Upper Nicola Band

Within the two communities of spaxmn (Douglas Lake) and n̓łq̓iłəml̓x (Quilchena), there are 138 residential homes. Approximately 363 (37%) of our members live on-reserve . The UNB Housing Society is working on developing more housing to allow UNB members to move home. We are working to develop economic development opportunities to diversify our economy.

The kwU StemtimA/ are working to reassert and assume our full inherent Indigenous jurisdiction as an Aboriginal (S. 35) right in Canada, over our relations, defined as all children, families and community members living on and off reserve.

Chief and Council are working to have deeper understanding of our Inherent rights and aboriginal title, and will be working to support UNB citizens, the rights holders, in building a vision for effective self-governance.

We are a proud, inclusive Syilx community working together to promote suxʷtxtəm, teach our captíkʷł and committed to building foundations through Enowkinwíxʷ.

sp̓iƛ̓m̓, who was Chief of All-the-Roots-Under-the-Ground said, “I will do the same.” Síyaʔ was last. He said, “I will do the same.” All the good things that grows above the ground will be the food for the People-to-be.

Chief Skemxist was happy because there would be enough food for the People-to-be, “Now I will lay my life down to make these things happen.” Because he was the greatest chief and had given his life, all of the People-That-Were (the animal people) gathered and sang songs to bring him back to life. That was how they helped heal each other in that world. They all took turns singing, but Skemxist did not come back to life. Finally, Fly came along. He sang, “You laid your body down. You laid your life down.” His song was powerful, Skemxist came back to life.

Then Fly told the four Chiefs, “When the People-to-be are here and they take your body for food, they will sing this song. They will cry their thanks with this song.” Then Skemxist spoke for all the chiefs, “From now on when the People-to-be come, everything will have its own song. The People-to-be will use these songs to help each other as you have helped me.”