Staff Directory
Meet Our Dedicated Team
The Team that makes it all possible
Welcome to the Secwépemc Museum & Heritage Park’s Staff Directory.
Our dedicated team is comprised of passionate individuals who are committed to preserving, celebrating, and sharing the rich cultural heritage of the Secwépemc people. From knowledgeable curators and educators to skilled artisans and administrative professionals, our staff plays a pivotal role in ensuring that your visit to our museum and heritage park is a transformative and enlightening experience. Get to know the faces behind the scenes who work tirelessly to bring our mission to life and facilitate meaningful cultural exchanges for visitors from all over the world.
Diena Jules
Weykpt,
I am Diena Jules and am a member of Tk’emlups te Secwepemc and my traditional names are Sundance Pipe Woman, Yellow Flower Woman, and Black Wolf Woman. I am proud to say that I have 2 daughters, and 5 grandchildren.
My parents, Late Clarence Jules and Mary Delores Jules, nee Casimir, had 9 children.
From 1962 until 1967, I was a dayscholar at the Kamloops Indian Residential School and, in 1971, I was a resident.
In 1975, I began my employment with the band in leadership roles in the Social Development and Education Departments and worked as a teacher at Skelep School of Excellence, then the Museum Administrator. Since February 2023, I am the Language and Culture Department Manager.
In 1991 I graduated with my B.Ed. UBC, then in 1996, I graduated my M.A.
I am an Elder and Traditional Knowledge Keeper of the band and am a very spiritual person. I pray to the Creator for the health, safety and protection of our land, water, animals and ice, I live my values of showing respect and caring to all living things, but most of all, I take time to show my loved ones, especially my grandchildren, how much I love and value them.
Kukwstsétsemc
Kenneth Favrholdt
Kenneth Favrholdt has been working in the heritage field for over 40 years, as a curator, archivist, museum manager, historical consultant, and writer. Ken as a BA and MA in Geography (UBC), a teaching certificate (SFU), and museum diploma through the Alberta Museums Association. He has worked with First Nations for many years on research projects at different locations in BC and Alberta. He loves travelling and exploring. He has a wife, Linda, born in Kamloops.
Elsie Joe
Weytkp, Henłeʔ kp,
I am Elsie Joe, a member of the Lower Nicola Indian Band. I am the youngest cousin within my generation and have been lucky enough to be raised by and around many of my older cousins, aunts, uncles, and parents. My father is Harold Joe, my mother is Kathleen Joe, my grandmother is Mable Joe. My four other siblings are Alice, Hrolfe, Emma, and Florence Joe.
I have an interest in how connections are developed between people and land. the diverse landscape within the Interior of British Columbia informs our people’s beliefs, our lifestyles and especially our material cultures. The knowledge passed down that helps inform harvesting practices, cultural teachings, basket making, tule mat weaving, salmon fishing, hide tanning, etc. draws forth my joy in understanding the inherent strengths of a material and the traditions of how this knowledge is passed down.
I received a bachelor’s in fine arts through Thompson Rivers University in 2021 and have gained experience through interning at the Museum of Anthropology and through working with the Kamloops Art Gallery before I began working in the Secwépemc Museum and Heritage Park as Curator in the summer of 2022. Through this position I hope to help inspire all those who visit our museum to learn more and help perpetuate and inspire the transfer of knowledge and traditions.
I am supremely thankful for having been given the opportunity to work in Secwepemcúl’ecw and within the Community of Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc.
Dayanara Jules
Dayanara Jules – Weyt-k, Dayanara Jules ren skwekwst. Te Tk̓emlúps te st̓7é7kwen. Ren tsétswe7 re S7extekékstmens.
Hello, my name is Dayanara Jules. I am from Kamloops. I am the Executive Assistant. I had the privilege of growing up with my grandfather, Richard Jules, who was a Survivor of the Kamloops Indian Residential School. Having learned my language, culture, and history from him I am very happy to be able to share our knowledge and hope to see you soon!
Jackie Jules
Weyt-kp xwexwéyt-ep,
Jackie Jules ren skwekwst, ne Tk̓emlúps re st̓7é7kwen, len qellmín skweskwest Leslie ell Josephine Jules lu7. Re tekséle ren stsmelt, ell tekséle ren i7mt.s.
Hello all, my name is Jackie Jules from Tk̓emlúps, my late parents were Leslie, and Josephine Jules. I have two adult children, and two grandchildren.
I̓m passionate about continually working at upgrading my knowledge base in Secwepemctsín, ethnoscience, Secwépemc history, culture, and I hold a Language Proficiency Diploma from Simon Fraser University, and Fluent Elders co-hort panel. I work at the T̓kemlúps te Secwépemc Museum and School District#73 as a Language, and Cultural Educator. I focus my efforts to ensure that students acquire strong foundational knowledge, core competencies of Secwépemc history, language, and culture, by providing culturally unique lectures, presentations, facilitate a variety of cultural workshops and activities. Leading three types of tours: Residential school tours, Precontact in the museum galleries, and ethnobotany in the Heritage Park. (Seasonal ethno presentations)
Lachlan Gonzales
Weyt-kp xwexwéyt-ep,
Lachlan Gonzales ren skwekwst, ne Revelstoke BC.
My name is Lachlan Gonzales, and I am from Revelstoke BC. My parents are Kirsten and Gerritt Gonzales. My grandparents are Ken and Muriel Anderson. I’ve lived in Tk’emlups since 2009 when I started at Thompson Rivers University. I have had the luck to work at the Kamloops Museum and Archives in various positions, and the Kamloops Heritage Railway as their Curator.
I am the Museum Registrar. You probably won’t see me too often, but my main duties as a Registrar is to make sure that every item in the museum is inventoried, stored, and displayed safely. I’ll be working closely with our Curator and Archivist to make sure the museum thrives. I have a great deal of experience in collections management and a background in history, archaeology, geology, and education. I received a Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Education (2018) from Thompson Rivers University and a Cultural Resource Management Degree and a Visitor and Community Engagement Specialization (2022) from the University of Victoria.
I am interested in preserving and tracing the history of belongings, people and their stories. The more obscure, the more interesting!
I am deeply thankful to the Tk’emlups te Secwépemc for placing their trust in me and the opportunity to work in Secwepemcúl’ecw.