The Thompson-Nicola Regional District will now start each of its board and committee meetings with a territorial land acknowledgement.

Staff worked with the Tk‘emlúps Indian Band to come with appropriate wording.

Tk‘emlúps chief Rosanne Casimir was asked why this land acknowledgement is important.

“What makes that very important is the fact that we’ve never ceded, sold or given up our land in any shape or form. And that is something that we acknowledge and we all stand behind. It’s that respect factor in knowing that First Nations were the original ancestors of the land.”

The land acknowledgement before each meeting will now say: “The TNRD would like to acknowledge that we connect with many First Nation Communities across our vast regional district and today are located on the Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc territory. Situated within the unceded ancestral lands of the Secwépemc Nation. The TNRD appreciates the partnership that we have with Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc, and respect the territory and land on which we gather here today.”

It was approved by the TNRD board at last week’s meeting.