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The St'at'imc (Lillooet) are an Interior Salish people of the southern Coast Mountains and Fraser Canyon region of what is now British Columbia, Canada.

Linguistically, culturally, and geographically, the St'at'imc are divided into two main divisions: the Upper St'at'imc and the Lower St'at'imc. A third group, the Lakes Lillooet, lived between the territories of the Upper and Lower St'at'imc.

Also known as the Upper Lillooet or the Fraser River Lillooet, the Upper St'at'imc (STLA'tlei-mu-wh-talk) lived near the current city of Lillooet on the Fraser River. They spoke the Stʼatʼimcets dialect.

The various bands of the Upper St'at'imc inhabited an area that extended west of the Fraser River, from the mouth of Pavillion Creek to Texas Creek in the mountains above the Bridge River, and westward through the Seton Lake and Anderson Lake valleys to Duffey Lake. The Upper St'at'imc east of the Fraser River included Three Lake Valley and the adjacent mountains, stretching toward Hat Creek, a tributary of the Bonaparte River. The Upper St'at'imc settled in several villages on the banks above the Fraser River and on the banks of Seton and Anderson lakes.

Upper St'at'imc bands include the N'quatqua in D'Arcy. Also known as the Anderson Lake Band, the N'quatqua was one of the original members of the breakaway In-SHUCK-ch Nation. Situated at the head of Anderson Lake, northeast of Pemberton, the N'quatqua and Tsalalh bands were once a single group, the Lakes Lillooet or Lexalexamux, which also included another group known as the Skimka'imx.

Another Upper St'at'imc band, the Tsaľálh (also known as Shalalth), are at Seton Portage, Skeil, Ohnin, and Shalalth, farther east along Seton Lake. The Sekw'el'wás are in Lillooet, on the Cayoose Creek/Pashilqua Reserves, while the Tʼítʼq'et are on the Lillooet Reserve in Lillooet.

The Nxwisten, also known as the Bridge River Indian Band, is a member of the Lillooet Tribal Council, the largest band government of the St'at'imc people. Their offices are along BC Highway 40 in the lower Bridge River, just north of Lillooet, and its residential areas are scattered throughout its reserve.

Also known as the Fountain Indian Band, the Xaxli'p are part of the Lillooet Tribal Council. They are located at Fountain, about ten miles up the Fraser Canyon from Lillooet.

The Tsk'weylecw are also known as the Pavillion Indian Band, and are located at Pavillion, between Lillooet and Cache Creek, neighboring the Bonaparte Band of the Secwepemc peoples.

The Lower St'at'imc includes the Lil'wat First Nation (Mount Currie Indian Band), the Xa'xtsa First Nation (Douglas First Nation), the Ska'tin First Nations, and the Samahquam First Nation. The Lil'wat (líl̓watǝmx) First Nation is a member of the Lillooet Tribal Council, and headquartered at Mount Currie, about five miles east of Pemberton. The Xa'xtsa, Ska'tin, and Samahquam bands are tiny communities who seceded from the larger Lillooet Tribal Council at the same time, to join the N'quatqua First Nation at D'Arcy to form the In-SHUCK-ch Nation.

The Lakes Lillooet were only sporadically recognized. Historically, they resided around Seton and Anderson lakes, between the territories of the Upper and Lower St'at'imc. Their descendants are today's N'quatqua First Nation, also known as the Anderson Lake Indian Band, and the Ston Lake First Nation, also known as the Seton Lake Indian Band.

The Lillooet Tribal Council is the official English name for the St'at'imc Nation, the largest tribal council of the St'at'imc people. The In-SHUCK-ch Nation, also known as the Lower Lillooet Nation, represents the Semahquam First Nation, the Skatin First Nation, and the Douglas First Nation. The Lower Stl'atl'imx Tribal Council is made up of the bands that make up the In-SHUCK-ch Nation, as well as the N'quat'qua First Nation. The St'át'timc Chiefs Council is made up of the chief of all bands of the St'at'imc people. It is not a tribal council, and it includes bands that are not part of the Lillooet Tribal Council.

Historically, the St'at'imc culture was characteristic of other Northwest Coast peoples, with similar traditions of the potlatch, clan names, mythology, and totem poles in some communities.

The diet of the St'at'imc people was rich in natural resources from the Fraser River, particularly salmon, which was a staple for food and trade. It was eaten fresh, and also preserved through smoking and drying. Huckleberries, blueberries, and other types of berries and fruits were gathered and often dried for use during the winter months. The St'at'imc also gathered bitterroot and Indian potatoes, as well as other edible plants and greens, and hunting provided meat from deer, elk, and smaller game. Historically, their diet was seasonal, with different foods harvested at different times of the year. Some foods also had a ceremonial role.

 

 

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