Sanpoil facts for kids

The Sanpoil people are a group of Native American people. They live in the state of Washington in the United States. The Sanpoil are part of the larger Salish peoples group. They are also one of the twelve tribes that make up the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.

The name Sanpoil comes from the Okanagan word [snpʕ^wílx]. This word means "gray as far as one can see." Some people mistakenly thought the name came from the French words sans poil, meaning "without fur." The Yakama people call the Sanpoil "Hai-ai'-nlma" or "Ipoilq." The Sanpoil call themselves "Nesilextcl'n," which probably means "Salish speaking." They also use "N'pooh-le," a shorter version of their name.

The Sanpoil used to have a system of government that was like a democracy. Different chiefs represented each community within the tribe. Being a chief did not depend on who your parents were. Later, the United States government started to recognize only one chief at a time.

The last four chiefs officially recognized for the Sanpoil Tribe were Que Que Tas (born 1822, died 1905), his son Nespelem George (born 1863, died 1929), Skolaskin, and Jim James. Que Que Tas's mother was a woman chief. She met Lewis and Clark when they explored the Pacific Northwest.

Sanpoil History and Culture

Since the 1600s, the Sanpoil people lived in many villages. These villages were along the Sanpoil River and Nespelem River. Both of these rivers flow into the Columbia River. Later, the tribe was moved to the Sanpoil and Colville Reservations in Washington state.

The Sanpoil Tribe became part of the Colville Confederation. This happened because the President of the United States issued an order. Government officials who worked with Native Americans suggested this. They noted that the Sanpoil were very peaceful, especially towards European settlers.

The Sanpoil are known as Interior Salish Native Americans. This group also includes other tribes. Some of these are the Okanagan, Sinixt, Lakes, Wenatchee, Nespelem, Spokan, Kalispel, Pend d'Oreilles, Coeur d'Alene, and Flathead peoples.

There is not much difference in culture or language between the Sanpoil and the Nespelem people. Some experts group Nespelem with the Okanagan tribes, while others see them as part of the Sanpoil.

In 1905, the United States Indian Office counted 324 Sanpoil and 41 Nespelem people. By 1910, the Census counted 240 Sanpoil and 46 Nespelem. In 1913, after another survey, the Office of Indian Affairs counted 202 Sanpoil and 43 Nespelem.

Sanpoil Language

The Sanpoil language is a Salish language. It belongs to the inland group of Salishan languages. These languages are common among Plateau nations. The Sanpoil language is most closely related to the eastern Salishan languages.

Current Language Challenges

Nesilextcl'n is the specific dialect of Salish spoken by the Sanpoil. Sadly, this dialect is no longer taught in schools. Younger generations do not speak it. Only a few older people still speak it fluently. If efforts are not made to save the language, it could be lost forever.

Sanpoil Villages

The Sanpoil people lived in many villages. Here are some of their historical village locations:

• Enthlukaluk: About 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of the river's mouth.
• Hahsulauk: Home of the Shahsulauhuwa, located near Plum.
• Hulalst: Home of the S-hulalstu, at Whitestone, about 8 miles (13 km) above Npuiluk.
• Hwatsam: A winter camp, about 3 miles (4.8 km) above Snukeilt.
• Kakamkam: On the islands in the Sanpoil River, a short distance above its mouth.
• Kathlpuspusten: Home of the Kathlpuspustenak, about a mile above Plum, on the opposite side of the river.
• Ketapkunulak: On the banks of the Columbia River, just east of the Sanpoil River.
• Naak: Home of the Snaakau, about a mile below Plum, on the north side of the river.
• Nhohogus: Fishing grounds used by the S-hulalstu.
• Npokstian: A winter camp, about 2 miles (3.2 km) above Hwatsam.
• Npuiluk: Home of the Snpuiluk, located at the mouth of the Sanpoil River. This area included several camps:
  • Snkethlkukwiliskanan: Near where the Keller ferry landing is today.
  • Another branch of Snkethlkukwiliskanan: Several hundred yards north of the first, between the cliff and the Sanpoil River, on the west side.
  • Kethltselchin: On the first flat area above the Columbia River, west of the Sanpoil River.
• Nthlahoitk: A winter camp for the Snpuiluk, about halfway between Skthlamchin and Naak.
• Saamthlk: On the opposite side of the river from Kathlpuspusten.
• Skekwilk: On the west side of the Sanpoil River, about a mile above its mouth.
• Snputlem: On the east bank of the Sanpoil River, about 15 miles (24 km) above its mouth.
• Snukeilt: Home of the Snukeiltk, on the west side of the Columbia River, about 2 miles (3.2 km) above the mouth of the Spokane River.
• Tkukualkuhun: Home of the Stkukualkuhunak, at Rodger's Bar, just across the river from Hunters.
• Tsaktsikskin: A winter camp for the Snpuiluk, about half a mile below Naak.
• Wathlwathlaskin: Home of the Swathlwathlaskink, 3 miles (4.8 km) up the river from Nthlahoitk.