Shuswap Indian Band facts for kids
The Shuswap Indian Band (also called Kenpesq’t in their own language) is a group of First Nations people. They live in the East Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada. This band is part of two important groups: the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council and the Ktunaxa Kinbasket Tribal Council.
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Who Are the Shuswap Indian Band?
The Shuswap Indian Band is made up of people who are ethnically Secwépemc (pronounced "Se-KWEM-pec"). The Secwepemc are also known as the Shuswap people. Even though this band is connected to the Ktunaxa people through marriage and tribal councils, their heritage is Secwepemc.
Where Do They Live?
The main land for the Shuswap Indian Band is called the Shuswap Indian Reserve. It is located about one mile north of a town called Invermere, British Columbia. This area is in the Columbia Valley, which is part of the Rocky Mountain Trench. The reserve is near the upper Columbia River. It is on the other side of the Selkirk Mountains from where other Secwepemc bands live.
The reserve was created in the 1860s. This happened when the government of the Colony of British Columbia started setting aside land for First Nations groups. These lands are known as Indian reserves.
What is a Tribal Council?
A tribal council is like a group that helps different First Nations bands work together. The Shuswap Indian Band is a member of two such councils. One is the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council, which helps many Secwepemc bands. The other is the Ktunaxa Kinbasket Tribal Council. This shows their connections to both the Secwepemc and Ktunaxa peoples.
The Ktunaxa Connection
Even though the Shuswap Indian Band is Secwepemc, they have strong ties to the Ktunaxa people. They are part of the Ktunaxa Kinbasket Tribal Council. Also, members of the Shuswap Indian Band have often married people from Ktunaxa bands in the same area. This creates a close relationship between the two groups.
The Story of Kinbasket Lake
Kinbasket Lake is a large body of water that was named in 1866. It was named by a man named Walter Moberly. He chose the name to honor a very important person: Chief Kinbasket. Chief Kinbasket was a leader of the Columbia River Shuswap people. Walter Moberly had hired Chief Kinbasket to help him with his work. Today, Kinbasket Lake is actually a reservoir. This means it's a lake created by a dam, specifically the Mica Dam.
