Collections Overview

The Mission of the SMHP

Preserving and Enhancing the Rich Cultural Legacy of the Secwépemc Nation Through Archives, Collections, and Education

The purpose of the SMHP is to Preserve, Record, Perpetuate and Enhance contemporary and historic Secwépemc belongings and archival materials both tangible and intangible. The belongings are divided into three areas: an Archives containing historical records, a Collection of historical belongings and an Archaeological Repository. We also have a small Educational Collection that is used with our workshops.

Our Archives has over 1000 photographs, and a large selection, over 10,000, of documents including maps, interviews, songs, journals, and meeting minutes that span the length of recorded contact history. The Archives also holds information on the Kamloops Indian Residential School. The Collection contains over 1000 belongings from numerous bands in the Secwépemc Nation, the KIRS, and ranges from trophies to cultural clothing. We currently house not only historic Secwépemc materials such as drums, baskets, harvesting and hunting tools but also their contemporary counterparts. The SMHP also preserves items relating to contemporary artists and knowledge keepers, ranching, and trading. We have a large body of paintings and drawings by the late Dave Seymour.

Our collection has been derived from numerous donations and repatriations throughout the history of the museum to showcase, educate, and preserve and revitalize the Secwépemc culture and language. We are continually receiving new belongings that will help further this goal.

Ensuring the Preservation of Secwépemc Cultural and Ancestral Belongings

Donation Policy

Please do not drop-off belongings (artefacts) at the SMHP. It makes it difficult attribute ownership and get a proper story of the items. Even if you can only meet with museum staff for a few minutes, it is appreciated. Instead, please contact the museum at Musuem@ttes.ca or call (250.828.9749). Our staff will ask for information about the belonging, including its history, condition, purpose, and how it was found or acquired. If it meets the mandate for the museum, we will arrange a meeting and if that goes well, we will take temporary custody until a final decision is reached. This can take from a few weeks to a month or more.

Why Donate or Gift a Belonging?

There are many reasons why people donate items to a museum. Beyond the common idea that ‘it is old’ or it has significance in some way, it might represent an important part of the history of the Secwépemc Nation. We do not have unlimited storage space however, and need to make careful and transparent decisions about what belongings we accept and do not accept. Sometimes a belonging might be better off in a different museum in the Nation or Province, or with its family.

Donation Process

1. Meet with museum staff and we will ask you about the belongings or collection: such as where you found it, or how long you have had it in your possession. This process can also be done via email or virtually.
2. Donor information is recorded. Information about the belonging/collection is recorded, including provenance, legal title, significance, function, description, condition, and signs of deterioration, use and significance for the collection.
3. Then the Curator, Registrar and Archivist determine if the item is of significance to the collection and make a recommendation to the Museum Manager to accept or reject the item.
4. If the item is accepted, a Deed of Gift, a legal and biding contract, will transfer all legal title of the objects to the SMHP permanently. A Donation or temporary loan is also possible.

After the items are donated, it will be provided a location within the museum, an accession number and stored according to its needs. You might also see it on display in an exhibition or in a publication. You can also email the museum to ask about its condition if you so desire.