Nicola people facts for kids
The Nicola people are a group of First Nations (Indigenous people) who live in the Nicola Country area of British Columbia in Canada. They are mainly found in the Nicola River valley, near the town of Merritt.
The Nicola people are an alliance, which means they are a partnership of two main groups:
- The Scw'exmx, who are a local part of the Nlaka'pamux (also called Thompson) people.
- The Spaxomin, who are a local part of the Syilx or Okanagan people.
The name "Nicola" comes from a famous chief named Nicola. His real name was Hwistesmexte'qen, which means "Walking Grizzly Bear." He brought these different groups together to form the alliance. European fur traders called him "Nicholas," and this name later became "Nicola." Today, some people also use the name "N'kwala."
Nicola Government
The Nicola people have their own special government group called the Nicola Tribal Association. This council helps manage things for the Nicola communities.
The Siska Band from the Fraser Canyon is also part of this tribal council. The Douglas Lake Band, which is where the Spaxomin group lives, is a member of both the Nicola Tribal Association and the Okanagan Nation Alliance.
Nicola Athapaskans
Sometimes, the name "Nicola" is also used to talk about a different group of people and their language. These were the Athapaskan people, who used to live in the same area long ago. However, this group and their language are no longer around; they became extinct by the late 1800s.
