{"id":315,"date":"2024-06-08T22:13:21","date_gmt":"2024-06-09T06:13:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress.stlatlimxpolice.ca\/?page_id=315"},"modified":"2025-10-22T20:20:11","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T04:20:11","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/stlatlimxpolice.ca\/?page_id=315","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div style=\"padding-left:5%;padding-right:5%;padding-bottom:1%;padding-top:1%\" class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-container alignfull gb-block-container\"><div class=\"gb-container-inside\"><div class=\"gb-container-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-5f71d1f1 alignfull uagb-is-root-container\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-d40aa9a5\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-437d8564 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-left uagb-infobox-left uagb-infobox-stacked-tablet uagb-infobox-image-valign-middle\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-image-content\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stlatlimxpolice.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2024-05-24-Lillooet-Gun-Club-resized-bigger.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"450\" height=\"337\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">About Stl&#8217;atl&#8217;imx Tribal Police Service<\/h3><\/div><p class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\">The STPS provides full service policing to ten participating St&#8217;at&#8217;imc communities. The expansive St&#8217;at&#8217;imc traditional territory covers over 20,000 square kilometres of BC&#8217;s Coast Mountain region. Communities in southern St&#8217;at&#8217;imc include; Lil&#8217;wat, N&#8217;Quatqua, Samahquam, Skatin and Xa&#8217;xtsa. Communities in northern St&#8217;at&#8217;imc include; Sekw&#8217;el&#8217;was, T&#8217;it&#8217;q&#8217;et, Tsal&#8217;alh, Ts&#8217;kw&#8217;aylaxw and Xaxli&#8217;p. The service functions under a Tripartite agreement signed by the Chiefs of the communities, the BC Ministry of Public Safety (PSSG) and Public Safety Canada. The STPS is one of over a dozen BC Municipal Police Services.  Notably, it is the only First Nations policing organization in the province.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-separator uagb-block-397390fb\"><div class=\"uagb-separator-spacing-wrapper\"><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-separator__inner\" style=\"--my-background-image:url(&quot;data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg width='8' height='16' viewBox='0 0 8 16' fill='none' xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%3E%3Crect width='8' height='16' fill='black'\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E&quot;)\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-74e72f86 alignfull uagb-is-root-container\">\n<div data-aos= \"fade\" data-aos-duration=\"400\" data-aos-delay=\"0\" data-aos-easing=\"ease\" data-aos-once=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-uagb-tabs uagb-block-6698eb8d uagb-tabs__wrap uagb-tabs__hstyle3-desktop uagb-tabs__hstyle2-tablet uagb-tabs__stack1-mobile\" data-tab-active=\"0\"><ul class=\"uagb-tabs__panel uagb-tabs__align-center\" role=\"tablist\"><li class=\"uagb-tab uagb-tabs__active\" role=\"none\"><a href=\"#uagb-tabs__tab0\" class=\"uagb-tabs-list uagb-tabs__icon-position-left\" data-tab=\"0\" role=\"tab\"><div>Territory Map<\/div><\/a><\/li><li class=\"uagb-tab \" role=\"none\"><a href=\"#uagb-tabs__tab1\" class=\"uagb-tabs-list uagb-tabs__icon-position-left\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"tab\"><div>10 Participating St&#8217;at&#8217;imc Communities<\/div><\/a><\/li><li class=\"uagb-tab \" role=\"none\"><a href=\"#uagb-tabs__tab2\" class=\"uagb-tabs-list uagb-tabs__icon-position-left\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"tab\"><div>History of the Service<\/div><\/a><\/li><li class=\"uagb-tab \" role=\"none\"><a href=\"#uagb-tabs__tab3\" class=\"uagb-tabs-list uagb-tabs__icon-position-left\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"tab\"><div>St&#8217;at&#8217;imc Culture<\/div><\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class=\"uagb-tabs__body-wrap\">\n<div data-aos= \"fade\" data-aos-duration=\"400\" data-aos-delay=\"0\" data-aos-easing=\"ease\" data-aos-once=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-uagb-tabs-child uagb-tabs__body-container uagb-inner-tab-0\" aria-labelledby=\"uagb-tabs__tab0\" id=\"territory-map\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-4f33d105 alignfull uagb-is-root-container\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-image aligncenter uagb-block-d7fc3d0c wp-block-uagb-image--layout-default wp-block-uagb-image--effect-static wp-block-uagb-image--align-center is-style-zoooom territory-map\"><figure class=\"wp-block-uagb-image__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\"  sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 150px\" src=\"http:\/\/wordpress.stlatlimxpolice.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/stps-2020-2021-ar-st-at-imc-territory-scc_orig.