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Indigenous-owned · Saskatoon, Treaty 6 · Shipping across Canada
An introduction to Kamloops: its history, the Nations whose lands it sits on, and Indigenous community life today, with sources.
Kamloops takes its name from the Secwépemc word Tk̓emlúps, meaning where the rivers meet, a reference to the junction of the North and South Thompson rivers. The city sits on the ancestral territory of Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc, whose language is Secwepemctsín. Every summer the Kamloopa Powwow at the Tk̓emlúps Powwow Arbour draws dancers, drummers and singers from many nations and is described as one of the largest celebrations of Indigenous culture and heritage in Western Canada. The Secwépemc Museum and Heritage Park shares the Nation’s history and offers residential school tours. The people of Tk̓emlúps describe themselves as the people of the confluence. They are part of the Interior Salish Secwépemc-speaking peoples. Secwépemc territory stretches from the Columbia River valley along the Rockies, west to the Fraser River and south to the Arrow Lakes. In September 1812, Fort She-whaps became the first non-Indigenous settlement in southern British Columbia. The residential school era left a deep mark here. Pre-booked tours of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School cover the years 1923 to 1977. They explain the institution’s true purpose to visitors in Grade 4 and up.
Kamloops is on the unceded territory of the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, within Secwepemcúl’ecw, the land of the Secwépemc Nation.
Nearby: Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc · Skeetchestn Indian Band · Chase · Sun Peaks · Logan Lake
Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc call themselves Guardians of the Land, Stewards of the Spirit. Its Chief and Council oversee housing, education, emergency preparedness, and language and culture programs. Spiyu7ullucw Ranch is part of its culture and stewardship work. Scwén̓wen Economic Development and the Tkemlupsemc Forestry Development Corporation drive its business interests. The Nation also runs Sweláps Market, a grocery store focused on food security and Indigenous products. The Kamloopa Powwow draws more than 20,000 spectators and over 600 dancers, singers and drummers across its summer weekend. The Secwépemc Museum and Heritage Park on Chief Alex Thomas Way reopened in spring 2025. Its displays share Secwépemc teachings, oral histories, woven baskets and regalia. Thompson Rivers University has one of the largest Indigenous student populations in BC, with well over 2,000 students, about 10 percent. Students come from Secwépemc, Carrier, Okanagan, Nuxalk, Nlaka'pamux, Métis and Inuit communities, among others. Cplul'kw'ten, the Gathering Place, is the campus Indigenous centre. The university offers Learning Secwepemctsín and publishes an annual Secwépemc calendar of seasonal teachings. More than 40 TRU Elders have shared a national teaching award through the Knowledge Makers program.
More on the region: Indigenous British Columbia · all of Canada.
XUSI is an Indigenous-owned business from Saskatoon, started in 2020 by two brothers from northern Saskatchewan. Along with our clothing, we bring Indigenous youth workshops and custom screen printing to Kamloops and across British Columbia.
Strong Roots Strong Future is our interactive workshop for Indigenous youth, led by the two brothers who founded XUSI. We travel to schools, First Nations and Indigenous communities, youth organizations and funding programs in Kamloops and across British Columbia. Youth ages 10 and up work through identity and culture, financial literacy, fitness, entrepreneurship and business skills, career readiness and hands-on screen printing.
Custom t-shirts, hoodies and crewnecks for Kamloops schools, sports teams, businesses, events and First Nations and Indigenous organizations. Send us an idea, get free design help and a full quote before anything is printed. We print in Saskatoon and ship to Kamloops. 10-garment minimum, up to 4 colours per design.
Heavyweight cotton tees, hoodies, crewnecks and A-frame hats with Cree words and the stories behind them. Fitness is part of how XUSI started, so our pieces are built for the gym and the street, and we ship them to Kamloops.
Pickup is available only in Saskatoon. Kamloops orders are shipped out within 1–3 business days, with the cost calculated at checkout.
Yes. The minimum is 10 garments, designs can use up to 4 colours, and every order is quoted before printing. Help with your design is included.
The powwow runs across a summer weekend in the hot, dry Thompson Valley. A heavyweight 100% cotton tee ($49.95) or a Golden Era ringer tee ($39.95) keeps you comfortable in the stands. Our A-frame snapback ($44.95) adds shade during a long afternoon of dancing and drumming.
Custom printing lets a group bring its own words or artwork, with design help included and a 10-garment minimum. Our own designs carry Cree words and stories, shared on our meanings page, so a Secwepemctsín design would come from the group itself. The group supplies and approves every word.
Last reviewed . Facts on this page come from the sources listed below.
XUSI is run by two brothers from a small reserve community in northern Saskatchewan. They started the brand in Saskatoon in 2020, on Treaty 6 territory, and they draw every piece that ships to Kamloops.
The words on the clothing are Cree, and the meanings are written by the founders themselves. Read all of them on the Meanings page, or start with Cree language clothing.
