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
CommunalFisheriesNotice_2022_UPDATE_Sept20.pdf
Fall 2022 – Secwepemctsin melame class_.pdf
ALIB CommunalFisheriesNotice Sept 2 2022 Chase Fish Station.pdf
Sahhaltkum Daycare 3-5 Program.png
Truck Driver expression of interest poster_page-0001.jpg
BC Hydro-Apprentice.Poster.Aug2022.doc.pdf
revised Secwepemc Huckleberry Gathering Aug 25 Trophy Mtn.RSVP.pdf
ALIB School Bus Registration 2022 2023 .pdf
ALIB Press Release_ Music Festival August 4 2022 final.pdf
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Caregiver Application 2021.pdf
Status Card Rates_starting July 1 2022.pdf
Access Pro Bono_free legal help for low income clients in BC June 2022.pdf
Notifying Death of FN Family Member for Membership List
Stay Engaged Calendar
Water Interruption IR #4
Water Interruption Notice Oct3-7.pdf
October 3 - October 7Food Safe Course Oct 5
Food Safe Oct 5 2022.png
October 5ALIB Women’s Group Rattle Making Oct 13 ALRCC
ALIB Women’s group Oct 2022.pdf
October 13Jason Simon Former NHL Oct 19
Jason Simon New Date Oct 19.pdf
October 19ALIB Women’s Group Drum Making Oct 19 Salmon Arm
ALIB Women’s group Oct 2022.pdf
October 19ALIB Women’s Group Drum Making, Oct 20, Chase, BC, ALRCC
ALIB Women’s group Oct 2022.pdf
October 20
Annual Report 2020- 2021
Orange Shirt Day
Cliff Arnouse Truth and Reconciliation Q&A
Cliff Arnouse Changes to ALIB Past, Present, Future
Cliff Arnouse Changing of Seasons
Norma Manuel Truth and Reconciliation Q&A
ALIB Orange Shirt Day Sept 30 What You Can Do Ideas
FNHA Mental Health Wellness Support Lines