Simpcw First Nation facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Simpcw First Nation, once known as the North Thompson Indian Band, is a First Nations government in British Columbia, Canada. They are part of the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council. The Simpcw are a government of the Secwepemc (Shuswap) Nation. Their main community is in Chu Chua, British Columbia. Most of their reserves were set up on July 5, 1877. One more was added on February 24, 1916. The name 'Simpcw' comes from the Shuswap language and refers to the North Thompson Band's community and reserve.

Simpcw Leaders
- Past Simpcw Leaders
Land and Treaties
Simpcw History
- Early European Contact
- Challenges and Changes
Simpcw Population
Economic Growth
Community Programs
First Nation Reserves
See also

Simpcw Leaders

The current chief and council started their three-year term on June 1, 2015. They will serve until the next election.

Past Simpcw Leaders

Chief Cinnitza was mentioned by Archibald McDonald in 1828. Chief André is also noted in records from 1877. He was involved when the First Nation Reserves were created. He also signed the Memorial to Frank Oliver in 1911.

Land and Treaties

The Simpcw First Nation is not currently part of any treaty process. They have never given up or surrendered any of their traditional lands.

Simpcw History

The Simpcw people live in Simpcwúl̓ecw. This area is now known as the North Thompson. Their lands stretch from McLure to McBride. They also go from Jasper to the start of the Athabasca. The Simpcw gathered plants and hunted animals for food. They also used different ways to fish. For example, George Mercer Dawson saw fishing barriers in the Barrière River. These were like fences that went all the way across the stream. The Simpcw traded and connected with other First Nations in British Columbia and Alberta.

Early European Contact

Europeans first met the Simpcw around the early 1800s. These were mainly fur traders. Alexander Ross wrote that David Stuart spent the winter of 1811–12 in the area. Stuart wrote that he stayed with the "She Whaps and other tribes."

Ross himself came in May 1812 to build 'Fort Cumcloups'. He sent messages to nearby tribes. About 2,000 Indigenous people gathered there. Ross also described meetings in the North Thompson around 1815. He wrote about a journey from Kamloops to the Rocky Mountains. He met two families near East Barriere Lake. They were living on fish, roots, and berries. These families were part of the Sun-tea-coot-a-coot tribe. One man from these families became a guide for Ross. Ross called this place "Friendly Lake." This lake is now known as East Barriere Lake.

The guide knew the area very well. He told Ross he had traveled through different parts of it seven times. He said the path they took was the best one, even with its challenges. On the way back, the guide's family had left a message for him. They left a stick in the ground with a special notch. This showed him where they had gone.

In 1828, Archibald McDonald wrote about his trip from Hudson's Bay to the Pacific Ocean. On October 3, he met Chief Cinnitza at 'the Fort'. The next day, he had breakfast with the "Indians of the Barrier."

McDonald also wrote about the "Shin-poos" (Simpcw). He said they were a "mountain race." His father reported that there were about 60 Simpcw families. They were good beaver hunters. They sometimes traveled east of the Rocky Mountains.

Challenges and Changes

In 1862, a gold rush in the Cariboo brought smallpox. This disease caused many deaths. It reduced the Simpcw population to a very small number.

From the 1890s to 1970, Simpcw children were sent to the Kamloops Indian Residential School. Life there was very hard. Children were not allowed to speak their own language. Some Simpcw people also served in the Second World War.

In 1909, a researcher named James Teit wrote about the 'North Thompson' people. He said they were probably the best hunters and travelers. He described them as mild, quiet, steady, and hospitable.

In August 1916, the Simpcw people living at Tête Jaune Cache were forced to move. They had to walk 300 kilometers to Chu Chua and other places. In August 2016, events were held to remember this sad event. The Simpcw First Nation has asked the government to officially recognize their lands at Tête Jaune Cache.

The Simpcw have been called by different names in English. Traders called them "people of the North Fork of Thompson River." Researchers spelled their name in various ways, like Chin-Poo and Shinpoo. Their old main village was called ciqʷceqʷélqʷ, meaning 'red willows'. The reserve name Chu Chua comes from texʷcwex, meaning 'creek running through the bush'.

Simpcw Population

The Simpcw First Nation currently has 724 members.

In the 1820s, there were about 60 Simpcw families. By 1883, a government report listed 144 people for "North Thompson and Canoe Lake." In 1850, after diseases, the population was about 250. By 1906, it had dropped to 70.

Economic Growth

The Simpcw First Nation has a strong economic group. It is called the Simpcw Resources Group of Companies (SRG). This group works on different business projects.

Community Programs

The Simpcw Fisheries manages a fish hatchery called Dunn Lake Hatchery. The Simpcw host a special 'Coho Day' in October at the hatchery. This day celebrates the coho salmon.

Neqweyqwelsten School is an elementary school in Chu Chua. It is open to all Simpcw First Nation children. Other community members can also attend if there is space.

First Nation Reserves

The Simpcw First Nation manages these reserves:

North Thompson 1 (07186): This reserve is 1236.1 hectares. It is on the east bank of the North Thompson River. It is about 45 miles north of Kamloops.
Nekalliston 2 (07187): This reserve is 1.4 hectares. It is near Little Fort and across from Nekalliston Creek. It is 50 miles north of Kamloops.
Barriere River 3A (07188): This reserve is 1.6 hectares. It is on the left bank of the Barrière River. It is about 2 miles from where the river meets the North Thompson River.
Louis Creek 4 (07189): This reserve is 3 hectares. It is on the left bank of Louis Creek. It is about ¼ mile from where it joins the North Thompson River. It is about 34 miles north of Kamloops.
Boulder Creek 5 (07190): This reserve is 280 hectares. It is Lot 4088, north of Dunn Lake.

In the 1870s, the government created the Red Trees Reserve at Chu Chua. They did this without asking the Simpcw people. In 1872, Alfred R C Selwyn mentioned staying at the "Red Pine Reserve."

Records about these reserves are online. Decisions for North Thompson 1, Nekalliston 2, Barriere River 3, and Louis Creek 4 were made on July 5, 1877. Barriere River 3 was later sold in 1921. In its place, Barriere River 3A was created.

These decisions were made by A. C. Anderson. He traveled up the North Thompson River with Chief André in July 1877. This happened when other First Nations were thinking about going to war. They were upset about how the government was treating them.

The sale of Barriere River 3 and the Boulder Creek reserve are listed in a 1943 document. Boulder Creek was officially given to the Simpcw on February 24, 1916.