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Skwelkwekwelt
Tod Mountain at Sun Peaks
Skwelkwekwelt is an important hunting area for moose and deer. Traditionally, the people set up hunting camps where they would dry enough moose and deer meat for the entire winter supply. Many roots and medicines were harvested by the people at Skwelkwekwelt. This traditional use area is being destroyed by major expansion to the Sun Peaks Ski resort and by logging.
Sts’gil’xtn
Revelstoke, B. C.
St’gil’xtn is within the traditional territory of the Lakes Secwepemc. It is an important hunting and trapping area. Traditionally, the Secwepemc would trap many furs in the area. It is also an important huckleberry picking area. The Secwepemc also fished in the area lakes at different seasons.
Cemetetkwe
Cemetkwe means “sitting in the water”. The island was named as place marker as the Lakes Secwepemc traveled on the Shuswap Lakes. Coyote’s blood (red markings on the rocks) can be seen on the island. Coyote tricked the grouse’s children and their parents got angry with Coyote. They pushed him over the steep cliff where he died and left his blood on the rocks.
Tsqwmemek
Lions Head rock across the South Thompson River at Monte Creek
Tsqwmemek is one the place markers the Secwepemc used in their traveling routes. The Lakes Secwepemc frequently traveled to Kamloops and other western areas to hunt, fish, and harvest berries and medicines and to visit other Secwepemc. Along their routes, they named places as markers. The name Tsqwmemek means “pregnant mountain” in Secwepemctsin.
Sk’elpakw
Pillar Lake (between Falkland and Chase)
Sk’elpakw, known as Pillar Lake, is the lake between Falkland and Chase, B.C. Sk’elpakw is an important hunting and fishing area for the Secwepemc. Above the lake, is the one of the Coyote rock markers. Coyote traveled throughout the land of the Secwepemc and marked out their territory by rock markers.
Sek’mews
Sicamouse, B C.
Sek’mews is an important hunting and harvesting area for the Lakes Secwepemc. The people set up many camps to hunt and pick huckleberries and other berries. Traditionally, it was an overnight camping place as the people traveled toward the Rocky Mountains.
Swetsmellp
Salmon Arm
Swetsmellp is what now Salmon Arm, B. C. is the place was name after the soapberry bush because of the vast amounts of it found there. Swetsmellp is one of the traditional village areas of the Lakes Secwepemc. It was a prime area for fishing because of its proximity to Shuswap Lake. The people also harvested many other types of berries and medicines and still do so today.
Pexeten
Pinantan
Pexeten is an important hunting and harvesting area for the Secwepemc. The Lakes Secwepemc often camped at this area as they were traveling to Kamloops and other western locations. The people fished in the nearby lakes.
Cwkwikwuyt
Scotch Creek
Cwkwikwuyt is located at what is now known as Scotch Creek, B. C. It is an important hunting and berry picking area. The people also gather cedar roots and birch bark for baskets in this area.
Traditionally, Cwkwikwuyt was a camping site as the people traveled over the mountains to the north end of Adams Lake.
Celewt
The area on the north side of the Neskonlith reserve
Celewt is located on the north side of the South Thompson River on the Neskonlith reserve. Traditionally it was a huge settlement. You can find the depressions in the ground from the winter home sites. Many salmon drying racks were set up along the river as the people speared the salmon in the fall. Ice fishing was done in the winter months. Today the Neskonlith people still go night spearing on the river and smoke the salmon they way it was done traditionally.
Secwpemculecw
All the land within the Secwepemc territory
The territory of the Secwepemc extends from the Columbia River Valley on the east slope of the Rocky Mountains to the Fraser River on the west and from the upper Fraser River in the north to the Arrow Lakes in the south. Secwepemc territory covers a vast area; approximately 180,000 square km.
Back to Secwepemc Lands
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