We Are Secwepemc
Who We Are
The Secwepemc people have lived in this territory for thousands of years. Archaeological evidence in fact shows at least nine thousand (9,000) years of occupancy along the lakes and river areas. The remains of pit houses not far from our current reserves leaves us with a picture of the lives of our ancestors.
Our Elders tell us we have lived here since time immemorial. We lived based on an economy of resource extraction, including fishing, hunting, trapping and berry gathering; our ancestors prospered, grew and grew from these lands for thousands of years. The waterways and networks of trails enabled vast travel that was tied to the seasonal cycles. Similarly, we developed intricate social and political systems that remained in place for thousands of years.
Our Story
The oral traditions continue to be passed down from generation to generation through stories, crafts and ways of life. Waves of traders, missionaries, colonial administrators had a significant impact on our traditions and ways of life by influencing and indeed, outlawing many of our ways. Extensive extraction, at first focusing on beaver pelts and wildlife, then on forestry and eventually on minerals, has depleted many of our resources.
In spite of the over extraction, we have persisted and cared for our resources. By mid-19th century, the small pox epidemic and the missionizing of our people, including the taking of many of our children to residential schools, decimated our population. Once the gold rush had begun, an influx of people invaded our territory by the time it ended, farmers had their eyes on our fertile lands. We were not farmers in the sense that the Europeans understood farms and their ways conflicted with our land uses.
Community News
Daycare Indian Taco Sale March 1 2019 Band Hall Chase BC
Free Blazers Youth Tickets Limited Tickets Secwepemc Youth Council Feb 13 2019
Pritchard Bridge Notice of Closure Feb 8 to 14 2019
Secwepemc Language Hymns Mondays Feb. 25 March 41118 25 Swits New Time
Serving Lunch Tuesdays to Fridays until March 29 2019 ALRCC
ALIB Post Secondary Funding 2019 2020 Notice
CRA Webinar March 7 on Benefits and Credits. Please register online_
ALIB Parents Education Tour Vancouver Area Universities Colleges Deadline March 15 2019
2019 Secwepemc Spring Gathering SaveTheDate March 28 to 31 Squamish Nation
Expression of Interest Re Cater Deadline Thur Feb 14 2019 Cstelen Elders Unity Meeting
Pritchard Bridge Notice of Closure CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE Jan 9 2019
Pritchard Bridge Notice of Closure January 17 to 31 2019
Sahhaltkum Daycare Hours of Operations change January 2019
Forest Fire Training Courses Jan – Feb 2019 Pre-Register ONLY ASETS Chase office
Drs Chief Ron Marianne Ignace booksigning Q A January 31 2019 at TRU Kamloops
Upcoming Events
Cstelen Elders Unity Meeting Feb 23 ALRCC
Cstelen Elders Unity Meeting Feb 23 at ALRCC
February 23Estate Workshop Feb 28 ALIB Health Centre Boardroom, Chase BC
Estates Workshop Feb 28 2019 ALIB Health Centre Boardroom
February 28Community Closet, March 3, ALRCC, Chase, BC
Community Closet March 3 ALRCC Chase BC
March 3CAS Expansion Ground Breaking Ceremony March 4 Chase, BC
Groundbreaking Poster invite final edited
March 42019 Secwepemc Spring Gathering SaveTheDate Mar 28 to 31 Squamish Nation
2019 Secwepemc Spring Gathering SaveTheDate March 28 to 31 Squamish Nation
March 28
ALIB ELECTION
Communique Chief’s Message June 26 2018
Decision of Mr. Justice Fothergill March 13, 2018
Expression of Interest Re Certified Professional Deadline March 12 2018
Shelley Witzky – Council Candidate Profile
Joyce Kenoras – Council Candidate Profile