I have spent some time in the Caribou region, doing whitewater raft trips with my dad around Williams Lake and Likely. I loved seeing Indigenous people fishing in these mighty rivers as a family and exploring the vast plateaus that make up this region. 

I am really interested in the Tsilhqot’in Nation and would like to further explore the legal history of this area.

FN Population: 9,449

Total Pop’n: 154,300

Pop’n % FN: 6.12%

It spans from the Cariboo plateau in the west to the valleys of the Cariboo and Rocky Mountain ranges. It includes the city of Prince George, which acts as a major service centre for the northern half of the province. Just over 6% of the region’s 153,800 residents are First Nations.

The Cariboo region is characterized by vast forests, rivers, lakes, mountains, and interior plateau lands between the Coast Mountains and the Rockies. The region is comprised of the traditional territories of a number of interior First Nations:

In the 1860s, a gold rush descended on the Cariboo region, bringing prospectors from across North America eager to make their fortunes. Other entrepreneurs soon moved to the area to service the growing boomtowns. Today, resource-based industries such as mining and forestry, as well as spin-off support industries like lumber processing and trucking, continue to play a strong role in the area’s economy. The boom-and-bust nature of these industries, impacted by fluctuating commodities prices, as well as natural disturbances like the Pine Beetle infestation, have contributed to a higher degree of economic instability in the region compared to the province’s more diverse southern economies.

In 2014, the Supreme Court of Canada declared that the Tsilhqot’in Nation (comprised of six individual First Nation bands) held Aboriginal title to the claim area at issue. This decision rejected the notion that Aboriginal title could only exist in small intensively used spots. The Court also confirmed that Aboriginal title confers on the group that holds it, the exclusive right to decide how the land is used and the right to benefit from those uses, subject to the limits set out by the Court.

Esdilagh First Nation

Language Group: Tsilhqot’in

 

Located in Quesnel, BC, ?Esdilagh is a small First Nation that is a part of the Tsilhqot’in National Government.

 

Alexis Creek

Language Group: Tsilhqot’in

Alexis Creek is located 188 km West of Williams Lake, along highway 20. 

 

As part of the Tsilhqot’in National Government, Alexis Creek acts in concert with its fellow Tsilhqot’in member communities to create sustainable economic developments, manage forestry and fisheries, and evaluate mining, oil, and gas propositions in Tsilhqot’in Territory.

 

Canim Lake

Language Group: Secwepemctsín

 

First Nations government of the Secwepemc (Shuswap) Nation, located in the Central Interior region of British Columbia.

 

Esk’etemc

Language Group: Secwepemctsín

 

the majority of the population are located on IR #1 (Esk’et) about 50 kilometres from Williams Lake on the east side of the Fraser River at Alkali Lake. Esk’et reserve has its own fire hall, store, gas station, radio station, and a facility from which Esk’etemc controls and administers health and justice programs

 

Kluskus

Language Group: Dakelh

A Dakelh people whose main reserve located on the Chilcotin Plateau 130 km west of the city of Quesnel, British Columbia.

 

Lheidli T’enneh First Nation

Language Group: Dakelh

 

Traditional territory includes the City of Prince George, British Columbia. The name means “The People from the confluence of the two rivers” in the Carrier language referring to how the Nechako River enters the Fraser River at Prince George.

 

Lhtako Dene Nation

Language Group: Dakelh

 

The Lhtako Dene Nation is part of the Dakehl (or Southern Carrier) Nation in the Athapaskan language group. Our main community is located just south of Quesnel, BC.

 

Lhtako Dene has a Relationship Agreement in place with the Barkerville Gold Mine. Through an agreement with the Provincial Government, Lhtako Dene also began construction of a Biomass Energy Pellet plant. It also has a Clean Energy Business Fun Revenue Sharing Agreement with the Province regarding the Castle Mountain Hydro Project.

 

McLeod Lake Indian Band

Language Group: Tse’khene

 

The main community of McLeod Lake Band is located on McLeod Lake Indian Band Indian Reserves #1 and #5 near the unincorporated village of McLeod Lake, approximately 150 kilometers north of Prince George on Highway 97.

 

McLeod Lake Indian Band owns and operates Duz Cho Logging (DCL), which has been its primary business focus. Employing 140 full-time and seasonal workers, with multi-million dollar annual earning, DCL is one of BC’s largest logging companies. 

 

Nazko First Nation

Language Group: Dakelh

 

The Nazko people, part of the Carrier Nation, are included as the original inhabitants of the north-central region of B.C since at least 2200 B.C. Carrier country is vast, stretching 500 kms from the Coast Mountains in the west to the Rocky Mountains in the east, and 300 kms from Takla Lake in the north to the Chilcotin plateau in the south. 

 

Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation

Language Group: Secwepemctsín

 

Northern Shuswap 

 

Tl’esqox

Language Group: Tsilhqot’in

 

Tl’esqox (Toosey) is a Tsilqot’in community located 50 km West of Williams Lake.

 

Tl’etinqox-t’in Government

Language Group: Tsilhqot’in

We are the Tsilhqot’in-speaking people – the original inhabitants of a vast and beautiful territory that encompasses forests, grasslands, lakes and desert. For thousands of years, the Tsilhqot’in people were self-reliant and well provided for through their own ingenuity and use of the land and nature. 

The Tl’etinqox-t’in Government has commenced the development of a Comprehensive Community Plan that will help outline ‘big picture’ strategies to address issues in all aspects of community life – governance, lands and resources, infrastructure and facilities, health, education, social issues, economic development and more.

 Ulkatcho

Language Group: Dakelh Tsilhqot’in

Ulkatcho people have intermarried heavily with both Nuxalk and Chilcotin people and share territory in the Coast Range with the Nuxalk

 

Williams Lake

Language Group: Secwepemctsín

The Williams Lake Band is a First Nations government of the Secwepemc (Shuswap) Nation, located in the Cariboo region of the Central Interior region of British Columbia, at the city of Williams Lake.

Xat’sull

Language Group: Secwepemctsín

Xat’sull (also known as Soda Creek) is a First Nations government of the Secwepemc (Shuswap) Nation, located in the Cariboo region of the Central Interior region of the Canadian province of British Columbia.

Xeni Gwet’in First Nations Government

Language Group: Tsilhqot’in

 

Xeni is in the heart of British Columbia – the Nemiah Valley. The Nemiah Valley is one of the most beautiful areas within the Cariboo Chilcotin. The land is virtually “un-touched.” The community operates mainly on generators and only was connected to a telephone system in 2009. Xeni Gwet’in (Nemiah) is located 187 km west of Williams Lake turning South from Highway 20 at Hanceville and continuing over the Tsilhqot’in River and Taseko River.

 

Yunesit’in Government

Language Group: Tsilhqot’in

 

Yunesit’in Government does not operate an economic development corporation, but is actively involved in small scale development projects to enhance its community, and also participates in larger economic developments as a member of the Tsilhqot’in National Government.

 

As part of the Tsilhqot’in National Government, Yunesit’in acts in concert with its fellow Tsilhqot’in member communities to create sustainable economic developments.