Lillooet Tribal Council facts for kids

The Lillooet Tribal Council is an important organization for several St'at'imc (pronounced Stat-lee-um) communities in British Columbia, Canada. It's also known as the St'at'imc Nation. This council helps its member communities work together on common goals, like protecting their land and culture. While it's the largest group of St'at'imc communities working together, not all St'at'imc groups are part of this specific council. There is also a larger group called the St'át'timc Chiefs Council that includes all St'at'imc bands.

What is the Lillooet Tribal Council?

The Lillooet Tribal Council acts like a central office for several St'at'imc First Nations. A "tribal council" is a group of First Nations that join together. They work on shared interests and support each other. This can include things like land rights, education, and cultural programs. The St'at'imc people are also sometimes called the Lillooet people.

Who are the Member Nations?

The Lillooet Tribal Council includes several important St'at'imc communities. Each of these communities is also known as a "First Nation" or "Indian Band." They have their own leaders and traditions.

Here are the First Nations that are part of the Lillooet Tribal Council:

• Bridge River Indian Band (also known as Nxwísten or Xwisten)
• Seton Lake First Nation (also known as Tsal’álh, Ohin, Skeil, Slosh, and Nkiat)
• Cayoose Creek First Nation (also known as Sekw’el’wás)
• Fountain First Nation (also known as Cácl'ep or Xa'xlip)
• Lil'wat First Nation (also known as the Mount Currie Band, located in Mount Currie, British Columbia)
• Ts'kw'aylaxw First Nation (also known as the Pavilion Band). This community also has cultural ties to the Secwépemc people.

A Look Back: The 1911 Declaration

The Lillooet Tribal Council's modern beginnings can be traced back to a very important document. It's called the Declaration of the Lillooet Tribe and was written in 1911. This declaration was a strong statement from the St'at'imc people. It clearly stated their ownership and rights over their traditional lands.

At that time, new settlers were moving onto St'at'imc land, especially near Seton Portage. The Declaration was a way for the St'at'imc communities to say that these lands belonged to them. It showed their strong belief in their "sovereignty," which means their right to govern themselves and their territory.

Other St'at'imc Communities

Not all St'at'imc communities are part of the Lillooet Tribal Council. Some other St'at'imc-speaking groups have their own separate organizations. These groups still share the same culture and language.

For example, the Lower Stl'atl'imx Tribal Council includes several St'at'imc communities:

• N'quatqua First Nation, located near Anderson Lake (British Columbia).
• The In-SHUCK-ch Nation, which includes:
  • Samahquam First Nation
  • Skatin First Nation (near Skookumchuck Hot Springs)
  • Douglas First Nation (near Port Douglas, British Columbia)

These communities used to be part of the Lillooet Tribal Council. However, they decided to form their own council. This allowed them to work on their land claims and other issues in their own way. Even though they are separate, they still have strong family and cultural connections to the larger St'at'imc communities in places like Mount Currie, British Columbia and Lillooet, British Columbia.