Kúkwpi7 Rosanne Casimir is a respected Secwépemc leader serving her third term as Chief of
Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc (TteS). With 17 years of elected leadership experience, she has
dedicated her career to advancing Indigenous rights, self-determination, educational success,
language revitalization, cultural resurgence, and reconciliation. She previously served two terms
as Tribal Chief of the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council, representing nine Secwépemc communities, and currently serves as a Director on the Board of the British Columbia Assembly
of First Nations (BCAFN).
International recognition for her leadership following the 2021 announcement of 215
unmarked burial anomalies at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School site, Kúkwpi7
Casimir has helped elevate global conversations on truth, justice, accountability, healing, and
reconciliation. She has also demonstrated as a dedicated advocate for First Nations-led education, she promotes learning grounded in Indigenous languages, cultures, laws, and knowledge systems.
Through partnerships with First Nations, governments, educational institutions, and industry,
she advances initiatives that strengthen self-governance, expand opportunity, and support
long-term community wellbeing.
Her contributions have been honoured through the Order of British Columbia, the BC Reconciliation Award, the Canadian Public Relations Society President’s Award, and recognition
among British Columbia’s most influential leaders.
As Kúkwpi7, mother, kye7e (grandmother), and mentor, Rosanne leads with integrity, courage,
and compassion. Guided by Secwépemc values, she remains committed to building strong
communities and creating lasting opportunities for future generations through cultural
strength, healing, and self-determination.