Camchin facts for kids

Camchin, also spelled Kumsheen, is an old name for a special place in Lytton, British Columbia, Canada. This place was once an ancient village of the Nlaka'pamux people. Today, the name Kumsheen is also used for the main community of the Lytton First Nation and for local schools and businesses.

What Does Camchin Mean?

The name Camchin has a deep meaning. It generally means "rivers meeting." Other ideas for its meaning include "crossing over" or "the great fork." A very special meaning is "The place inside the heart where the blood mixes."

Rivers Coming Together

Camchin is the ancient Nlaka'pamux name for where the Thompson River and Fraser River meet. This meeting point is in the Fraser Canyon of British Columbia, Canada. The Nlaka'pamux people see this spot as the very heart of their Nation.

A Special Creation Story

The meaning of Camchin is also linked to a creation story. In this story, a Nlaka'pamux hero named Coyote met a powerful spirit-being called "the Transformer." The Transformer changed Coyote, and his heart was placed into the meeting point of the Fraser and Thompson rivers. This story shows how important this place is to the Nlaka'pamux people.