Colville people facts for kids

The Colville people (in their own language, Enselxcin or sx̌ʷyʔiɬpx) are a Native American group from the Pacific Northwest. The name Colville comes from Fort Colville, which was named after Andrew Colvile of the Hudson's Bay Company. In the past, outsiders sometimes called them Scheulpi or Swhy-ayl-puh. French traders called them Les Chaudières, meaning "the Kettles", because of Kettle Falls.

A Look at Their History

The Colville tribe first lived in eastern Washington. Their lands were along the Colville River and the Columbia River, between Kettle Falls and the town of Hunters.

Life at Kettle Falls

A very important part of the tribe's history is linked to Kettle Falls. This place was a key spot for salmon fishing. It was also an important trading post for the Hudson's Bay Company. Contact with European people brought both good and bad changes. In 1846, a Jesuit mission called St. Paul's Mission was started. This mission helped many tribes along the upper Columbia River become Christian.

Moving to the Reservation

In 1872, the Colville tribe moved to an Indian reservation in eastern Washington. This reservation is named after them. Today, the Colville Indian Reservation is home to and managed by the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. This is a group of twelve different Native American bands that are officially recognized by the government.

The Confederated Tribes

The twelve bands that make up the Confederated Tribes are:

• Methow
• Okanogan
• Arrow Lakes
• Sanpoil
• Colville
• Nespelem
• Chelan
• Entiat
• Moses-Columbia
• Wenatchi
• Nez Perce
• Palus

Many of these bands are named after rivers in eastern Washington. These rivers flow from the eastern side of the North Cascades mountains or the Okanagon Highlands. Some of these rivers have small towns where they meet the Columbia River.

The Nez Perce people on the reservation are descendants of Chief Joseph's band. They came from Northeast Oregon. After a difficult journey in 1877, they were not allowed to return to their home. They were eventually moved to the Colville reservation.

Their Language

The Colville language is also called N̓x̌ʷʔiłpcən. It is one of six dialects of the Colville-Okanagan language. This language was historically spoken by many "Syilx peoples." These include the Northern Okanagan, Southern/Lower Okanagan (Sinkaietk), Methow, Sanpoil, Nespelem, Colville, and Sinixt (Arrow Lakes Band) peoples. The word Syilx is the traditional name for the Okanagan peoples. Today, it is also used for land and cultural claims for all Colville-Okanagan-speaking groups.

The Colville-Okanagan language is part of a larger group called the Southern Interior Salishan languages. These languages are spoken in the Plateau region.

Famous Colville People

• Jim Boyd, a musician
• Joe Feddersen, an artist
• Kimberly Norris, an actress