This portion of our guide to American Indians and First Nations peoples is focused on the Nlaka'pamux people.
While the Nlaka'pamux people are currently found in several First Nations bands in British Columbia, their traditional territory extended south into parts of the North Cascades region in Washington State.
The migration of the Nlaka'pamux people from Washington State to British Columbia was likely influenced by the Fraser River Gold Rush in 1858, which greatly disrupted the lives of the Native people who inhabited that area. This was followed up by continued European encroachment and policies that would have settled them into a small reservation had they remained in Washington.
Over the years, the Nlaka'pamux people have been known by several names, including Niakapamuk, Thompson, Thompson River Salish, Thompson Salish, Thompson River Indians, Thompson River People, Klackarpun, Kootomin, Haukamaugh, Knife Indians, and Couteau Indians.
They were once known under various names that included Thompson, after the Thompson River that flows through their traditional territory. Hackamaugh was probably an attempt at pronouncing Nlaka'pamux. The Nlaka'pamux people inhabited the middle Fraser Canyon and Thompson Canyon regions, areas that were sometimes labeled as "the Couteau Country" on period maps, and the French term Couteau translates to "knife," which may account for these historical names for the Nlaka'pamux people.
Additionally, in the dialect of the Thompson language used by the Ashcroft Indian Band, the variant Nl'akapxm is used. The Nlaka'pamux of the Nicola Valley, who are part of what was once known as the Nicola Tribal Association, refer to themselves as the Scw'exmx, and the Nicola Tribal Association is now known as the Scw'exmx Tribal Council. They speak a different dialect of the Thompson language. Together with the Spaxomin people (a branch of the Okanagan people), they are collectively known as the Nicola people or Nicolas.
Contemporary Nlaka'pamux people are divided into several related First Nation bands.
Despite its name, the Nlaka'pamux Nation Tribal Council does not include all of the Nlaka'pamux people, although it is one of two main tribal bodies within the region, the other being the Scw'exmx Tribal Council, previously known as the Nicola Tribal Association.
A third Nlaka'pamux tribal council was the Fraser Canyon Indian Administration, which was made up of the Kanaka Bar Indian Band, the Skuppah First Nation, the Spuzzum First Nation, and the Nicomen Indian Band. However, the Fraser Canyon Indian Administration was disbanded in 2004.
The Nlaka'pamux Nation Tribal Council includes the Ashcroft Indian Band, the Bothroyd Indian Band, the Boston Bar Indian Band, the Cook's Ferry Indian Band, the Oregon Jack Creek Indian Band, the Siska Indian Band, the Spuzzum Indian Band, the Lytton Indian Band, and the Skuppah Indian Band, while the Scw'exmx Tribal Council is made up of the Shackan Indian Band, the Nicomen Indian Band, the Nooaitch Indian Band, the Upper Nicola Band, the Kanaka Bar First Nation, and the Coldwater Indian Band.
The Lytton First Nation (Lytton Band), based on the town of that name, is one of the largest Nlaka'pamux communities, although it doesn't belong to any of the two tribal associations. In the Nlaka'pamux language, the Lytton First Nation is known as Camchin or Kumsheen. While the Upper Nicola Band is affiliated with the Scw'exmx Tribal Council, it is a Sylix community and part of the Okanagan Nation Alliance, has a different traditional territory than other Nlaka'pamux, and is not Nlaka'pamux.
The Lower Nicola Indian Band is currently unaffiliated.
The Nlaka'pamux are an Indigenous First Nations group belonging to the Interior Salish language group in southern British Columbia.
With the arrival of European missionaries, the majority of the Nlaka'pamux people were converted to either Anglicanism or Roman Catholicism, although some contemporary Nlaka'pamux people practice traditional animism religions today.
Online resources related to the Nlaka'pamux people are appropriate for this category. These may include tribal governments, industries, businesses, schools, medical facilities, programs, events, and informational websites focusing on the Nlaka'pamux people. Businesses owned by individual Nlaka'pamux people may also be included here.
Recommended Resources
Part of the Nlaka'pamux Nation Tribal Council, the Ashcroft (sƛ̓ə́z) First Nations government is in the central interior of British Columbia, near the town of Ashcroft, British Columbia, Canada. The site posts its history, staff, office hours, and contacts. It also features its health center, finance programs, economic development efforts, social development, housing, maintenance services, employment opportunities, a newsletter, and several photo galleries.
http://www.ashcroftband.ca/
Situated in the Fraser Canyon area of the central interior of British Columbia, near Boston Bar, the Boothroyd First Nation is a member of the Nlaka'pamux Nation Tribal Council. The site introduces its chief, council, and staff, with contacts and office hours. Tribal services and programs are discussed, employment opportunities are posted, and announcements, reports, and other information are included. Its health facilities and programs are particularly emphasized.
https://boothroydband.wixsite.com/mysite
A Nlaka'pamux First Nations government in the central interior of British Columbia, the Coldwater (C'eletkwmx) Indian Band is a member of the Scw'exmx Tribal Council. Its reserve community and offices are in its home community of Coldwater, once the site of the Coldwater Mission. Its history, territory, culture, and language are outlined on the site, along with its governing structure, administrative contacts, a calendar of events, assets, and a gallery of photographs.
https://www.coldwaterband.com/
The Cook's Ferry reserve community and offices are situated near Spences Bridge, in the central interior of British Columbia, Canada. Its culture, language, education, and training programs, along with administrative offices, membership services, housing and infrastructure services, are highlighted, and its projects, special initiatives, emergency management, tourism, and economic development programs are highlighted. Various forms may be downloaded from the site.
