Sts'Ailes people facts for kids

The Sts'ailes (pronounced "St-SAY-les") are an Indigenous group from British Columbia, Canada. They live in the Lower Mainland area. Their traditional lands are near the Harrison River. This is between the towns of Mission and Agassiz.

The Sts'ailes are also sometimes called the Chehalis. Their government is the Sts'ailes Nation. This group works to protect their culture and lands. Their main community is on Indian reserve lands.

What Does 'Sts'ailes' Mean?

The name Sts'ailes means "beating heart". This name was given to their main village. It is located on the west side of the Harrison River.

The Sts'ailes are sometimes called Chehalis. This name is also used for another Indigenous group in Washington State. The Sts'ailes have a story about a Great Flood. This flood separated some of their people long ago. They believe this is how the southern Chehalis group came to be.

Sts'ailes History and Culture

The Sts'ailes have a rich history. It includes many stories and traditions. One important story is about Xals, the Transformer. Xals defeated a powerful shaman. This shaman was known as "the Doctor".

Xals turned the shaman into stone. Then Xals broke the stone into many pieces. This was to make sure the shaman could not return. The shaman's heart fell near Harrison Lake. This place became where the Sts'ailes people began.

Living by the River

The Sts'ailes people have lived in this area for at least 1,500 years. They have always relied on the land and water. A very important food source for them was salmon. Salmon came from the Fraser and Harrison watershed.

Many of their ceremonies are linked to the salmon fishing seasons. These ceremonies celebrate the gifts of nature. They also show respect for the salmon.

Art and Music

The Sts'ailes people have a unique culture. This includes beautiful visual arts. They also have a rich tradition of music. These art forms help tell their stories. They also help pass on their history to new generations.

Sts'ailes Language

The Sts'ailes people traditionally speak Halqemeylem. This is a special dialect of the Halkomelem language. It is known as the Upriver dialect. Learning and speaking their language helps keep their culture strong.

Working with British Columbia

The Sts'ailes Nation works to protect their ancestral homeland. They want to be good stewards of their land. They also want to keep their cultural identity strong. Because of this, they chose not to join the 1999 Treaty process.

The Sts'ailes Nation focuses on being self-reliant. This means they work to create jobs and services for their community. They want to manage their own resources.

Fishing Rights

Salmon fishing rights have been an important topic for the Sts'ailes. They believe they have managed salmon stocks for thousands of years. There was a disagreement in 2012. The provincial government had concerns about fishing practices. The Sts'ailes Nation argued they were managing the salmon properly.

The case was later dropped in 2016. The Sts'ailes Nation continues to work for their rights. They want to ensure their traditional ways of life continue.