The Land and Its People
Tk'emlúps: where the rivers meet
The city of Kamloops stands where the North Thompson and South Thompson rivers join. The Secwépemc people call this place Tk'emlúps, and the name Kamloops grew from it. Long before any newcomer arrived, this was Secwépemc land.
The Secwépemc
The Secwépemc are the people of a large territory in the interior of what is now British Columbia, known as Secwepemcúl'ecw. They have lived on this land for thousands of years, with their own language, Secwepemctsín, their own laws, and a deep knowledge of the land, rivers and seasons.
Living with the seasons
The Secwépemc moved through the year with the food and resources of the land. Salmon returned to the rivers, and families fished, dried and stored it. They gathered roots and berries and hunted game. In winter, many families lived in semi-underground pit houses. Knowledge, stories and responsibilities were passed from one generation to the next.
This is where the story begins
This history does not begin with the arrival of newcomers. It begins with the Secwépemc, who remain on this land today as Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc and as the other Secwépemc communities of the region.