The Kamloops Indian Residential School building

Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc is beginning work to rehabilitate the former Kamloops Indian Residential School building.

It says the goal of the endeavor is to renovate the red brick building so it can better suit the needs of the band and its members.

The rehabilitation work comes after Federal Government announced in March of last year that it was giving Tk’emlúps up to $1.5 million to assess the feasibility of possible renovations and upgrades to the Kamloops Indian Residential School building.

At the time, Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir told Radio NL that she hoped to see “a lot of restoration work” take place at the building, which has previously been used as the band’s administration offices, as a community space, and as a day care.

“We know that there is asbestos in the walls. There is a lot of old paint as well,” Casimir said. “It really needs a lot of tender loving care, but also that feasibility is going to cover what work needs to be taken and done to look at the restoration.”

“This funding is going to support the design and feasibility assessments to the facilities so that it can be fully utilized. This is so important to our community and to me and to all of us and for our people.”

Tk’emlúps says it will be reaching out to band members so they can “help create a shared vision” for the future of the building.

“What this building looks like in the future, and how it could function better will be community-led and informed, through a series of membership engagement opportunities coming soon,” Tk’emlúps said, in an online post.

“Whether the Red Brick Building holds new cultural and community gathering spaces, additional educational spaces, new recreational and retail opportunities, offices or coworking spaces, or a mix of different types of uses – your voice is important to help shape the future of the building and what this means for community.”

The residential school was in operation between 1890 and 1978, run for most of that time by the Catholic Church. At one point, it was the largest residential school in Canada, with enrolment peaking at 500 in the 1950s.

“These buildings were inherited from the Federal Government and their usage and preservation has been approved by our community to serve as a reminder of our true collective history,” Casimir added.