https://cooksferry.ca/
The Kanaka Bar (T'eqt'aqtn'mux) First Nation is located between Boston Bar and Lytton in the Fraser Canyon region at Kanaka Bar, British Columbia. The Band is a member of the Scw'exmx Tribal Council. The Band's history, vision, organization, code of conduct, and people are highlighted, along with contacts for its administrative offices, chief, and council. The Band's businesses are listed, and its library, photo gallery, documents, and presentations are included.
https://www.kanakabarband.ca/
The Nlaka'pamux First Nations government is located in the central interior region of British Columbia, Canada. The Lower Nicola (Nʔeʔiyk) Indian Band's reserve community and offices are at Shulus, also known as Lower Nicola, about six kilometers west of Merritt. Its history, culture, cultural, and language renewal programs are discussed, and its chief, council, and departmental offices are acknowledged. Projects, community services, businesses, and events are included.
https://www.lnib.net/
The Lytton (ƛ̓q̓əmci̓n) First Nation is headquartered at Lytton in the Fraser Canyon region of British Columbia. It is the largest of the Nlaka'pamux bands, but not a member of any of the Nlaka'pamux tribal councils. Its chief, council, departments, administrative contacts, and office hours are featured, along with a community calendar, language programs, bylaws, and official notices. Indian registry information, human resources contacts, and links to other online resources are included.
https://lfn.band/
Located near the confluence of the Thompson and Nocoamen rivers, the Nicomen (Nq’áwmn) First Nation is a member of the Scw'exmx Tribal Council of the Nlaka'pamux people. The Band's chief, council, committees, and staff are introduced, with contacts and office hours. The Band's area of interest is shown on a map, and its programs, services, associations, educational programs, and community events are highlighted, and a gallery of photographs displays community scenes.
https://www.nicomenband.com/
Serving the Ashcroft, Coldwater, Cooks Ferry, Kanaka, Lower Nicola, Lytton First Nations, Nicomen, Nooaitch, Oregon Jack Creek, Shackan, Siska, and Skuppah Indian Bands, the Health Services program offers nursing services, mental health and addictions programs, MHSU and addictions support, emergency management, and wellness programs, as outlined here. Its partners and additional support programs are acknowledged, and contacts are posted on the website, along with other notices.
https://nlxhealth.com/
Nlaka'pamux Nation Tribal Council
Originally known as the Fraser Thompson Indian Services Society, the First Nations government tribal council represents some but not all of the Nlaka'pamux First Nation governments in British Columbia, Canada. The Council's primary focus is to protect, assert, and exercise Nlaka'pamux title and rights and ensure that any projects or developments within the Nlaka'pamux Nation align with their title and rights. Its responsibilities and services are defined.
https://nntc.ca/
A member of the Scw'exmx Tribal Council, the Nooaitch Indian Band is a First Nations government in the southern interior of British Columbia. The community of Merritt, the nearest urban center to the Band, serves as the main commercial area for the community. Its history, chief, council, and departments are introduced, and administrative contacts and office hours are posted on the site, along with a community calendar, educational resources, job openings, and community events.
https://www.nooaitch.ca/
Known as the Nicola Tribal Association, the Nicola Tribal Council, and the Nicola Valley Tribal Council until 2019, when it became the Scw'exmx Tribal Council, the First Nations tribal council is made up of Nlaka'pamux bands in the Nicola Valley, Thompson Canyon, and Fraser Canyon regions of British Columbia. Member bands are listed on the site, with links to their respective websites. The Council's administrative offices, hours, and contacts are posted on the site.
https://www.scwexmxtribal.com/
Situated in the Nicola Country of southern British Columbia, the Nlaka'pamix First Nation band is a member of the Scw'exmx Tribal Council. Its offices are just west of Merrit, the region's main urban center. Its name is an adaptation of "Sxe'xn'x," its name in the local dialect of Nlaka'pamuctsin, otherwise known as the Thompson language. Its governing bodies, departments, and administrative contacts are provided, and public notices are posted on the site.
https://shackan.ca/
The Skuppah (Sképeʔ) First Nations band government is located near Lytton, British Columbia. Skuppah is a member band of the Nlaka'pamux Nation Tribal Council, the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs, and the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations. The site publishes its administrative offices, contacts, and office hours. It also discusses its language programs, medical facilities, partners, and a brief history of the First Nation band. Links to other online resources are included.
https://www.skuppah.ca/
The Spuzzum (Spô’zêm) First Nation is a First Nations government near Spuzzum, British Columbia, and a member of the Scw'exmx Tribal Council. The Nation's leadership, programs, and services are acknowledged, and its membership code, election information, comprehensive community plan, and land use plan are featured. Its history, culture, location, and community plans and highlights are discussed, along with its business interests, economic development plans, and contacts.
http://www.spuzzumnation.com/
Tuckkwiowhum Village is a First Nations heritage site and village situated in Nlaka'pamux territory, five kilometers south of Boston Bar, British Columbia. Visitors can experience the Nlaka'pamux village lifestyle as it was before Europeans arrived. Several photos are provided, and its services and tours can be booked online. Tuckkwiowhum Campground is owned by the Boston Bar First Nation and located five minutes south of Boston Bar. Its gas station and store offer status and non-status gas.
https://tuckkwiowhum.ca/
Upper Nicola (Spax̌mn̓) is a First Nations band government in British Columbia situated near the town of Merritt, in Nicola Country at Douglas Lake, and is a member of the Scw'exmx Tribal Council and the Okanagan Nation Alliance. A profile and history of the community are provided, and its chief, council, departments, and career opportunities are featured on the website, which includes public notices, election information, an event calendar, contacts, and a private member portal.
https://uppernicola.com/