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"659\" height=\"800\" title=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" role=\"img\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div data-aos= \"fade\" data-aos-duration=\"400\" data-aos-delay=\"0\" data-aos-easing=\"ease\" data-aos-once=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-uagb-tabs-child uagb-tabs__body-container uagb-inner-tab-1\" aria-labelledby=\"uagb-tabs__tab1\" id=\"participating-communities\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-9c42d4d4 alignfull uagb-is-root-container\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-0bf077c4\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-team uagb-team__image-position-above uagb-team__align-center uagb-team__stack-tablet uagb-block-e44f8579\"><div class=\"uagb-team__content\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"uagb-team__image-crop-square\" src=\"http:\/\/wordpress.stlatlimxpolice.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/lilwat-logo-trans.png\" alt=\"\" height=\"100\" width=\"100\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><div class=\"uagb-team__title\"><strong><strong><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.lilwat.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Lil&#8217;wat<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/div><span class=\"uagb-team__prefix\"><\/span><p class=\"uagb-team__desc\"><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-a70e656f\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-team uagb-team__image-position-above uagb-team__align-center uagb-team__stack-tablet uagb-block-2847eebf\"><div class=\"uagb-team__content\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"uagb-team__image-crop-square\" src=\"http:\/\/wordpress.stlatlimxpolice.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/NQuatqua.png\" alt=\"\" height=\"100\" width=\"100\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><div class=\"uagb-team__title\"><strong><strong><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nquatqua.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nquatqua.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">N&#8217;Quatqua<\/span><\/a><\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/div><span class=\"uagb-team__prefix\"><\/span><p class=\"uagb-team__desc\"><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-e998e549\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-team uagb-team__image-position-above uagb-team__align-center uagb-team__stack-tablet uagb-block-5a7d1055\"><div class=\"uagb-team__content\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"uagb-team__image-crop-square\" src=\"http:\/\/wordpress.stlatlimxpolice.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/samahquam.png\" alt=\"\" height=\"100\" width=\"100\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><div class=\"uagb-team__title\"><strong><strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.samahquam.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Samahquam<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/div><span class=\"uagb-team__prefix\"><\/span><p class=\"uagb-team__desc\"><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-c321f83a\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-team uagb-team__image-position-above uagb-team__align-center uagb-team__stack-tablet uagb-block-3595c35c\"><div class=\"uagb-team__content\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"uagb-team__image-crop-square\" src=\"http:\/\/wordpress.stlatlimxpolice.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Skatin.png\" alt=\"\" height=\"100\" width=\"100\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><div class=\"uagb-team__title\"><strong><strong><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/skatin.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Skatin<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/div><span class=\"uagb-team__prefix\"><\/span><p class=\"uagb-team__desc\"><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-f890c4eb\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-team uagb-team__image-position-above uagb-team__align-center uagb-team__stack-tablet uagb-block-ccde385f\"><div class=\"uagb-team__content\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"uagb-team__image-crop-square\" src=\"http:\/\/wordpress.stlatlimxpolice.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/xaxtsa.png\" alt=\"\" height=\"100\" width=\"100\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><div class=\"uagb-team__title\"><strong><strong><strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.xaxtsa.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Xa&#8217;xtsa<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/div><span class=\"uagb-team__prefix\"><\/span><p class=\"uagb-team__desc\"><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-ef219f13 alignfull uagb-is-root-container\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-b0367bfb\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-team uagb-team__image-position-above uagb-team__align-center uagb-team__stack-tablet uagb-block-7ba90fcb\"><div class=\"uagb-team__content\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"uagb-team__image-crop-square\" src=\"http:\/\/wordpress.stlatlimxpolice.