Little Shuswap Indian Band facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Little Shuswap Lake Band/ Squilax
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First Nations band government
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 Little Shuswap Indian Band
Location in British Columbia
Little Shuswap Indian Band
Location in Canada
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| Country | Canada |
| Provinces | British Columbia |
| Elevation | 380 m (1,250 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific Standard Time (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-8 (PST) |
| ZIP code |
V0E 1M2
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| Area code(s) | 250 |
| Website | http://www.lslib.com/ |
The Little Shuswap Indian Band (also known as the Little Shuswap Lake Indian Band) is a First Nations community. They are part of the Secwepemc (Shuswap) Nation. This community is located in the Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada.
Their main Indian reserve is near Chase, British Columbia. It is sometimes called Squilax on maps. The name "Squilax" means "black bear" in the Shuswap language. However, the proper name for their main reserve is Quaaout. It sits right on the shore of Little Shuswap Lake.
The Little Shuswap Indian Band was officially created in the 1860s. This happened when the government of the then-Colony of British Columbia set up an Indian Reserve system. Today, they are an important member of the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council.
The Little Shuswap Lake Indian Band works hard to bring tourism to their area. They also focus on growing their local economy. They have added several businesses on their lands, including:
- Talking Rock Golf course (link)
- Quaaout Lodge (link)
- Skwlax Airstrip (link)
- Skwlax Centre (link)
Contents
How the Band is Governed
The Little Shuswap Indian Band uses a special way to choose its leaders. This is called a custom electoral system. The current Chief of the band is James Tomma. He was elected on December 1, 2021. Before him, Oliver Arnouse was the Chief. Dale Tomma serves as a counselor.
James Tomma has tried to become Chief many times over 24 years. He believes that every attempt helps him learn and grow. His main goal as Chief is to encourage young band members to return and work on their traditional lands. Building a strong community for everyone is very important to him.
A Look at Their History
The Little Shuswap Indian Band lives in the Thompson Okanagan region of British Columbia. As of March 2021, there are 347 members in the band. Not all members live in the same place. Some live in nearby areas like Salmon Arm, Chase, and Kamloops. About 200 members live in Quaaout or Tappen.
Most of the community members have jobs. They often work at businesses owned by the First Nation. These include the Quaaout Lodge and Spa, Talking Rock Golf Course, and the Little Shuswap Lake Gas station.
The Little Shuswap Indian Band is one of seventeen bands that make up the Secwepemc Nation. About 10,000 years ago, the Secwepemc people lived in a huge area. This area stretched from Quesnel to Shuswap, covering about 180,000 square kilometers. Sadly, in the past, many Secwepemc people died from illnesses. By 1903, about 70% of the population was gone. This left seventeen out of thirty original tribes. The Little Shuswap Indian Band is one of these surviving tribes.
What is Their Name?
The Little Shuswap Lake Indian Band has had other names in the past. In 1877, they were called "Alternate Little Lake." In 1881, they were known as "Kuaut" or "Kualt." Their traditional name in the Secwepemctsín language is "Qw7Ewt."
Learning Their Language
The native language of the Little Shuswap Lake Indian Band is Secwepemctsín. It has 43 letters in its alphabet. While it sounds different, it has some connections to the English language.
Sadly, Secwepemctsín is an endangered language. According to UNESCO, only about 1,100 people can still speak it. Most of these speakers are around fifty years old or older. This means the language is at risk of disappearing. To help save this important part of their culture, schools and some universities now offer classes. Students can learn the Secwepemctsín language there.
Their Rich Culture
The Little Shuswap community has many special cultural practices.
Smudging Ceremony
Smudging is a beautiful ceremony led by an experienced elder. It involves burning special plants like sweetgrass, cedar, sage, and tobacco. These are placed in a bowl, metal pan, or shell. The smoke created is used to cleanse the air and people's emotions. It helps to clear away negative feelings.
The elder guides the smoke towards themselves, as if washing their hands. Then they pull the smoke over their heads. This act helps them remember goodness with all their senses. After the ceremony, the ashes are returned to the earth.
Canoe Carving
Canoe carving is another important cultural practice for the Little Shuswap community. They stopped carving canoes for about sixty years. But in 2017, they decided to bring this tradition back. They got help from the Okanagan Indian Band. This helped them remember how to carve canoes properly. It also allowed them to teach the younger generations.
The Sweat Lodge
In 2018, the community rebuilt a traditional sweat lodge. Grand Chief Felix Arnouse explained how important the sweat lodge is. It is used for healing and purification. People go inside to sweat out toxins from their bodies. They can also release negative energy by laughing, shouting, or crying.
The Grand Chief hopes that sharing the sweat lodge experience with visitors will show their beliefs. It is a way to share their values and spirituality with Mother Earth. The new lodge was built using wood from the original sweat lodge. Lava rocks are used inside to warm the lodge, as they hold heat very well.
Impact of COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic affected many First Nations communities, including Little Shuswap. They experienced cases of the virus and had to close places and cancel events. As of 2022, all community events were canceled for a while. The Kamloops Powwow, which is a big annual festival they host, was also canceled for two years. It is not yet known when these events will start again.
Community Businesses
The Little Shuswap band members have worked hard to grow their economy. They wanted to create good jobs for their people.
Quaaout Lodge
In 1979, band members decided to build a tourist lodge. They wanted a business that would provide stable jobs. The name "Quaaout" means "when the sun’s rays first hit the water" in Secwepemctsín. Former Chiefs William Arnouse and Felix Arnouse, along with John Anderson, helped with the name, logo, and building design.
The Quaaout Lodge officially opened in 1992. Since then, it has grown a lot. The Quaaout Conference Centre was added in 2001. The Talking Rock Golf Course opened in 2007. They also added restaurants, upgraded the hotel to a five-star rating, and opened Leyke Day Spa in 2011.
Talking Rock Golf Course
The name for this golf course was chosen carefully by band members. It comes from their ancestors who used to paint or carve stories on rocks. These were called pictographs, and they were like "talking rocks." Planning for the golf course began in 1992. By 1995, architects Graham Cooke and Wayne Carlton designed the course. It officially opened in March 2007.
Skwlax Wellness Centre
The Skwlax Wellness Centre offers health and social support programs. These include community health programs and help for people with low incomes. They also provide mental health counseling. The centre runs summer day camps and offers dental treatment. They also help with child welfare and provide important health programs. These programs include immunizations and ways to control the spread of diseases.
Their Reserves
The Little Shuswap Indian Band manages these reserves:
- Quaaout 1
- Chum Creek 2
- Meadow Creek 3
- Scotch Creek 4
- North Bay 5
See also
- Shuswap Nation Tribal Council
- Chase, British Columbia
