‘It establishes ownership and pride in our community’; Tk’emlups te Secwépemc opens first local market

KAMLOOPS — Thursday (Nov. 16) marked the grand opening celebration of the Sweláps Market — the first local market created by the community and for the community.

The opening of a grocery store on-reserve has been a goal of the Tk’emlups comprehensive community plan and is supported by band members.

“We see this as a very special, unique market within the grocery store industry. It’s community owned by the band, and it takes a lot of pride in bringing in art and culture, but also food sovereignty, opportunities and initiatives. That’s going to be meeting the diverse needs of so many people,” explained Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir.

According to Casimir, the market will help in the growth of the community and bring benefits not only to the band, but the entire city of Kamloops.

“When I look at our community, we want to be looking at economic development opportunities, opportunities that are going to be serving the needs of our people, serving the needs of the local economy, looking at serving the needs of on-reserve as well as off-reserve and looking at opportunities that are going to be just growing, growing and meeting the demands,” she said.

CFJC Today spoke to a few customers and they all expressed happiness with a new place to shop and understood the importance of this store.

“Having a market like this, but also creating the employment that it creates for the community as well, is also a big thing for it,” said Colleen Lewis.

“It establishes ownership and pride in our community. Makes me feel proud to be walking around in here and seeing everybody else in here,” added Dianna Malloy.

“I’m sure it will be very important for the Indigenous people here. I think it’s great. I would hope that lots of people in Kamloops come and frequent it and support it because I think that’s very important. I think it should have support from everybody,” said Berryl Cook.

Casimir hopes this is just the beginning and the market will help the local economy grow even more.

“This is our very first grocery store and it’s… one of many businesses that will soon be opening. This is something that we look forward to and we’re celebrating it and just very, very happy and very proud.”