Secwepemc
Secwépemc | |
---|---|
![]() Location and extent of Secwepemcúĺecw on Turtle Island (North America) | |
Total population | |
6,755 (Including those of mixed ancestry)[1] (2016) | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Canada (British Columbia) | |
Languages | |
Shuswap, English | |
Related ethnic groups | |
other Salish |
The Secwépemc (/ʃəˈhwɛpəm/ shə-WHEP-əm;[2][3] Secwepemc: [ʃəˈxʷɛpməx] or [səˈxwɛpməx]), known in English as the Shuswap people /ˈʃuːʃwɑːp/, are a First Nations people residing in the interior of the Canadian province of British Columbia. They speak one of the Salishan languages, known as Secwepemc or Shuswap.
Secwepemcúĺecw, their territory, ranges from the eastern Chilcotin Plateau and the Cariboo Plateau southeast through Thompson Country to Kamloops and Shuswap Country. It spans the Selkirk Mountains and Big Bend of the Columbia River to include the northern part of the Columbia Valley region. Their traditional territory covers approximately 145,000 square kilometres.[4] Traditionally they depended on hunting, trading and fishing to support their communities.[4]
History, language and culture[]
They speak one of the Salishan languages. Based on the number of people who speak their Shuswap language, the Secwepemc are likely the most numerous of the Interior Salish peoples of British Columbia.[5]
Their traditional language is Shuswap, also known as Secwepemctsín (Salish pronunciation: [ʃəxwəpməxtˈʃin]). In the early 21st century, it is spoken by more than 1,600 people.[5] The First Nation is working to revitalize use of this language. For instance, Secwepemctsín is being taught in Chief Atahm School, which offers an immersion program to students from K-9. In addition, Simon Fraser University offers a University studies program teaching students Secwepemc language and culture.[6] The program focuses on the language, culture, and traditions of the Secwepemc people.[6]
The Secwepemc have always stressed the importance of recognizing their title to the land. In 1910, the Secwepemc Chiefs addressed a memorial to Prime Minister Laurier. Their paper laid out the cumulative grievances of the Secwepemc, based on the previous 50 years of European-Canadian settlement in their territory. Since the late 20th century, the Secwepmc people have created a number of organizations, institutions, and initiatives to help their people, including the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council and Secwepemc Cultural Education Society.[4]
Traditional Shuswap tribal divisions and bands[]
- (Setlomuk, Sétlhemx) or Cañon Division, or Canyon Shuswap, west of the Fraser River, from about Churn Creek to beyond Riske Creek. Subdivisions: Riskie Creek, North Canyon, South Canyon, Chilcotin Mouth.[7][8] The 1862 Pacific Northwest smallpox epidemic almost wiped out the Canyon Shuswap. The survivors joined with the Alkali Lake band (Esketemc).
- (Sxstélenemx) or Shuswap Lake Division, on the Upper South Thompson River, Shuswap Lake, and Spallumcheen River. Subdivisions: South Thompson, Adams Lake (now ), Shuswap Lake, Spallumcheen, Arrow Lake.[7][8] Now known as the Neskonlith Indian Band.
- (Styétemx, “interior people”) or Lake Division, the interior of the plateau between Fraser and North Thompson rivers. Subdivisions: Lake la Hache, Green Timber, and Canim Lake ().[7][8] Only the last band survived the diseases of the 1800s, absorbing the surviving members of the Green Timber band. The few survivors of the Lac La Hache band merged with the Williams Lake Band (T’exelcemc)
- or Kamloops Division, the people of Kamloops and Savona. Subdivisions: Savona or Deadman's Creek, Kamloops ().[7][8]
- or Fraser River Division, in the valley of Fraser River from High Bar to Soda Creek, including the people of Clinton. Subdivisions: Soda Creek, Buckskin Creek, Williams Lake () or Sugar Cane, Alkali Lake (Esketemc), Dog Creek, Canoe Creek, Empire Valley, Big Bar, High Bar (Llenlleney'ten), Clinton.[7][8]
- (Tqéqeltkemx) or North Thompson Division, people of the North Thompson region. Subdivisions: Upper North Thompson, Lower North Thompson, Kinbaskets.[7][8] The Kinbasket or Kenpésqt are an offshoot of the Upper North Thompson and Shuswap Lake division, and are now called the Shuswap band
- (Sexcinemx) or Bonaparte Division, in the valley of the Bonaparte River to near Ashcroft on the main Thompson, Cache Creek, Loon Lake, the lower part of Hat Creek, through Marble Canyon to Pavilion, and on both sides of the Fraser River near that point. Subdivisions: Pavilion (Ts'kw'aylaxw First Nation), Bonaparte River (now , “people of Stuctuws”), and Main Thompson (Snekwaˀetkwemx), who became extinct as a people during the late 19th centuryref name=" Swanton"/>[8]
Notable Secwépemc people[]
- Darrell Dennis, comedian, actor, screenwriter and radio personality
- George Manuel, president of the National Indian Brotherhood and founding president of the World Council of Indigenous Peoples
- Vera Manuel, poet and playwright (George Manuel's daughter)
- Mary Thomas, teacher and Elder
- Arthur Manuel, political leader and activist (George Manuel's son)
- Grace Dove, actress and television host
- Tania Willard, curator/ artist
- Kanahus Manuel, political activist
- Bev Sellars, writer/activist
- , leader and activist
- , Tik Tok star
See also[]
- Shuswap Nation Tribal Council
- Northern Shuswap Tribal Council
- Secwepemc Museum and Heritage Park
- Secwepemc Cultural Education Society
- Handbook of North American Indians, Volume 12[9]
- Ross, Alexander (1849). Adventures of the first settlers on the Oregon or Columbia River: being a narrative of the expedition fitted out by John Jacob Astor, to establish the "Pacific Fur Company" ; with an account of some Indian tribes on the coast of the Pacific. Smith, Elder and Co.
