History and Culture

Since time immemorial, the history of the Okanagan began, long before the arrival of the Europeans.

Traditionally, Okanagans (syilx) occupied an area which extended over approximately 69 000 square kilometers. The northern area of this territory was close to the area of Mica Creek, just north of modern day Revelstoke, BC, and the eastern boundary was Kootenay Lake. The southern boundary extended to the vicinity of Wilbur, Washington and the western border extended into the Nicola Valley.

"S-Ookanhkchinx" in the Okanagan language translates to mean "transport toward the head or top end this refers to the people traveling from the head of the Okanagan Lake to where the Okanagan river meet the Columbia river. In other words Okanagan Lake and Okanagan River as well as other water systems were the traditional transportation routes of the syilx.

The Okanagan people were hunters and gatherers, and were noted to be semi-nomadic. Their staple diet consisted of deer, salmon, rabbit and other wild game. The Okanagan's were also gatherers of roots, berries and various other plants.

The first contact with the Okanagans was probably made in the late 1700's through the Hudson's Bay Company. One of the first actual contact dates was recorded in 1805 at Fort Kamloops. The Hudson's Bay "brigade trail" led right through the Okanagan Nation's territory, from Fort Kamloops to Fort Colville, presently know as Colville, Washington. U.S.A.

From that point the influx of European settlers was slow and yet steady, and both the Okanagans and Europeans worked towards a living arrangement that would satisfy both. It was understood that Okanagans would continue to use their traditional hunting, fishing and gathering grounds.

As settlement of the Okanagan increased, the establishment of the international border and the colony of British Columbia joining confederation, put considerable pressure on the Provincial government in B.C. to designate reserves for Native people. This would allow for the settlers to formally own the lands they settled on.

Reserves were finally established in the early 1900's. The Okanagan people opposed the establishment of the reserves without first having negotiated a treaty. Today the Okanagan people still believe that the land is theirs, as no treaty has been negotiated.

For more information on the Original Okanagan People, click here to read part of the first chapter of a book complied by the Okanagan Rights Committe and The Okanagan Indian Education Resources Society for the Okanagan People:

We Get Our Living Like Milk From the Land
Edited by Armstrong, Derickson, Maracle & Young-Ing
Published by Theytus Books Ltd.