Fourteen months into his term as Kukpi7 (chief) of the formerly named Little Shuswap Lake Band, James Tomma is enjoying working for his people and is optimistic for the future.

One change recently instituted was a name change.

91裸聊视频淚t was a progression; way back when I was a child we started talking about it. It went from Little Shuswap Lake 91裸聊视频� and I don91裸聊视频檛 say the 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频� word 91裸聊视频� Band. Then it was Little Shuswap Lake Band. But that name was given to us.91裸聊视频�

The new name is Skwl膩x te Secwepemc煤l虛ecw.

91裸聊视频淥ur identity is Skwl膩x, black bear on two legs. Te Secwepemc煤l虛ecw, black bear on Secw茅pmec land. That91裸聊视频檚 our identity. The name change just reaffirms our identity that we91裸聊视频檙e known as, not an identity and number that was given to us,91裸聊视频� he explained.

Another progression fits in with Kukpi7 Tomma91裸聊视频檚 election platform in 2021.

That was his aim to work for the children, to ensure them the ability to be self-reliant and self-determined. Skwlax Resource Management (SRM) embodies that goal. Along with work in the construction industry, SRM allows the band to operate across a range of industries.

91裸聊视频淭he success that Squilax Resource Management has had is a good indication of not only the hard work and diligence of employees who have worked for SRM, but I might add the majority are Indigenous people working there. We take quite a bit of pride that we91裸聊视频檙e employing our people.91裸聊视频�

Tomma said he doesn91裸聊视频檛 foresee SRM ever going out of business.

91裸聊视频淚 think it has some legs and it91裸聊视频檚 going to continue growing. All indications are through projections, the business that we91裸聊视频檙e doing with the SRM construction and all the other things that are available out there for what Skwlax Resource does is only going to get busier. There91裸聊视频檚 various things 91裸聊视频� rehab of land, deactivation, road construction, assisting in building.91裸聊视频�

He said SRM won the bid for the clean-up of Quaaout Lodge following the fire in May 2022.

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Asked about the progress of the lodge, Tomma said the rebuild of what was the accommodation portion of the complex is in the design phase.

91裸聊视频淲e have a lodge rebuild working group right now91裸聊视频� One of my big things I ran on my platform was I was returning the band back to the band.91裸聊视频�

Tomma said the band members are actually the band, not the three people they elect or hire.

91裸聊视频淲e work for them,91裸聊视频� he said, explaining he wants band members to have a say on the vision for the lodge.

Although the accommodation wing was destroyed, the golf course, spa, restaurant and conference centre remain open on a limited basis.

91裸聊视频淵ou gotta pay the light bill somehow,91裸聊视频� he smiled.

When the lodge burned, the band lost a fair number of seasonal and full time jobs. But business ventures with SRM and others have helped to pick up the slack.

Kukpi7 Tomma said SRM has assumed total ownership of the band91裸聊视频檚 gravel esker or gravel pit.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e not going to lease it out or hire contractors to run that business for us. SRM will initially get it up and running, but eventually band members will be working in the gravel pit. The band will see the dividends from that gravel pit because it91裸聊视频檚 going to be worth a lot of money to the children.91裸聊视频�

He said this is the direction SRM and the band are taking, ensuring the legacy left for children is one where they don91裸聊视频檛 have to fix anything but can instead improve on what91裸聊视频檚 been done.

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Already SRM has reached the stage where it has begun to pay for itself, he said, about three years earlier than initially projected.

91裸聊视频淥ne thing good about SRM is we91裸聊视频檙e able to diversify so that you don91裸聊视频檛 put all your eggs in one basket91裸聊视频� When you get to a certain size, then you91裸聊视频檙e able to get your hands into a bunch of different jobs that are available. Thus we can keep quite a few people busy throughout the year,91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淥ur band, they91裸聊视频檙e quite proud of SRM. We91裸聊视频檙e becoming well known in the industry, quite well respected for the quality of work that91裸聊视频檚 being done and that only fuels expansion.

91裸聊视频淭hat goes a long way in ensuring when I finally lay down for the last time, knowing that my children will be taken care of then. SRM is a flagship for the band and I91裸聊视频檓 quite proud of it.91裸聊视频�

Kukpi7 Tomma is quick to add that while he does the steering, 91裸聊视频淚 do have a really good council, a really good administration, that makes me look good.91裸聊视频�

In the past, he said, the band91裸聊视频檚 wealth came from leasing land. He wants band members to be able to work for their money with band-owned businesses, which will bring in more money.

Overall, he91裸聊视频檚 generally pleased with how things are going.

91裸聊视频淔ourteen months in it, I91裸聊视频檓 still enjoying myself; there91裸聊视频檚 been road bumps and everything, as with life. But I look forward to continuing not only working for my people but hopefully I have an effect on the surrounding communities too.91裸聊视频�

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