StselxmémsRSecwepemc:SecwepemcKnowledgeInstitute

Instructors: Dr. Kathryn Michel, Seth Armitage, Anna Michel, Janice Billy

Stselxméms R Secwepemc was founded in 2018 and operates out of the portable adjacent to Chief Atahm School. The Institute is a satellite program of Chief Atahm School that offers adult post-secondary educational courses focusing on the language, history, and culture of the Secwépemc.

The September 2020 cohort of the Eastern Secwépemctsin Proficiency Diploma Program through Simon Fraser University are now entering in their last semester in Fall 2022. We are excited to be starting a new cohort this fall of adult learners of Secwepemctsín who will add to our growing group of Secwepemc speakers and teachers of our language. Covid-19 presented us with a challenge that we successfully overcame by delivering our second cohort of our proficiency program entirely online.

Our upcoming 2022 cohort will return to face-toface course delivery. We are excited to welcome back our language specialists into the classroom: Lawrence Michel, Lucy Williams, and Anna Michel. Through their continued support and guidance our students can move forward in their language proficiency.

We are currently working with several institutions to ensure the best, most flexible path towards a Bachelor of Arts degree or a Bachelor of Education. We have, or are currently working on, accreditation agreements with Thompson Rivers University, University of Victoria, Simon Fraser University and Nicola Valley Institute of Technology.

We also are adapting our credited online courses into non-credited versions for community members and the public to learn our language at their own pace. And finally, we continue to expand our research and development of language teaching methods and curricula and our research of our language and history through ongoing partnerships with universities. Currently we have two research partnerships, one with the University of Victoria and the other with Simon Fraser University.

Secwepemctsín welme7 yews Stselxmems r Secwépemc

Sahhaltkum Daycare

Sahhaltkum Daycare team continues to make improvements to quality early learning and childcare. Although we were closed for 5 months due to the pandemic, we were still able to move forward in many ways and work towards our vision “to create a loving, peaceful and culturally responsive early learning centre that nurtures children’s minds, bodies and spirits in changing and evolving contexts.”

During this past year, we received a minor capital grant from BC Aboriginal Childcare Society that has allowed us to make huge improvements to the environment and building at the centre. We have new flooring and cabinets throughout the building, a new roof, new furniture and outside covered areas. We will continue to use the funding to make a few more indoor improvements but mainly to improve the playground areas for more outdoor learning opportunities.

We also received several covid related grants. The first grant allowed us to hire staff members during the summer- one staff (Michelle) was able to create covid policies and procedures. The other staff (Terri, Violet & Joyce) were able to create outreach learning packages for all our families. The other grant we received allowed us to purchase supplies for health and safety protocols.

The staff here continued to take the professional training offered by BC Aboriginal Childcare Society and engage in First Nations Pedagogy Network Focus meetings to strive towards quality learning and care. We also attended Children First Meetings to work towards collaboration with all the ALIB early learning programs.

Our number of children has remained low due to the pandemic and to staffing issues. We operated with 3 full time staff (2 ECE’s and 1 ECEA)

Our future goals include:

• To continue improving the quality of our early learning and care

• To clarify our philosophy vision statement

• To strengthen our language and culture program

• To continue professional development with Indigenous focus

• To continue exploring funds through BC Aboriginal Childcare Society who are the professional body helping to support quality indigenous early learning and care

• To create a quality environment for both staff and children with a goal of retaining staff and to create a stable learning environment for children

Natural Resource Department

Mission Statement:

By developing management processes through direct involvement from the community as well as Chief and Council we will ensure our lands are being utilized in a sustainable manner while making sure we protect our culture and heritage for future generations.

The purpose of the Natural Resource Department is to insure ALIB is developing capacity to engage with government and proponents on land use planning and development projects throughout the territory.

Strategic Priorities

The Adams Lake Indian Band Natural Resource Department continues to be self-sustaining through generating external revenue and building capacity. With the assistance of our supervisors, crews, and employees we strive to make all our projects a success.

Natural Resource Staff:

Dave Nordquist, RPF Title and Rights and Natural Resource Director

Jen Pooley Natural Resource Office Manager

Stuart Parker Forester

Avis Deneault GIS Technician

Brandon Belcher GIS Technician

Sandy Andrew Field Supervisor

Leah Gaze Project Accountant

Brennan Lund Fisheries and Wildlife Technician

Employees that have assisted the Natural Resource Department over the last year – Corey Saul, Ruben August, Dylan John, Kevin Sampolio, Jamie August, Mark Michel, Cody Gaze, Jamie Kenoras, Daylen Williams, Fern Jules, Harold Narcisse, Agnes John, Gary Michel, Karen August, Joe Jeanson, Trey Alec, Tony Dennis Jr. and apologies for those that have been missed. Thank you to all these employees for your hard work and dedication to making our projects a success.

Dave Nordquist oversaw the Natural Resource Operations securing and managing contracts for all facets of the Natural Resource Management.

Jen Pooley managed the safety program, administration of equipment and office procedures, finances, assisting with project management, report writing and scheduling of crews.

Sandy Andrew continues to supervise crews for archaeology, fuel management and brushing projects. He also assists as a silviculture surveyor, layout and development for Fuel Management work and assists with forestry.

Brennan Lund has joined the team to looks after the Adams Lake Salmon Restoration Project as well as build and expand the Fisheries and Wildlife Program.

Training hosted by NR; completed by staff/ technicians

Due to COVID-19 the training scheduled for the crew was delayed. However, 3 additional future staff where trained through the QS Guardian program and will be added to the crew next fiscal.

Ministry of Transportation Projects

Throughout the year contract opportunities came up which we push to ensure ALIB has the opportunity to do the work

Archaeological work for the Kicking Horse Project, Bruhn Bridge, Chase Bridge and the Tappen 4 laning projects.

Cultural and Archaeological Monitoring on Chase West Project

Reburial of the ancestor found on the Chase West Project.