- Ross, Alexander (1855). The Fur Hunters of the Far West, vol. 1. Smith, Elder and Co
- Dawson, George M. (1891). Notes on the Shuswap People of British Columbia[10]
- Teit, James (1900). "The Thompson Indians of British Columbia" in Memoirs of the American Museum of Natural History: Publications of Jesup North Pacific Expedition; Vol. I, Pt. IV[11]
- Smith, Harlan I. (1900). "Archaeology of the Thompson River Region" in Memoirs of the American Museum of Natural History: Publications of Jesup North Pacific Expedition; Vol. I, Pt. VI[12]
- Teit, James (1909). "The Shuswap" in Memoirs of the American Museum of Natural History: Publications of Jesup North Pacific Expedition; Vol. II, Pt. VII[13]
- Teit, James (1912). "The Mythology of the Thompson Indians" in Memoirs of the American Museum of Natural History: Publications of Jesup North Pacific Expedition; Vol. VIII, Pt. II[14]
Notes[]
- ^ "Data Tables, 2016 Census". Statistics Canada. 25 October 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
- ^ The "c"s are pronounced as "h"s.
- ^ "First Nations Peoples of British Columbia". Government of British Columbia – Ministry of Education. Retrieved 2013-05-14.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "Secwepemc Cultural Education Society". Archived from the original on 1998-11-11. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Statistics Canada: 2006 Census Archived 2013-10-16 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Jump up to: a b Ignace, Ron (2013). "Partners in Success: The Simon Fraser University and Secwepemc First Nations Studies Program". Journal of University Continuing Education. 2: 28.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Shuswap
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Handbook of North American Indians, V. 12, Plateau, Opseg 5
- ^ Ignace, Marianne Boelscher (1998). Walker Jr., Deward E. (ed.). Handbook of North American Indians [Shuswap]. 12. Washington: Smithsonian Institution. pp. 203–219. ISBN 0-16-049514-8.
- ^ Dawson, George Mercer (1891). Notes on the Shuswap People of British Columbia. p. 16.
- ^ Teit, James A. (1900). "The Thompson Indians of British Columbia". In Boas, Franz (ed.). Memoir of the American Museum of Natural History: Publications of Jesup North Pacific Expedition. Vol. I, Part IV. New York: G.E. Stechert & Co. hdl:2246/13.
|volume=
has extra text (help) - ^
Smith, Harlan I. (1900). "Archaeology of the Thompson River Region". In Boas, Franz (ed.). Memoir of the American Museum of Natural History: Publications of Jesup North Pacific Expedition. Vol. I, Part VI. New York: G.E. Stechert & Co. hdl:2246/18.
|volume=
has extra text (help) - ^ Teit, James A. (1909). "The Shuswap". In Boas, Franz (ed.). Memoir of the American Museum of Natural History: Publications of Jesup North Pacific Expedition. Vol. II, Part VII. New York: G.E. Stechert & Co. p. 471. hdl:2246/38.
|volume=
has extra text (help) - ^
Teit, James A. (1912). "The Mythology of the Thompson Indians". In Boas, Franz (ed.). Memoir of the American Museum of Natural History: Publications of Jesup North Pacific Expedition. Vol. VIII, Part II. New York: G.E. Stechert & Co. hdl:2246/37.
|volume=
has extra text (help)
External links[]
- Secwepemculecw - Land of the Shuswap
- Cultural Education Society
- Chief Atahm Immersion School
- Spirit Map- language history and culture of the Secwepemc
- Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. .
- Notes on the Shuswap People of British Columbia, s.L.: S.n., 1980, George M. Dawson
- Secwepemc
- Interior Salish