In western Canada, the Secwépemc people built an extraordinarily successful and expansive civilization. At the same time the Mesopotamians and the ancient Egyptians were making history in another part of the world, the Secwépemc were thriving in their homeland, and they left behind an archaeological legacy that has turned out to be more expansive and significant than anyone could have imagined.
Following the landslide and subsequent release of the Chilcotin River (traditionally known as Pesxenmétkwe) in July and August of 2024, two peoples directly descended from the ancient Secwépemc, the Williams Lake First Nation (WLFN) and the Esk’etemc, completed the first phase of an extensive cultural heritage study designed to identify and protect all the Secwépemc sites that can still be found in British Columbia.
This investigation focused on the region from Hanceville to the Chilcotin River’s mouth, including the historically significant Farwell Canyon. While it was well established that several Secwépemc villages once thrived in the area, newly uncovered archaeological findings are providing fresh insight into a once-flourishing division of the Secwépemc Nation, which was devastated by smallpox in the 1860s. The ruins and remains of many previously undetected settlements have been discovered, telling the story of a highly successful people with a record of marvelous accomplishments dating back to the third or fourth millennium BC.
“These pit houses are older than the pyramids! It’s incredible that we’re still uncovering new insights about the communities that thrived here for thousands of years,” exclaimed Whitney Spearing, WLFN’s Director of Natural Resources who helped organized and lead the latest heritage survey and associated excavations.
Pit house, Secwepemc Heritage Park. (Bonnie Leonard (SNTC)).
Emergency Action Leads to History-Making Finds
The Secwépemc people, known by non natives as the Shuswap, are a Nation of 17 bands occupying the south central part of the Province of British Columbia, Canada. The ancestors of the Secwépemc people have lived in the interior of BC for at least 10,000 years.
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At the time of contact with Europeans in the late 18th century, the Secwépemc occupied a vast territory . The Nation was a political alliance that regulated use of the land and resources, and protected the territories of the Shuswap. Although the bands were separate and independent, they were united by a common language - Secwepemctsin - and a similar culture and belief system.
Traditional Secwepemc territory covers a vast area; approximately 70,000 square miles (180,000 square km). The territory featured a varied environment, although much of the past ecosystem has been destroyed by forestry, mining, mass scale tourisms, and other commercial developments.
In the latest instance, it was a natural disaster that put the Secwépemc at risk. With concerns that further landslides could erase critical historical sites, swift action was necessary. Within a day of the initial landslide on August 1, WLFN secured LiDAR scans with support from the Province of British Columbia. Later in the month, WLFN, Esk’etemc, and British Columbia signed a government-to-government Letter of Understanding (LOU) to address the landslide’s effects. This agreement outlined a collaborative approach to protecting fisheries, mitigating environmental damage, preserving cultural heritage, and sharing vital information.
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Although the landslide did not reach catastrophic proportions, it inflicted serious damage on several known pre-contact Secwépemc village sites. Among the most affected were Tecwilúps, Nexelp, and Kwomesken’s Village. Tecwilúps, once a significant settlement at the confluence of the Chilcotin and Fraser Rivers, suffered extensive destruction. Nexelp and Kwomesken’s Village, located near Farwell Canyon, also experienced major losses. These villages, long documented in archaeological and ethnographic records, were known to be central hubs of Secwépemc life.
While much has been lost, the new study’s first phase revealed a far more extensive history than previously recorded.
“We always knew there were more than just the four main village sites referenced in Teit’s work,” said Spearing, referencing the prominent ethnographer who documented many Secwépemc sites. “But we had no idea there were this many, or that some of these sites were as large as they are.”
Reconstruction of an ancient pit house frame in Secwepemc Heritage Park. (Bonnie Leonard (SNTC))
Between August 15 and November 29, 2024, researchers conducted fieldwork in areas identified through GIS modeling, LiDAR scans, and visual assessments of landslide-affected locations. The findings were remarkable: 70 archaeological sites, both newly identified and previously recorded, were documented. Among these, 31 were confirmed as pre-contact Secwépemc village sites, and seven contained sacred elements such as burial grounds, rock art, and caves. Nearly half of the sites surveyed had been impacted not only by the landslide but also by the devastating 2017 Cariboo-Chilcotin wildfires.
“It’s astonishing to think that so much of this history remained hidden until now,” Spearing stated. “These findings not only reshape our understanding of the past but also reaffirm the deep and enduring connection of Secwépemc people to this land.”
Historical and ethnographic records indicate that the Secwépemc communities in the canyon, known as Ste’tlemc, played a major role in regional trade networks for over 4,000 years. The smallpox epidemic of the 1860s, however, devastated these communities, forcing survivors to seek refuge in other Secwépemc villages such as Esk’etemc and Stswecem’c Xget’tem. Many also maintained smaller settlements west of the Fraser River, preserving their connection to the land.
“Esk’etemc had houses at River Camp (Se’tl) until 1963 when they were burned down,” says Hereditary Chief Francis Johnson Jr. “There were also Douglas Reserve posts that were lost due to the flooding of the Chilcotin River.”
19th century Secwépemc leader Chief Lolo, who was said to be the most famous and celebrated First Nations chief in British North America, with his wife and two daughters, 1865. (Archives Canada (C. Gentile)).
Looking Ahead: Phase 2 of the Recovery Plan
With the completion of Phase 1, preparations for the second phase of the Chilcotin River Slide Cultural Heritage Recovery Plan are already underway. This next stage will focus on protecting and documenting archaeological and cultural sites affected by the landslide, and on collecting detailed research data to assess damage and develop recovery strategies.
“These findings don’t just change what we know about the past—they change what we can protect for the future,” Spearing said. “Every site we identify, every piece of history we document, is a step toward reclaiming and preserving our story.”
Chief Willie Sellars of WLFN echoed this sentiment.
“The Chilcotin River landslide was a significant event that not only impacted the land but also revealed deeper truths about our history and connection to these territories,” he said. “The cultural heritage study reinforces what our people have always known—our ancestors lived, thrived, and carried their knowledge forward here since time immemorial.
“This work is about more than archaeology,” Chief Sellars continued. “It’s about honoring the stories of our Elders, protecting the places that hold the spirit of our people, and ensuring that future generations can walk these lands with the same understanding and connection. Williams Lake First Nation is committed to working in the spirit of unity and respect to safeguard these cultural sites and strengthen our relationships with all those who share in the responsibility of caring for this land.”
West end of Shuswap Lake, British Columbia, Canada, named for the Secwépemc/Shuswap people who occupied the surrounding territory. (The Interior/CC By-SA 4.0).
The Secwépemc people have occupied the land in modern-day British Columbia for thousands of ears, maintaining deep cultural and historical ties to the region, and each new archaeological discovery adds depth to the narrative of their enduring presence.
Top image: Chilcotin River in British Columbia, near site of where some of the heritage-related survey and excavation activities took place.
Source: Williams Lake First Nation.
This article is an edited version of a news article published by the Williams Lake First Nation Council, entitled ‘Phase 1 Secwépemc Cultural Heritage Study Findings – A Response to the Chilcotin River Landslide.’
