Rosanne Casimir facts for kids

Rosanne Casimir OBC is the Kúkpi7 (pronounced 'kook-pee-uh', which means Chief) of the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Nation. She is an important leader in her community. She is also the third woman to ever serve as their Chief. During her time as Chief, some areas of interest were found at the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. Researchers have suggested these areas might be unmarked child graves. However, this has not yet been confirmed by digging or other forensic work.

Rosanne Casimir's Leadership Journey

Rosanne Casimir first became Chief in 2018. She took over from Fred Seymour, who decided not to run again. Before becoming Chief, she worked as a Tk’emlúps councillor for nine years. In this role, she helped manage land, taxes, and housing for the community. One of her family members, Louis Clexlixqen, was also a Tk’emlúps chief many years ago.

Important Work as Chief

During her time as Chief, a significant discovery was made. In May 2021, ground-penetrating radar found disturbed soil at the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. This led to the idea that the remains of 215 children might be buried there. Some of these children were as young as three years old. Chief Casimir released a statement saying, "We are not here for retaliation. We are here for truth telling." This meant the community wanted to find out what truly happened.

In October 2021, Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, apologized to Indigenous leaders. This included Chief Casimir. He apologized because he did not attend Canada's first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day is very important for remembering the harms of residential schools. Chief Casimir said his absence was a "gut punch to the community." This meant it made the community feel very disappointed.

In November 2021, Rosanne Casimir was re-elected for another three-year term as Chief. Many people in her community voted for her to continue leading them.

Awards and Personal Life

Awards and Recognition

In 2022, Rosanne Casimir was named "Person of the Year 2021" by Castanet News. She also became a Member of the Order of British Columbia. This is a special award given to people who have done great things for the province of British Columbia. She also serves on the board of directors for the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations.

Family Life

Rosanne Casimir is married. She has two children and one step-child.