Nicola Athapaskans facts for kids
The Nicola Athapaskans were an Indigenous group. They are also known as the Nicola people or Stuwix. They spoke an Athapaskan language. A few centuries ago, they moved from the north into the Nicola Country. This area is now part of the Southern Interior of British Columbia.
Over time, their numbers became very small. This was due to constant attacks from other groups, especially the Secwépemc people. By the late 1800s, the few remaining Nicola Athapaskans lived near Nicola Lake. They joined with the Scw'exmx-Syilx Nicola people. The name "Nicola" for them is not quite right. It's a common name used by experts, but it actually honors a famous Okanagan chief. This chief once had power over the valley and its people.
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Where They Lived and Why They Moved
The Nicola Athapaskans first appeared in the Bonaparte River valley. They also lived near Spences Bridge. They had moved south to get away from "bad neighbors." In these new areas, they had conflicts with the Secwépemc and Nlakaʼpamux peoples.
After some time, they made peace with the Nlaka'pamux. They were then invited to settle near Nicola Lake. They also lived in the upper Similkameen Country. Here, they lived alongside groups who spoke Okanagan and Nlaka'pamux languages.
The Name Stuwix and Their Language
The Nlaka'pamux people called them stuwix. This word means "strangers." This is the only Indigenous name we know for them. Their own language, called Nicola, no longer exists. Very little was written down about it before it disappeared.
A historian named Mark Sweeten Wade believed the Stuwix were the first people to live in the upper Similkameen area. Later, they were forced out by the group now known as the Upper Similkameen Indian Band. The Stuwix then moved to the areas around Douglas, Stump, and Nicola Lakes. Here, they were protected by Chief Nicola and the Scw'exmx and Spaxomin people.
Challenges and Survival
Even though they had friendly ties with their close neighbors, the Nicola Athapaskans faced many attacks. These attacks came from other tribes, especially the Secwepemc (Shuswap). By the late 1800s, only a few of them were left.
By the mid-1800s, they were almost gone. Their remaining members mostly joined the surrounding Scw'exmx people. The Scw'exmx are a branch of the Thompson people. Some also joined the Spaxomin, who are a branch of the Okanagan people.
Today, some families among the Scw'exmx are thought to have Nicola Athapaskan ancestors. A few place names in the Merritt-Princeton area might come from their language. Some language experts think the Nicola language might have been closely related to the Chilcotin language.
Another Idea About Their Origin
Most experts agree that the Nicola people were Athapaskan. However, a different idea comes from the writings of Okanagan Mourning Dove. She wrote that they were a Chinookan group. According to her, they traveled up the Columbia River to escape "bad neighbors." They eventually found safety up the Okanagan River and beyond the upper Similkameen, near Nicola Lake.
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