Botanie Valley facts for kids
Botanie Valley is a special place in British Columbia, Canada. It is located near a town called Lytton. For a long time, this valley has been an important food source for the Nlaka'pamux people. The name "Botanie" might mean "covering." This could be because of all the plants that grow there. Botanie Creek flows into the Thompson River. It is the very last creek to join the Thompson River before it meets the Fraser River.
A Place for Meetings
Botanie Valley was a central meeting spot for many First Nations groups. It sits between two large river areas, the Thompson and Fraser watersheds. Not only did the Nlaka'pamux people meet here, but also the Secwepemc and Stl'atl'imx nations. Sometimes, over a thousand people would gather at once.
Nancy Turner, who studies plants and people, explained why these meetings were so important. People met to gather many different kinds of "root" vegetables and berries. These gatherings also helped build strong friendships and connections. Women harvested plants, men hunted, and everyone traded goods and socialized.
Valley Settlement
Europeans began settling in the Valley in 1876. Since then, the land has been used for ranching and building homes. In 1926, a small dam was built. This dam created Botanie Lake. In more recent times, the Lytton First Nation has held an annual Healing Gathering. This event takes place at Pasulko Lake.
Amazing Plant Life
Botanie Valley has many different kinds of plants. This is partly because of its location. It sits between the rainy Coastal Mountain Range and the drier Interior Plateau. Wildfires also help create beautiful flower meadows. These meadows grow in the higher, cooler areas of the valley.
Protecting Rare Plants
In 1978, the Province of British Columbia created the Skwaha Lake Ecological Reserve. This was done to protect the valley's amazing plant diversity. The reserve is home to several rare plant species. Four species are "blue listed," meaning they are at risk. Two species are "redlisted," meaning they are endangered. These include Nuttall's Sunflower and Oniongrass. New plants that are not native to the area, called invasive species, are a threat. Climate change also puts these special plants at risk.
