Lower Kootenay Band facts for kids

The Lower Kootenay First Nation is a group of Indigenous people. They are also known by their traditional name, the Yaqan nuʔkiy Band. This First Nation lives in the East Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada. They are part of the larger Ktunaxa Kinbasket Tribal Council. This council helps different Ktunaxa groups work together.

Understanding Their History

The Lower Kootenay First Nation, or Yaqan Nukiy, is part of the Ktunaxa Nation. The Ktunaxa Nation includes six different groups. Four of these groups are in British Columbia, Canada. The other two are in the United States. The name Yaqan Nukiy means "where the rock stands."

The Ktunaxa Nation's traditional land is very large. It covers much of southeastern British Columbia. This includes the area along the Kootenay River, also known as the Creston Valley. Their land also extends into parts of the United States. Being close to the Kootenay River is important to their identity. It helps tell them apart from the Upper Kootenay band, who live more in forests and mountains.

In July 2021, a special radar found unmarked graves at a former school site. This was the St. Eugene's Mission School, located on the reserve. For many years, students from this band and others had to attend this school. It closed in the 1970s.

Where They Live: Geography

The Yaqan Nukiy band lives along the Kootenay River. Being near the river and lakes shaped their way of life. They became skilled at hunting, gathering, and fishing to find food. The river was also a main source of water. It was even used in some of their traditional ceremonies.

The Ktunaxa Nation has a group called the KNC L&R Sector. This group makes important decisions about the land. The Yaqan Nukiy alone has about six thousand acres of good farming land. Their life on the water also shaped how they traveled. They created special canoes for moving around. These canoes were called sturgeon-nosed canoes. They were light and pointed downwards. These canoes were unique and are known as the first of their kind among First Nations.

The Kootenay River flows across the border into the United States. This has sometimes caused disagreements between Canada and the United States. Things like pollution and climate change have changed the river's environment. Land is very important to First Nations people. Groups like the KNC L&R help protect their sacred land.

How They Are Governed

The Yaqan Nukiy band has a government structure. It includes one chief and four councillors. As of now, their chief is Jason Louie. The people of the Yaqan Nukiy band vote for their leaders. The chiefs speak for their people. They also work to protect their land.

Like many other Indigenous groups, the Yaqan Nukiy have made agreements with the governments of British Columbia and Canada. The Ktunaxa Nation has signed a treaty. This treaty recognizes the Ktunaxa Nation as a distinct nation in British Columbia. They are currently in the fifth stage of treaty negotiations. This is one of the final steps. It helps set up the relationship between the First Nation and the government.

Their Culture and Traditions

The culture of the Yaqan Nukiy band is strongly connected to where they live. Because they were near the river, it became a big part of their culture. It decided what they ate, like different kinds of fish. These included kokanee bull trout, burbot, and sturgeon.

Yaksumit: The Sturgeon Canoes

The sturgeon-nosed canoes are also called the Yaksumit. They were made from materials found on the Yaqan Nukiy land. Most of these canoes were made from tree bark. Later, when Europeans arrived, they introduced a new material: canvas. Canvas became more common for making canoes.

Spirituality and Healing

The Yaqan Nukiy's beliefs are deeply rooted in spirituality. A traditional way to heal, cleanse, and pray is through a sweatlodge ceremony. This ceremony is common among many First Nations. It is used for purification and healing.

To create a sweatlodge, a special fire is built. This fire heats up rocks. In the middle of where the sweatlodge will be, a pit is dug. The hot rocks are placed in this pit. Water is poured on the rocks to create steam. The sweatlodge itself is a dome-shaped structure. It is made of sticks and covered with blankets or hides. This traps the steam inside. People enter the sweatlodge wearing light clothing. The ceremony can last for a whole night. After the ceremony, the family who hosted it holds a feast.

Traditional Housing

The teepee was a common type of home for First Nation people. It was built using four poles. Tule, a type of plant, was used to cover the teepee. Tule was easy for the Yaqan Nukiy people to find because they lived near the river. The Yaqan Nukiy band also had different teepees for different seasons. They had lighter teepees for summer. These were easy to take down and move. For winter, they had heavier teepees with a stronger base.

Their Language

The language of the Yaqan Nukiy band is called Ktunaxa. It is a very special language. It is a "language isolate," meaning it is not related to any other language family. Sadly, the Ktunaxa language is almost extinct. This is partly due to the residential schools that were set up in Canada.

Education for Their Youth

The Lower Kootenay First Nation values education. They have schools that help their children learn.

Yaqan Nukiy School

This school is located on the Yaqan Nukiy land. It teaches students from pre-kindergarten up to eighth grade. It is a small school with about ninety-three students. The school welcomes children from all backgrounds. They also have a special class that teaches students about the Ktunaxa language and culture.

Kootenay River Secondary School

This school is on the east side of the Kootenay River. It serves students from eighth to twelfth grade. About 500 students attend this school.

Population Information

The Lower Kootenay First Nation has 208 registered members.