Xeni Gwet'in First Nation
Encyclopedia
The Xeni Gwet'in First Nation is a First Nations government located in the southwestern Chilcotin District
in the western Central Interior
region of the Canadian province of British Columbia
. It is a member of the Tsilhqot'in Tribal Council
.
The Xeni Gwet'in First Nation reserve community and offices are located at the wilderness community of Nemaia Valley, which lies between Chilko Lake
and the Taseko Lakes
.
The area is not served by the main BC Hydro grid, and so (except for the subdivision) all houses are run on generators and solar power.
The local school runs from kindergarten to grade 8 in three classrooms; it is unusual for the area in having mostly long-term residents as teachers.
Chilcotin District
The Chilcotin District of British Columbia is usually known simply as "the Chilcotin", and also in speech commonly as "the Chilcotin Country" or simply Chilcotin. It is a plateau and mountain region in British Columbia on the inland lea of the Coast Mountains on the west side of the Fraser River....
in the western Central Interior
British Columbia Interior
The British Columbia Interior or BC Interior or Interior of British Columbia, usually referred to only as the Interior, is one of the three main regions of the Canadian province of British Columbia, the other two being the Lower Mainland, which comprises the overlapping areas of Greater Vancouver...
region of the Canadian province of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. It is a member of the Tsilhqot'in Tribal Council
Tsilhqot'in Tribal Council
The Tsilhqot'in Tribal Council, also known as the Tsilhqot'in National Government is a First Nations tribal council government located in the Chilcotin District of the Central Interior of the Canadian province of British Columbia, and also on the Fraser River near the city of Quesnel.Some...
.
The Xeni Gwet'in First Nation reserve community and offices are located at the wilderness community of Nemaia Valley, which lies between Chilko Lake
Chilko Lake
Chilko Lake is a 180 km² lake in west-central British Columbia, at the head of the Chilko River on the Chilcotin Plateau. The lake is about 65 km long, with a southwest arm 10 km long. It is one of the largest lakes by volume in the province because of its great depth, and the...
and the Taseko Lakes
Taseko Lakes
The Taseko Lakes are a pair of lakes, Upper Taseko Lake and Lower Taseko Lake, which are expansions of the upper Taseko River in the southern Chilcotin District of the Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada...
.
Chief and Councillors
Marilyn Baptiste was recently elected chief. Most observers regard this community as one of the best-managed in the area.Treaty Process
The band recently won a court decision on its treaty rights (William v. HMTQ), and the process has returned to negotiations.Demographics
There are about 300 people living on the reserve, with a handful of non-native people in the area.Economic Development
The band has an active business management program, which runs the local roads yard as well as a gas-bar. Many new houses have been built in the subdivsion area near the band office, with an electrical grid.The area is not served by the main BC Hydro grid, and so (except for the subdivision) all houses are run on generators and solar power.
Social, Educational and Cultural Programs and Facilities
The band has taken over the management of its health program, the only one of the Chilcotin communities to do so.The local school runs from kindergarten to grade 8 in three classrooms; it is unusual for the area in having mostly long-term residents as teachers.
See also
- Tsilhqot'inTsilhqot'inThe Tsilhqot'in are a Northern Athabaskan First Nations people that live in British Columbia, Canada...
- Chilcotin languageChilcotin languageChilcotin is a Northern Athabaskan language spoken in British Columbia by the Tsilhqot’in people....
- Chilcotin DistrictChilcotin DistrictThe Chilcotin District of British Columbia is usually known simply as "the Chilcotin", and also in speech commonly as "the Chilcotin Country" or simply Chilcotin. It is a plateau and mountain region in British Columbia on the inland lea of the Coast Mountains on the west side of the Fraser River....
- Chilcotin WarChilcotin WarThe Chilcotin War, Chilcotin Uprising or Bute Inlet Massacre was a confrontation in 1864 between members of the Tsilhqot'in people in British Columbia and white road construction workers...
- KlattasineKlattasineKlattasine was the young chief of the Chilcotin tribe who became famous during the British Columbia gold rush....
- Chilko LakeChilko LakeChilko Lake is a 180 km² lake in west-central British Columbia, at the head of the Chilko River on the Chilcotin Plateau. The lake is about 65 km long, with a southwest arm 10 km long. It is one of the largest lakes by volume in the province because of its great depth, and the...
- Tsy'los Provincial Park
- Tsilhqot'in Tribal CouncilTsilhqot'in Tribal CouncilThe Tsilhqot'in Tribal Council, also known as the Tsilhqot'in National Government is a First Nations tribal council government located in the Chilcotin District of the Central Interior of the Canadian province of British Columbia, and also on the Fraser River near the city of Quesnel.Some...
- Carrier-Chilcotin Tribal CouncilCarrier-Chilcotin Tribal CouncilThe Carrier-Chilcotin Tribal Council is a First Nations tribal council located in the Chilcotin District of the Central Interior of the Canadian province of British Columbia, and also on the Fraser River near the city of Quesnel....