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Sekwelwas.png\" alt=\"\" height=\"100\" width=\"100\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><div class=\"uagb-team__title\"><strong><strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/cayoosecreek.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Sekw&#8217;el&#8217;was<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/div><span class=\"uagb-team__prefix\"><\/span><p class=\"uagb-team__desc\"><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-c33a293b\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-team uagb-team__image-position-above uagb-team__align-center uagb-team__stack-tablet uagb-block-359126c4\"><div class=\"uagb-team__content\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"uagb-team__image-crop-square\" src=\"http:\/\/wordpress.stlatlimxpolice.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Titqet.png\" alt=\"\" height=\"100\" width=\"100\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><div class=\"uagb-team__title\"><strong><strong><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nquatqua.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.titqet.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">T&#8217;it&#8217;q&#8217;et<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/div><span class=\"uagb-team__prefix\"><\/span><p class=\"uagb-team__desc\"><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-58178959\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-team uagb-team__image-position-above uagb-team__align-center uagb-team__stack-tablet uagb-block-cd007615\"><div class=\"uagb-team__content\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"uagb-team__image-crop-square\" src=\"http:\/\/wordpress.stlatlimxpolice.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Tsalalh.png\" alt=\"\" height=\"100\" width=\"100\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><div class=\"uagb-team__title\"><strong><strong><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/tsalalh.net\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Tsal&#8217;alh<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/div><span class=\"uagb-team__prefix\"><\/span><p class=\"uagb-team__desc\"><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-129f467c\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-team uagb-team__image-position-above uagb-team__align-center uagb-team__stack-tablet uagb-block-0fa4dd14\"><div class=\"uagb-team__content\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"uagb-team__image-crop-square\" src=\"http:\/\/wordpress.stlatlimxpolice.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Tskwaylaxw.png\" alt=\"\" height=\"100\" width=\"100\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><div class=\"uagb-team__title\"><strong><strong><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.tskwaylaxw.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Ts&#8217;kw&#8217;aylaxw<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/div><span class=\"uagb-team__prefix\"><\/span><p class=\"uagb-team__desc\"><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-dae677d2\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-team uagb-team__image-position-above uagb-team__align-center uagb-team__stack-tablet uagb-block-0ce50eb2\"><div class=\"uagb-team__content\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"uagb-team__image-crop-square\" src=\"http:\/\/wordpress.stlatlimxpolice.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/xaxlip.png\" alt=\"\" height=\"100\" width=\"100\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><div class=\"uagb-team__title\"><strong><strong><strong><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.xaxlip.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Xaxli&#8217;p<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/div><span class=\"uagb-team__prefix\"><\/span><p class=\"uagb-team__desc\"><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div data-aos= \"fade\" data-aos-duration=\"400\" data-aos-delay=\"0\" data-aos-easing=\"ease\" data-aos-once=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-uagb-tabs-child uagb-tabs__body-container uagb-inner-tab-2\" aria-labelledby=\"uagb-tabs__tab2\" id=\"stps-history\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-722c17d2 alignfull uagb-is-root-container\"><p class=\"fonts-plugin-block \" style=\"font-family: Montserrat;font-weight: 700;font-size: 24px;text-align: center;color: #005269\">STPS HISTORY<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-ad2f72ca wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><p class=\"fonts-plugin-block \" style=\"font-family: Nunito;font-weight: 400;font-size: 14px;line-height: 1.5;text-align: left;color: #000000\">The Stl&#8217;atl&#8217;imx Tribal Police Service (STPS) evolved from a security program implemented by the Lillooet Band Council in 1986 to becoming the only self-administered First Nations Police Service in British Columbia today. Under the original program, security personnel patrolled reserve areas, engaged in preventative work, and reported criminal activity to the RCMP as appropriate.