The Chilcotin River. Photo: Williams Lake First Nation.
"The homes built in these trenches are older than the pyramids! It's incredible that we are still uncovering new information about communities that thrived here for thousands of years," explains Whitney Spearing, Director of the Natural Resources Department of the Williams Lake First Nation, who helped coordinate and guide the recent study and excavations.
Urgent Action Leads to Historic Discoveries
The Secwépemc Tribe, known to non-Indigenous people as the “Shuswap,” is a nation of 17 groups that once inhabited the southern-central part of British Columbia, Canada. The ancestors of the Secwépemc lived in the interior for at least 10,000 years.
When they first interacted with Europeans in the late 18th century, the Secwépemc had claimed vast territories. Their nation was a political alliance that regulated the use of land and resources, safeguarding the Shuswap lands.
Although the groups within the nation were distinct and independent, they were united by a common language—Secwepemctsin—and a shared culture and belief system.
Traditionally, the Secwépemc territory covered an expansive area of about 180,000 square miles. It was a diverse environment, though much of the once-thriving ecosystem has been destroyed by logging, mining, mass tourism, and other commercial activities.
In the most recent case, a natural disaster put the Secwépemc lands at risk. Fears of additional landslides, which could destroy historically significant sites, prompted immediate action. Just one day after the first landslide, on August 1st, the Williams Lake First Nation Foundation secured LiDAR scanning of the area, with support from the Province of British Columbia.
Later that month, the Williams Lake First Nation Foundation, Esk’etemc, and the Province of British Columbia signed an intergovernmental agreement to address the impacts of the landslide.
The agreement outlined a collaborative strategy to protect fishing grounds, combat environmental degradation, preserve cultural heritage, and share key information.
Though the landslide did not cause widespread destruction, it impacted several of Secwépemc's village sites that had not been affected by European contact. Among the most damaged were the villages of Tecwilúps, Nexelp, and Kwomesken. Tecwilúps, a once-important settlement at the confluence of the Chilcotin and Fraser rivers, suffered extensive damage.
The leader of the Secwépemc tribe in the 19th century, Lolo, the most popular and recognized chief of the First Nations in British North America, with his wife and two daughters, in 1865. Photo: Archives Canada (C. Gentile).
Nexelp and Kwomesken, located near Farwell Canyon, also sustained significant losses. These villages, recorded in archaeological and ethnographic records for years, were known to be central to Secwépemc life. Although many have since vanished, the first phase of the new research revealed a much broader history than previously recorded.
“We’ve always known there were more than the four major villages that were mentioned in Teit’s work,” explains Spearing, referring to the prominent ethnographer who documented many of the Secwépemc sites.
“We never expected there would be so many, or that some of them would be so large.”
Between August 15 and November 29, scholars conducted on-site studies of the identified areas using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), LiDAR scanning technology, and visual assessments of the areas affected by the landslide.
The findings were impressive: 70 archaeological sites were recorded, both new and previously documented. Among them, 31 were verified to be Secwepemc villages predating European contact, while seven contained sacred elements such as burial grounds, stone art, and caves. Nearly half of the sites explored, besides the landslide damage, had also been affected by the devastating wildfires of 2017 in the Cariboo-Chilcotin region.
Reconstruction of an ancient pit house. Photo: Bonnie Leonard (SNTC)
“It’s remarkable when you think about how much history has remained hidden until today,” Spearing reflects.
“The findings redefine our understanding of the past and confirm the deep, historical connection the Secwépemc people have to this land.”
“Historical and ethnographic records show that the Secwépemc communities in the canyon, known as Ste’tlemc, played an important role in regional trade networks for over 4,000 years.”
However, the smallpox epidemic of 1860 decimated these communities, forcing survivors to seek refuge in other Secwépemc villages like Esk’etemc and Stswecem’c Xget’tem.
Many also maintained smaller settlements to the west of the Fraser River, continuing their deep relationship with the land.
“Esk’etemc had homes at River Camp (Se’tl) until 1963, when they were burned,” says Chief Francis Johnson Jr.
“There were also sites at the Douglas refuge that were lost in the floods of the Chilcotin River.”
Looking Ahead: The Cultural Heritage Restoration Plan
With the completion of the first phase, preparations are already underway for the second phase of the restoration program for the cultural heritage impacted by the Chilcotin River landslide.
The next phase focuses on the protection and documentation of archaeological and cultural sites affected by the landslide, along with gathering detailed research data to assess the damage and design recovery strategies.
“The findings have not only changed what we know about the past but also how we can protect this history in the future,” Spearing concludes.
Secwepemc Tribal Dwelling at Cultural Heritage Park. Photo: Bonnie Leonard (SNTC).
Tribe dwelling, Secwepemc Cultural Heritage Park. Photo: Bonnie Leonard (SNTC).
“Each site we recognize, every piece of history we document, is a step toward reclaiming and preserving our history.”
This sentiment is echoed by Chief Willie Sellars of the Williams Lake First Nation.
“The Chilcotin River landslide was an event that not only affected the land but revealed deeper truths about our history and our connection to this land,” he explains.
“Cultural heritage studies strengthen what our ancestors always knew—that they lived, thrived, and kept their knowledge alive long before recorded history.”
“This project is not just about archaeology,” adds Chief Sellars. “It honors the stories of our ancestors, protects the places where their spirits live, and ensures that future generations will walk this land with the same knowledge and connection.”
“The Williams Lake First Nation Foundation is committed to protecting the unity and respect for these cultural sites and strengthening ties with those who share the need to protect this land.”
The Secwépemc Tribe has lived on the land of present-day British Columbia for thousands of years, with deep cultural and historical ties to the region. Each new discovery deepens the understanding of their long-standing presence and history.
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