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
BC Emergency Health Hiring Paramedics May 2023.pdf
Harvesting & Land Use Planning Survey Poster QR.pdf
Socio-Ec Survey Poster On Reserve Members QR.pdf
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren 2023 Application-1.png
Insect Repellents and Deet.pdf
Sun and Safety for Children.pdf
First Aid Course for Parents with Small Children.png
Meadows Permits Notice April 25 2023 .pdf
Aerial Inspection Notice Salmon Arm Tappen area.pdf
ALIB Housing Policy Notice April 19 2023.pdf
ALIB Firefighters Wanted_2023-03-17.pdf
PSE notice of funds 2023-24.pdf
Stay Engaged Calendar
Family Safety Fair May 29 ALRCC Chase, BC
REVISED 2023 May 29th Safety Event.pdf
May 29Seabird Mobile Diabetes Clinic May 30, 31, June 1, 2023
Seabird Mobile Diabetes Clinic May 30 to June 1 2023.pdf
May 30 - June 1Women’s Hiking Group
Women’s Hiking Group Poster May 2023.jpg
May 31Title and Rights Info Session
Title and Rights Info Session.png
May 31Celebration of Life_ Lillian & Morley Anderson
Celebration of Life_ Lillian & Morley Anderson June 3 2023.pdf
June 3POSTPONED to June 11 ALIB Elders Fundraising BINGO
ALIB Elders Fundraising BINGO.pdf
June 4
Annual Report 2021- 2022
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