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
Recreation funding poster new fiscal April 2021
Census of Population will take place May 2021
Chief Arnouse April 2021 Report approved
Applied Sustaninable Ranching One Year Program starts May 3 2021
Construction Readiness Training – April 12 to 15 Kamloops
ALIB Post Secondary Funding Notice to March 31 2022
CAS Language Nest Limited Space Available program April 22 to May 28
Traffic Control Flag Person Course April 5 – 6 Kamloops
Firewood Notice Update March 11
Membership Sign Up Instructions for Pacific Blue Cross FNHA Benefits
Upcoming Events
Virtual Comedy Night April 23, DEADLINE to register April 21
Comedy Night 2021 Poster
April 23Vaccination Clinic for First Nations in Kamloops area April 20 to 23, possible extend to April 24
Vaccination Clinic for First Nation Urban and Away – Kamloops area April 20 to 23
April 24Covid Food Security Cheque Application Deadline June 4, 2021
Covid food security form 2021 approved_fillable
June 4BC Recovery Benefit Notice, deadline to apply June 30
BC Recovery Benefit Notice deadline to apply June 30 2021
June 30
ALIB ELECTION
January 22 letter to Electors and Candidates – Election Extended to June 26 2021
ALIB 2021 CC Election Notice of Advanced and Election Dates
ALIB Candidates List for Band Council Jan 4 2021
Electorial Officer Contact Info
ALIB-Custom-Election-Regulations-2017
ALIB Annual Report for 2019-2020