1

Several aspects of war are relevent in the Secwepemc history. The pre-contact era where the Secwepemc would war amongst themselves or with other invading Tribes such as Okanagan, Coastal Salish, Chilcootin or Plains. Such wars were over land, supplies, families or slavery and were often resulted with a deadly battle. Later in time during the contact of white man, Secwepemc were constantly confronted with the government and church's attempts at genocidal war. This type of warfare is not documented by the Federal or Provincial governments and most likely has been erased from record or considered confidential. To the Secwepemc this genocidal war still exists to this day but is battled out through political will and legal dispute.

2

Traditional clothing
20th Century
Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
BC Provincial Museum and Archives

3

Spear Dance
1910
Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada

Credits:
BC Provincial Museum and Archives

4

One man is holding a spear and the rest looking on, by a teepee in the Barnhartville area. The Secwepemc were known to go to war over slavery, territory and trade items.

5

Indian Possession
20th Century
Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada

Credits:
BC Provincial Museum and Archives

6

Tents set up towards the front where people are either on horses, on wagons or standing in back ground there is people standing in a long line. Part of military and religious genocide of Secwepemc.

7

Many Indian People attending St. Josephs Church
20th Century
Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
BC Provincial Museum and Archives

8

Alec Bob
World War I
British Columbia, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


9

Allan Williams wearing army uniform
World War II
British Columbia, Canada

10

Many young Secwepemc men went and never returned from war. All of them were not honored or allowed to vote when they returned.

11

Nels Mitchell on the left with Wilfred Matthew
World War II
Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada

12

Although Secwepemc were not treated as equal "human beings" and with racial discrimination the federal government had no such discriminatory position on who would go off to war. The Secwepemc who did go off to fight in the two great world wars did so with pride and hope for the land in which they lived. Upon returning from these wars the Secwepemc did not recieve benefit or honor as being an "Indian" until recently in the 1990's did first nations veterans recieve recognition.