Frequently Asked Questions

 Please send an email to specificclaims@esketemc.ca If your question hasn’t been answered already, we will add the question to this list and provide an answer for everyone to review.  

When claims are filed against the Federal Government, the process is often slow and bureaucratic. This Specific Claim process began in 2003 when Esk’etemc filed the claim with the Specific Claims Branch. The Federal Government initially rejected the claim in 2011. Esk’etemc then filed the claim with the Specific Claims Tribunal. The Federal Government reversed its decision and accepted the claim in 2018. Esk’etemc experts then began the process of identifying the financial impact on the Esk’etemc of the loss of water rights over the last approximately 130 years. These reports were submitted in 2019. The Federal Government’s settlement offer was presented to Esk’etemc in 2023.  

 Determining what to do with the Tsqewt settlement amount is a large responsibility that has incorporated feedback from Esk’etemc members, plus further research and work to help determine what will be best for Esk’etemc members now, and for generations to come. We committed to being more transparent and communicative at the request of members which we are doing, but we will not compromise a thorough and well researched process which takes time to do mindfully. 

Here is a very general timeline of what this process looked like, plus future details:

• January: decision is made on the structure and members of the Investment Committee
• February: recommendations from the Tsqewt Community Planning Committee will be reviewed by Council.

The funds were transferred from Canada to Esk’etemc and are being held with the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC).  

The Esk’etemc Investment Committee will provide guidance and advice based on solid research on appropriate investments which are intended to improve the economic health of Esk’etemc with a focus on current and future financial well being. Council will be reviewing all options and recommendations provided through the community engagement sessions and surveys, and will be making their decisions based on this information. 

The funds are locked in and secure and need signatures of Kukpi7 and all of Council to be released.  

On May 23, 2024. The Federal Government had 45 days to transfer the funds to Esk’etemc. That transfer occurred on June 24, 2024.  

Kukpi7 and Council created a questionnaire to hear from membership on what was important to them specific to respect to planning for education, economic development, health, culture and language, Elders, youth, and social development. The questionnaire required member’s names and membership numbers to confirm participants’ Esk'etemc membership and was open for feedback until October 31, 2024. 

The information from the online survey, paper survey, and in-person community engagement has been collected and put together for Kukpi7 and Council, plus the Tsqewt Community Planning Committee, to review to help them make recommendations on what to do with the settlement. The report will include all the feedback provided by Esk’etemc members.  

As per the Esk’etemc Financial Management By-law ratified in July 2021.

17.1 For the purposes of conducting Band business, Chief and Council may on behalf of the Band, borrow monies from a Chartered Bank, Trust Company, Credit Union or a registered financial institution under the following conditions:

a) By Band Council Resolution (BCR), Chief and Council may obtain credit not exceeding (One Million Dollars) $1,000,000.00 to maintain local services or capital programs. Prior to using this credit, revenues for repayment must be identified and confirmed in writing.

b) Any loans over (One Million Dollars) $1,000,000.00 by the Band must have the approval of the Band Membership at a duly convened General Band Meeting. Approval shall be sought by Chief and Council in the following manner:

i) Notice of the proposed loan shall be given by Chief and Council to make every attempt to contact all household on the Reserve and Band members who live off the Reserve, that Chief and Council wishes to engage in a loan and details of the loan and repayment shall be made part of the notice. A similar notice shall be posted at the Band Administration Office and at one visible place on the Reserve 10 days prior to the meeting.

ii) The notice, in Section 17.3 b) i) shall state a time, date, and location of the meeting of the Band Membership to authorize the loan.

iii) Chief and Council must inform the membership at the meeting of the amount of the loan, its purpose, the cost of the interest and how it will be repaid.

iv) The Chief and Council must hold a vote of members present at the meeting, before proceeding to contract the loan. A simple majority of the persons present must indicate, by show of hands or secret ballot, approval to contract the loan.

v) The Managing Director shall have meeting minutes of the meeting recorded and record the results of the voting.

Please refer to the Government of Canada website on band support funding here. 

The Tsqewt Community Planning Committee is an advisory body to the Esk’etemc Chief and Council. Their purpose is to review all planning options proposed by the Esk’etemc members for the Tsqewt Specific Claim settlement funds and compile a summary of all proposals and feedback for recommendation to Kukpi7 and Council to review and reach a decision on the next steps.  

The Committee is made up of five (5) Esk’etemc Band members, with the Specific Claims Team Coordinator acting as Chair of the Committee. To avoid any conflict of interest, Committee members are not permitted to submit their investment/planning proposals for Esk’etemc consideration. An expression of interest was released with the closing date of June 28, 2024, at 5 pm Pacific Standard Time. The Committee members are DeDe DeRose, Trevor Rivet, Sophie Collins, Irvine Johnson, and Darren Stanislaus.  

The Committee is comprised of individuals with relevant expertise, demonstrated knowledge and community perspectives that pertain to effectively carrying out the committee’s functions. Roles and responsibilities include:

· Demonstrating a commitment to community action through involvement in one or more of the following areas:

o Health Housing and Infrastructure

o Natural Resources Language, Education and Culture

o Community Planning Governance

o Economic Development and Business Elders Knowledge

• Understanding and interest in collaborative, community research.

• Skills and knowledge in report writing and non-biased decision-making.

• Availability and commitment to attend scheduled and extraordinary committee meetings.

Council will be reviewing all options and recommendations provided through the community engagement sessions and surveys, and will be making their decisions based on this information. 

Feedback is now closed. There were three ways to participate:

1. A paper survey for all Esk’etemc members to fill out and return it by October 31, 2024.

2. An online survey was available for Esk’etemc members to fill out by October 31, 2024.

3. In-community engagement sessions were held in Esk’et (September 27, 2024), Williams Lake (September 28, 2024), Kamloops (October 19, 2024) and Chilliwack (October 26, 2024), plus other sessions for staff, youth, and elders. The Kamloops and Chilliwack sessions had a Zoom component so people could participate online.

The community engagement sessions are now complete. We had a number of sessions planned with Esk’etemc staff, family representatives, youth and Elders. There were in-person and hybrid events hosted and this information was shared extensively and frequently via Facebook, Alkali Lake radio, and on the www.seculecwem.ca website. 

A special dinner and event was held at the Esk’et gym for Esk’etemc members, which opened in prayer; a dinner was shared together, and the Tsqewt Media Release video was shared, with comments from Council and Elders. 

 We commemorated the settlement of the IR #6 Tsqewt Water Rights Settlement with a larger community celebration in Esk’et. The Esk’etemc Celebration video captured the event.