Coldwater, British Columbia facts for kids

Coldwater is a special community located in the British Columbia Interior, a beautiful part of British Columbia, Canada. It's about six miles southwest of the city of Merritt, right by the Coldwater River. This area is the main home for the Coldwater First Nation, who are part of the Nlaka'pamux people, an Indigenous group with a rich history in this region.

What is Coldwater?

Coldwater is known as an Indian reserve community. This means it's a piece of land set aside for the use and benefit of a specific First Nations group, in this case, the Coldwater First Nation. These communities are important places where Indigenous people live, practice their culture, and govern themselves.

The Coldwater First Nation

The Coldwater First Nation is the local government for the Nlaka'pamux people living in this area. They work to support their community, preserve their traditions, and manage their lands. Being a First Nation means they have a unique history and special rights as the original inhabitants of the land.

A Place of History

Coldwater has been an important place for a long time. It was once the site of the Coldwater Mission, which was one of the very first Catholic missions established in the interior of British Columbia. Missions were places where religious groups tried to spread their beliefs and sometimes offered education or other services.

Learning Duployan Shorthand

A fascinating part of Coldwater's history involves something called Duployan shorthand. Shorthand is a special way of writing very quickly, using symbols instead of full words. At Coldwater, this shorthand was first learned and taught. It was then used in a newspaper called Kamloops Wawa. This newspaper was published by the Kamloops diocese and helped people communicate and share information in a unique way.