25, 2022, I·SPARC announced a commitment of up to $75,000 to assist the Tk’emlúps bid.

Other cities competing to host the 2027 North American Indigenous Games include Calgary and Saskatoon, with the winning bid set to be announced in July.

“The 2027 bid is for the western region, and the next opportunity for this region to host is in 2039,” Robertson said, in a Sept. 27, 2022 closed administrative report to the former council that was made public Tuesday.

“It has been suggested that a Kamloops bid submitted at this time will garner great interest due to the media attention from the confirmation of Le Estcwicwéy̓ (The Missing).”

If Tk’emlúps wins the bid in July, it would be the third time the Indigenous games are hosted in B.C., after Victoria in 1997 and Cowichan in 2008.

More to come