<br><br>In 1988 the Lillooet Tribal Council expanded the concept by creating a peacekeeping program for the Lillooet Tribe. Eight peacekeepers were assigned to the St&#8217;at&#8217;imc communities of T&#8217;it&#8217;q&#8217;et,\u00a0Tsal&#8217;alh, and Lil&#8217;wat Nation.<br><br>In 1992 a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between seven St&#8217;at&#8217;imc communities, the Solicitor General of Canada and the Attorney General of the province of British Columbia.\u00a0 This MOU established the peacekeeping program as a tribal policing pilot project.<br><br>The MOU included a Protocol Agreement with the RCMP, who was the provincial police force.\u00a0 The RCMP retained jurisdictional authority in the participating communities. The\u00a0pilot project was funded by the\u00a0federal and provincial governments.<br><br>Over the next few years, modifications were made to the initial MOU,\u00a0including the signing of additional participating St&#8217;at&#8217;imc communities.\u00a0 Finally, in 1999, the STPS was\u00a0established as a designated policing force unit and police force, with full jurisdictional authority under the Policing Act (s.4.1 &#8211; 4.2).\u00a0<br><br>Currently, the five-years Tripartite Agreement signed between the ten communities, Public Safety Canada and the BC Ministry of Public Safety &amp; Solicitor General has increased to ten-years. As well, the STPS &#8211; RCMP Protocol Agreement is undergoing some changes to reflect the increased role of the STPS and its positive working relationship with the RCMP.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"fonts-plugin-block \" style=\"font-family: Montserrat;font-weight: 700;font-size: 24px;text-align: center;color: #005269\">Before The STPS There Were The Watchmen<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-ad2f72ca wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><p class=\"fonts-plugin-block \" style=\"font-family: Nunito;font-weight: 400;font-size: 14px;line-height: 1.5;text-align: left;color: #000000\"><em>An Elder from Xaxli&#8217;p recalls the Watchmen System being in place in the 1950\u2019s and earlier.\u00a0 It was an old system that was effective and strong.\u00a0 It was strong due to the language and the language made a difference.\u00a0 There was a head Watchmen and trainees who would take over when the head Watchmen passed on.\u00a0 Watchmen had to be in good physical shape.<\/em><br><br><em>The Watchmen disciplined the young people.\u00a0 For example, there was a time when young people were expected to be home.\u00a0 If not home at that hour, the Watchmen would round up the youth and bring them home.\u00a0 Further, when the youth continued to be belligerent, they were brought to a meeting to face the people.\u00a0 The youth would kneel in front while other business took place.\u00a0 Finally, nearing the end of the meeting, the people would determine what would happen to the youth.<\/em><br><em>The Xaxli&#8217;p Elder told a story that took place in Mt. Currie.\u00a0 While playing with other children he came across a strawberry patch owned by Elders.\u00a0 Assuming that no-one saw them the children took some strawberries.\u00a0 Soon after, a meeting was called.\u00a0 Someone told his mother that the boy had to go up to the front and kneel down in front of the people.\u00a0 His mother asked him what he had done wrong but the boy could not recall anything.\u00a0 On his way up to the front and while on his knees he still could not recollect any misdeeds.<\/em><br><br><em>The Elder remembers, in amazement, the memory of that meeting.\u00a0 The women sat in front, the men and Council were in the back, and the Chief sat by himself.\u00a0 The people went through the business of the meeting.\u00a0 Wrapping up the end of the meeting the Chief got up and told a story.\u00a0 In this story, a man took things that did not belong to him.\u00a0 Consequently, he was ousted out of the community and lived by himself until he passed on.\u00a0 No one helped this person.\u00a0 The Chief said that if these kids took things that did not belong to them then the same thing would happen to them.\u00a0 When the children went outside afterwards the Watchmen and the people shunned them.\u00a0 When his mother found out what he had done, she had him pack wood and water for the old people.\u00a0 Prior to stealing from them, the boy regularly helped out the old people.\u00a0 But now, because of what he had done, they ignored him.\u00a0 It took a long time before the people began to acknowledge him again.\u00a0 The boy had learned his lesson.<\/em><br><br><em>The Watchmen system was in place to keep the order and peace in a community.\u00a0 Each community in the St\u2019at\u2019imc territory may have had their own Watchmen system.\u00a0 These systems may have differed according to the ways and the traditions of each distinct group of people.