A historic agreement signed today between the City of Kamloops and Tk’emlups te Secwepemc First Nation.

The two local governments have signed a Letter of Understanding which will serve as a protocol agreement for cultural heritage.

Tk’emlups Chief Rosanne Casimir says progress has been made for years before the L-O-U was signed today.

“It means that our relationship is definitely advancing and moving forward. And it’s definitely growing, and we want to ensure that it’s going to be protecting the future legacies of our children, both sides of the river. And what that future legacy is going to be about is protecting the cultural resources that are within Tk’emlups.”

Casimir says the new agreement will help coordinate future plans for a cultural centre at the former Stuart Wood School.

“And it doesn’t have to stop there, it could be other endeavors as well. And it’s about our commitment to working together, to be collaborating and having this here LOU be the basis and foundation towards other opportunities.”

Kamloops mayor Ken Christian says this agreement has taken several years to devise, and says it’s a proud day for the city.

“Our commitment to the TteS to not only look at the B.C Conservation Act, but using that as a basement and an area that we can build on, recognizing the 10,000-year-plus history of the Secwepemc peoples in this valley, and recognizing the 150-year history of the City of Kamloops.”