A culturally significant area near Revelstoke for gathering food in fishing and hunting as well as medicinal plants will become a shared mutual area of interest between the Splastin and Shuswap Indian Bands.

The landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was inked at the Hillcrest Hotel in Revelstoke to indicate there would now be a formal working relationship between both nations on Wednesday, March 9th.

“Our formal arrangement will include annual work plans and a resource sharing model for projects of mutual interest in our shared area of caretaker responsibility,” said Barb Cote, Shuswap Indian Band chief in a recent press release. “As a leader of my community, what is most important about this day is that our communities are taking a first, decisive step toward restoring long-standing relationships that can be carried forward by our children to those yet to be born.”

Through the formal MOU collaboration, both communities will be pushing the boundaries for unity and prosperity within Secwepemc Nation while representing their collective interests in the Columbia Basin area as the Secwepemc village site is near Highway 23, which follows the traditional trails that were used for hunting and gathering. The same trails are continually used for activities in today’s cultural activities for both nations.

“We already have strong and ancient kinship ties and by working together, we will strengthen the social and economic fabric of our communities,” said Wayne Christian, Splatsin Indian Band chief, in a recent press release.

“We move forward in collaboration toward a future where our communities are healthy, economically independent and culturally vibrant.”