&#8221;<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div data-aos= \"fade\" data-aos-duration=\"400\" data-aos-delay=\"0\" data-aos-easing=\"ease\" data-aos-once=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-uagb-tabs-child uagb-tabs__body-container uagb-inner-tab-3\" aria-labelledby=\"uagb-tabs__tab3\" id=\"statimc-culture\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-container gb-block-container\"><div class=\"gb-container-inside\"><div class=\"gb-container-content\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"margin-bottom:2%\" class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-container gb-block-container\"><div class=\"gb-container-inside\"><div class=\"gb-container-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull\" style=\"min-height:300px;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1100\" height=\"599\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-402\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/wordpress.stlatlimxpolice.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/sg-2019-mitch-dancing-1-resized_orig.jpg\" style=\"object-position:40% 40%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"40% 40%\"\/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#12283c\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-e92b3ab1 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-left uagb-infobox-left uagb-infobox-stacked-tablet uagb-infobox-image-valign-top font-shadow-black\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">St&#8217;at&#8217;imc Culture<\/h3><\/div><p class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\">The dialect of the St&#8217;at&#8217;imc people is <strong>St&#8217;at&#8217;imcets.<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-308662d6 alignfull uagb-is-root-container\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-aaae70f3 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-left uagb-infobox-left uagb-infobox-stacked-tablet uagb-infobox-image-valign-middle\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">St&#8217;at&#8217;imcets<\/h3><\/div><p class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><strong>For an in-depth look at the language, please visit:<\/strong><br><br><strong>Southern St&#8217;at&#8217;imc Dialect<\/strong><br>go to:&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.firstvoices.com\/\">www.firstvoices.com<\/a>&nbsp;and choose English.&nbsp; Then, under the &#8220;Choose a Language&#8221; dropdown menu, choose <em>Lil&#8217;wat.<\/em><br><br><strong>Northern St&#8217;at&#8217;imc Dialect<\/strong><br>go to&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.firstvoices.com\/\">www.firstvoices.com<\/a>&nbsp;and choose English.&nbsp; Then, under the &#8220;Choose a Language&#8221; dropdown menu, choose <em>Northern St&#8217;at&#8217;imcets.<\/em><br><br>*<em>In the above links punctuation has been removed in order for the words to display the same on everyone&#8217;s screen.<\/em><br><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"margin-top:2%\" class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-container gb-block-container\"><div class=\"gb-container-inside\"><div class=\"gb-container-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-82c51fbd\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-54278be3\"><p class=\"fonts-plugin-block \" style=\"font-family: Nunito;font-size: 14px\">A <strong>Smudge Ceremony<\/strong> is a form of spiritual cleansing,\u00a0physical &amp; spiritual\u00a0protection and a form of prayer.\u00a0The tools involved in this ceremony\u00a0can vary, but\u00a0the main tools are:<br><br>* Smudge bowl (can be a rock or\u00a0shell)<br>*Dried\u00a0Traditional Herbs (Sage, Cedar, Sweet Grass, Juniper)<br>*Lighter or Matches<br>*Feather<br><br>Some\u00a0Smudge holders may\u00a0drum and sing during this ceremony and some may\u00a0not. The\u00a0ceremony will begin once the smudge bowl is lit. Depending on the person leading the ceremony\u00a0you may be smudged\u00a0one at a time while standing, or you may have to smudge yourself (which may seem daunting if it&#8217;s your first time). If you have to smudge yourself, just remember that there is no wrong way and there is no right way to smudge.<br><br>Some tips for smudging yourself is to think of it as washing up. The point of smudging is to use the smoke from the smudge bowl to cleanse and protect yourself. Waft the smoke up towards your face, over your head, to your chest, over each shoulder, and down your legs. You can do more or less, it is up to you during the ceremony on how much or how little you smudge.\u00a0<br><br>Each smudge ceremony is unique and every smudge holder will have their own set of guidelines. Don&#8217;t be afraid to ask them.<br><br>Some people will not allow any form of recording during this ceremony. Make sure to ask before taking any pictures.<br><br>Smudging is not just for people. You can smudge (or ask someone to smudge) your home, car, or any of your belongings.<\/p>\n\n\n<div style=\"padding-bottom:2%;padding-top:2%;margin-top:2%;margin-bottom:2%\" class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-container gb-block-container\"><div class=\"gb-container-inside\"><div class=\"gb-container-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-image aligncenter uagb-block-43ce1e14 wp-block-uagb-image--layout-default wp-block-uagb-image--effect-static wp-block-uagb-image--align-center\"><figure class=\"wp-block-uagb-image__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wordpress.stlatlimxpolice.