About Us
OUR STORY
Weyt-kp xwexweytep (hello everyone).
Simpcw is one of the 17 campfires (bands) that make up the Secwe̓pemc, or Shuswap Nation. Simpcwúl̓ecw (Simpcw Territory) covers 5,000,000 hectares and extends from south of McLure, north to Kakwa Park, west of Goat River, and east of Jasper, including the whole of the North Thompson Valley. Símpcwemc (Simpcw people) take pride in their guardianship of the territory, honoring both our traditions and our responsibilities to the land (plants, minerals, etc. below and above ground), wildlife and people that make their home here, for generations to come Simpcw has over 900 members, many of whom live in Chu Chua, the location of the main village of Simpcw.
Our Territory - Simpcwúl̓ecw
Our Future
The Simpcw people look to the future with confidence. Our governance system is strong and our rights and title to the Simpcw territory within the Secwepemc Nation is being increasingly recognized. We will work on creating a balance between cultural heritage values and economic growth.
Our membership is well educated, healthy and economically stable. We can look forward to supporting our members by continuing to deliver effective education, social and health programs and services. We can become even stronger by participating in community gatherings and activities that reinforce our cultural traditions, and support members’ social, recreational and athletic interests.
Our future is in our hands.
~Nathan Matthew
Our Language - Secwepemctsi̓n
Weyt-kp xwexweytep (hello everyone). Si̓mpcwemc (the Simpcw people) speak the western dialect of Secwepemctsi̓n (the language of the Secwepemc or Shuswap people) which has been passed down from generation to generation. Secwepemctsi̓n is in the Interior Salish language family. It is through the language that the Simpcw are tied so closely to the land and each other. Communities were united by their common language and their shared values based on resource gathering and the maintenance of communal ties. The borrowed English alphabet was used to develop the Secwepemctsi̓n alphabet, which consists of 43 letters. Note that the pronunciation of those letters is phonetically different than the English verbalization.
The Secwe̓pemc language is one of Canada’s endangered First Nation’s languages and is in jeopardy of being lost due to the loss of Elders and the residential schooling systems of the mid-1900s; however, the Simpcw people have been working to revive the language through various methods and programs. Neqweyqwelsten School incorporates language and culture into their everyday learning; A Secwepemctsi̓n class is taught five days a week, where the students learn various topics such as: family, weather/calendar, animals, stories, prayers, and traditional hand drum songs. The teachers and staff also work hard to utilize basic commands in the classroom.
Additionally, our Language and Culture Department is growing. The department is responsible for planning and delivering cultural and language activities for the Simpcw community. Language resources are readily accessible for on and off reserve Si̓mpcwemc. Some examples of the efforts to maintain this traditional knowledge are: stories told by our Elders, handouts and booklets for different categories (family, clothing, colours, etc.), Simpcw territory maps and place names, CDs of Secwepemc children’s songs, stick game/hand drum songs, as well as audio recordings of words and phrases.
For further information, please feel free to contact:
Charli Fortier
Language Manager
Phone: 250.672.9995 ext 265
Charli.Fortier@simpcw.com
Picture top of the page:
Confluence Clearwater and North Thompson River (Photo: Candus Pelton-Graffunder)