Powered by a team that includes five Thompson Rivers University (TRU) alumni, Sc.wén̓wen Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) and Sc.wén̓wen Land Development Corporation (SLDC) are a driving force for Indigenous-led growth in Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc (TteS).
“We have all these stars in this organization that come from our local university, and I think giving them the spotlight is an important way to celebrate their success,” said newly appointed CEO Joshua Gottfriedsen, who is a former TteS Tk’wenem7íple7 (councillor).
Gottfriedsen (Distinguished Alumni Award ’23), Stephanie Tate (BA ’19, MEd ’22), Tana Jones (BA ’06, MBA ‘24), Amanda Johnson (Digital Art & Design ’08) and Bala (MBA ’22) are blending their diverse skillsets to help create long-term economic sovereignty for TteS community members.
Tate’s path to SEDC began at TRU, where she spent more than five years working at TRU while completing her Master of Education.
“I was sad to leave TRU,” she says. “I had really created a community for myself, and I loved serving students. But here, my ‘students’ have just shifted to business owners and community members, and I’m still serving folks. It really aligns with who I am and the passion I feel to help people.”
For Bala, arriving at TRU in 2020 as an international student marked a new beginning.
He says the name “sc.wén̓wen” comes from the Secwepemctsín word for “morning,” which is a symbol of renewal and opportunity.
“TRU was the sc.wén̓wen in my life,” says Bala. “It prepared me to open my horizons even further — TRU prepared me for what I’m doing here.”
Building with purpose
The alumni team at SEDC/SLDC reflects TRU’s multidisciplinary strengths, but together they are paving the way toward self-sufficiency and empowerment for Secwépemc people.
Tate’s role as economic development strategist involves developing tourism, supporting small businesses and planning projects. As part of the land development corporation, Jones and Bala lead projects and operations for servicing lands alongside work related to new developments, while Johnson brings creative expertise to communications and branding.
Gottfriedsen has been amplifying his voice as a Secwépemc leader since he was a teenager, and with an MBA in Indigenous business and leadership, he helped lead the transition to separate the economic development arm of TteS from the government entity.
“(During my MBA), a big component of studying Indigenous nations was looking at case studies surrounding how successful nations have been once they separated business from politics,” said Gottfriedsen. “So, my goal when I was elected to council was to make sure that happened. We’re lucky to have a leadership group that was open to it. Now we’re here and we’re doing it. “
Dedicated to fostering economic diversity and building a lasting financial legacy for Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc members, the SEDC/SLDC lead initiatives ranging from large-scale land developments to supporting TteS member-owned businesses. One such development — the Chief Louis Crossing commercial complex — is bringing welcome amenities to the area and, along with them, several Band-owned businesses as well that are bringing essential services closer to home, including Sweláps Market, two Petro-Canada gas stations and the new Chief Louis Pharmacy — IDA.
“I’m excited for TteS,” says Tate. “They’re moving forward with a heart-centred approach, and I feel so honoured to be part of that.”