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/sage-resized_orig.jpg ,https:\/\/wordpress.stlatlimxpolice.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/sage-resized_orig.jpg 780w, https:\/\/wordpress.stlatlimxpolice.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/sage-resized_orig.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 150px\" src=\"https:\/\/wordpress.stlatlimxpolice.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/sage-resized_orig.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"uag-image-443\" width=\"200\" height=\"250\" title=\"sage-resized_orig\" loading=\"lazy\" role=\"img\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-a65a24d9\"><p class=\"fonts-plugin-block \" style=\"font-family: Nunito;font-size: 14px\">A <strong>Sweat Lodge Ceremony<\/strong> is a form of spiritual &amp; physical cleansing, a form of spiritual &amp; physical protection and a powerful form of prayer. The tools involved in a Sweat Lodge Ceremony (aka Sweat) are generally the same.<br><br>*A sacred fire<br>*A Sweat Lodge<br>*Medicinal Water<br>*A Splashing bundle (fir or cedar boughs)<br>*Heated Lava Rocks<br>\u00a0<br>Just like Smudging, each Sweat Lodge Holder is unique and will have their own guidelines. The rocks will be heated in the sacred fire until they are white hot. You will be asked to make your way into the Sweat Lodge, and say &#8220;all my relations&#8221; when you enter or exit the lodge. Once inside the rocks will be removed from the fire and carried to the entrance of the lodge, and they will be brushed off with fir or cedar boughs and brought inside to the pit.<br><br>Depending on the Sweat Lodge Holder, you will have at least four rocks for each round, with a total of four rounds. Each round represents something, and the Sweat Lodge Holder will tell you at the beginning of the round.<br><br>Once the Sweat Lodge Holder begins splashing the medicinal water onto the rocks, the Sweat Lodge will heat up rapidly, and traditional singing and prayers will begin. During this time you should be praying in your own way. If you need to exit, say &#8220;door&#8221; or &#8220;all my relations&#8221;. There is no shame in leaving the Sweat early (you can go back in once a new round starts).<br><br>Once the round is complete, the Sweat Lodge Holder will open the door. This will continue for a total of four rounds.<br>\u00a0<br>It is protocol to give the Sweat Lodge Holder tobacco (store bought or traditional tobacco &#8211; sage, cedar, sweet grass, juniper) and a gift when requesting a Sweat, or\u00a0information from a Traditional Person. Tobacco is like a key from the spirit world and the person receiving the tobacco cannot refuse your request, as it is coming from the spirits. The gift is for the person\u00a0accepting and completing your request.<br><br>Some people will not allow any form of recording during this ceremony. Be sure to ask before taking pictures or recording.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-c58daf96\"><p class=\"fonts-plugin-block \" style=\"font-family: Nunito;font-size: 14px\"><strong>Name Giving Ceremonies<\/strong> are when someone receives their <em>Ucwalmicwskwatsits <\/em>(Indian Name\/Traditional Name) by community recognition. The Ceremony may vary, as each Ceremony Holder will have their own guidelines, but generally the Ceremony will take place with the following people:<br><br>*Person handing down the name<br>*Person receiving the name<br>*At least four witnesses<br>*The family of the person receiving the name<br>*Family of the witnesses<br><br>Some Name Givings may not be public but most are. The person handing down the name will be the one most knowledgeable about where the name came from (if from an ancestor or how the name was created) and will\u00a0be able to tell the story of how the ceremony came to be.\u00a0<br><br>The\u00a0person receiving the\u00a0name will be present and will be required to give a speech.<br><br>The witnesses are crucial to this ceremony. They are the\u00a0people who will be responsible for the newly\u00a0given name to live on. They will be responsible to spread the word of the name giving, and they will be required to\u00a0call the person by their newly given <em>Ucwalmicwskwatsits <\/em>(Indian Name\/Traditional Name). If a witness passes away, they must be replaced. Each witness must receive a tobacco tie\/medicine bundle, and a gift.<br><br>The family of the person receiving the name will be responsible for the care taking of the event (before and after) and will have to provide separate giveaway items for\u00a0all in attendance\u00a0(this can be in the form of a meal, or it can be items bought from a dollar store,\u00a0or tobacco ties\/medicine bundles). This is to thank the\u00a0people who are witnessing this\u00a0special event.<br><br>The family of the witnesses will be welcomed to attend, and the general public may or may not be allowed to attend. If they are, then they too are witnesses, and must spread the word about the name giving, and their gift is the giveaway items (tobacco ties\/medicine bundles or a meal).\u00a0<br><br>Speeches and drumming will follow. Pictures and recordings will be allowed, as this is a very celebrated event.