The Chief of Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc says the band is continuing to work towards building a healing centre, an elders’ lodge, and a museum.

Speaking after a pair of recent community engagement meetings, Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir told NL News that the healing centre has been identified as the top priority.

“Our main focus is on you know the concentration of healing and we want our people to very much involved as we move forward,” she said.

“We are working on those steps and there are some steps that have gone forward but there are still many more to go. We are looking forward to that taking place more so in the future as well.”

Sources to NL News have said there are four potential locations being considered for the healing centre, two of which are on Scheidam Flats. No timelines have been released though, at least not publicly.

Tk’emlúps did however say it got “lots of great suggestions and input” from band members at those two community engagement meetings.

“I know there’s been some community engagement to look at some areas and where it could be located within our IR Land, so those discussions are taking place and we want it to be community driven, and we want our people to be very much involved in as we move forward,” Casimir said.

“Looking at some of those next steps, it is going to be doing the due diligence, looking at land designations, looking at the potential for feasibility and I guess more of the I guess administrative, technical aspects to be able to really make an informed decision on where would be the best area to have that built.”

In October last year, Casimir said a healing centre was needed “now more than ever” after what’s believed to be over 200 unmarked graves were found at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School at the end of May.

At the time, she also hoped that a promise about “concrete actions” on reconciliation from the Prime Minister will include funding for all three projects.

“There are definitely going to be some funding announcements, there are going to be all sorts of different announcements coming to place as we move forward on that because that is something that is a priority for our community and the healing,” Casimir added.

“I know that in collaboration with the federal government that is going to be something that we’ll be working towards, and we are looking forward to those steps.”

Last year, Casimir also said the elders lodge will be meant for aging band members to get the supports they need to be able to live dignified lives at home for as long as possible, while the museum will allow the band to share its history with the world.