Indigenous Education

Aboriginal Education

Weyt-kp!

Kamloops School District No. 73 is located within the traditional territory of the Secwépemc people and includes the seven Secwépemc First Nations Bands:

  • Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc
  • Whispering Pines / Clinton Indian Band
  • Skeetchestn Indian Band
  • Simpcw First Nation
  • Adams Lake Indian Band
  • Little Shuswap Lake Band
  • Neskonlith Indian Band

The District provides educational services to a diverse multicultural population of 16,638 students, 20 percent of which are of Indigenous ancestry. The Indigenous student population in the District continues to increase.

The District and representatives of participating First Nations Bands work in partnership to ensure that a Local Education Agreement (LEA) is implemented, monitored, revised as necessary. The committee also makes recommendations or decisions regarding programs and supports for students living on-reserve.

Enhancement Funds are provided to the District to support all self-identified Indigenous students of First Nations, Inuit and Métis ancestry in the areas of achievement, language and culture. The Indigenous Education Council and the District work collaboratively to ensure that the expenditure of targeted funds is in line with the criteria set out by the Indigenous Education Enhancements Branch, Ministry of Education and Child Care.

Indigenous Education Council (IEC) 

The School District No. 73 Indigenous Education Council was officially formed in 1994 by a gathering of the seven local First Nations the School District served. This formation included voices from the Métis community as well as the Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society. The Indigenous Education Council wanted to work with the School District to address Indigenous student outcomes. 

The Indigenous Education Council (IEC) oversees the interest of all Indigenous learners in the support, implementation, and assessment of programs and services that improve the school experience and academic achievement of those learners. The current Indigenous Education Council consists of a representative from each of the seven local First Nations, as well as the Métis Nation, the Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society, the North Thompson Aboriginal Society, and the Board of Education. To learn more about the Indigenous Education Council, watch this video that tells the story of the council and the council’s goals of achieving optimal life chances for Indigenous students in SD73.

2023 Indigenous Student Leadership Summit video can be found here.

Cultural Traditions and Protocols

Acknowledging the territory is performed at any important function such as a school assembly, awards night, graduation, a celebration including Indigenous communities, etc. It may also be performed prior to an important meeting or presentation. Acknowledging the territory is a way of honouring and showing respect for a group of people who have been living and working on this land from time immemorial. A “Welcome” to the territory is only offered by the First Nations people who are traditionally from the territory. Visitors, including everyone who is not a member of the traditional First Nation, would “acknowledge” the territory.

Acknowledging Traditional Territory

Acknowledgement of Territory in Secwepemctsin

Protocols for Elder and Traditional Knowledge Keepers

Smudging Protocol

Local Education Agreements

Contact Us

Mike Bowden
District Principal - Indigenous Education
Henry Grube Education Centre
245 Kitchener Crescent
Kamloops, BC V2B 1B9
T: 250-376-2266, F: 250-376-7966
Email District Principal - Indigenous Education