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-8432f7df\"><p class=\"fonts-plugin-block \" style=\"font-family: Nunito;font-size: 14px\"><strong>Drumming &amp; Dancing Ceremonies <\/strong>are also know as <strong>Pumaka7\u00a0muta7 Saquta<\/strong>. The style of singing and dancing is different from Powwow music. Hand drums are used and are made out of cedar frames and deer hides. The Saquta varies from person to person. Their dancing spirit will come out when the hand drumming starts.<br><br>The regalia for Saquta is different from Powwow as well. Buckskin vests and leggings are what some males wear along with weaved cedar headbands, and most females wear buckskin dresses with or without weaved cedar root headbands. Each regalia is decorated uniquely.<br><br>Some dancers wear headdresses made from animals, such as Bears, Deer, and Wolves. These are obtained by recognition of the animal&#8217;s spirit within the dancer by elders and spiritual people.<br>\u00a0<br>There may be &#8220;coming out&#8221; ceremonies for dancers as well. This is for the dancer to &#8220;come out&#8221; and to let the physical and spiritual world know that they will be dancing, and that their dancing spirit will be out on the dance floor when requested. It is very similar to the name giving ceremony, except the fact that there will be no name given out during the &#8220;coming out&#8221; ceremony.<br>\u00a0<br>Anyone can dance when there is drumming, and in the present day the most powerful form of dancing is when you dance in what you showed up to the event in.<br><br>For an example of our traditional\u00a0drumming and dancing, see the video below which has been created by the Tszil Learning Centre&#8217;s Video Production students in Lil&#8217;wat (Mount Currie) B.C.<br><br>Song &amp; Dance of the Lil&#8217;wat People:<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=kx96lNWqILs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Click here<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=2F6w2aiQMJQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div style=\"padding-bottom:2%;padding-top:2%;margin-top:2%;margin-bottom:2%\" class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-container gb-block-container\"><div class=\"gb-container-inside\"><div class=\"gb-container-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-image aligncenter uagb-block-70114483 wp-block-uagb-image--layout-default wp-block-uagb-image--effect-static wp-block-uagb-image--align-center\"><figure class=\"wp-block-uagb-image__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wordpress.stlatlimxpolice.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/2018beaded-poppy-eagle-plume-resized_orig.jpg ,https:\/\/wordpress.stlatlimxpolice.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/2018beaded-poppy-eagle-plume-resized_orig.jpg 780w, https:\/\/wordpress.stlatlimxpolice.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/2018beaded-poppy-eagle-plume-resized_orig.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 150px\" src=\"https:\/\/wordpress.stlatlimxpolice.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/2018beaded-poppy-eagle-plume-resized_orig.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"uag-image-444\" width=\"200\" height=\"250\" title=\"2018beaded-poppy-eagle-plume-resized_orig\" loading=\"lazy\" role=\"img\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-separator uagb-block-360c80bc\"><div class=\"uagb-separator-spacing-wrapper\"><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-separator__inner\" style=\"--my-background-image:url(&quot;data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg width='8' height='16' viewBox='0 0 8 16' fill='none' xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%3E%3Crect width='8' height='16' fill='black'\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E&quot;)\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-315","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"rpg_gallery_admin_thumb":false,"rpg_gallery_thumb":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false,"gb-block-post-grid-landscape":false,"gb-block-post-grid-square":false,"onepress-blog-small":false,"onepress-small":false,"onepress-medium":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"ml-admin","author_link":"https:\/\/stlatlimxpolice.ca\/?author=1"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stlatlimxpolice.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/315","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stlatlimxpolice.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stlatlimxpolice.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stlatlimxpolice.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stlatlimxpolice.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=315"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/stlatlimxpolice.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/315\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1732,"href":"https:\/\/stlatlimxpolice.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/315\/revisions\/1732"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stlatlimxpolice.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=315"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}