Sinixt Lake Indians Fact Sheet

The Sinixt, also known as the Lake Indians, are an Indigenous people with a rich history and deep connection to the lands of the Columbia Plateau. Today, the majority of the Sinixt reside on the Colville Indian Reservation in Washington State, where they are a vital part of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. This confederation is recognized by the United States government as an American Indian Tribe, affording its members certain rights and protections. However, a smaller number of Sinixt continue to live within their traditional West Kootenay territory, particularly in the Slocan Valley of British Columbia, Canada, holding steadfast to their ancestral homeland. Despite their enduring presence, the Sinixt are no longer legally recognized as a distinct Indigenous group by the Canadian government, a situation they are actively working to rectify. This fact sheet aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the Sinixt, exploring their history, culture, contemporary status, and ongoing efforts to reclaim their heritage.

Official Tribal Information

Official Tribal Name: Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
Address: PO Box 150, Nespelem, WA 99155-0150
Phone: 1-888-881-7684
Fax: (509) 634-2149
Email: Information available at the Colville Tribes website.
Official Website: http://www.colvilletribes.com

Nomenclature and Identity

The Sinixt people have been known by various names throughout history, reflecting both their self-identification and external perceptions.

Common Names: Lake Indians, Colville Tribe. The name "Lakes" gained prominence when the Sinixt became part of the Colville Confederation, adopted at the request of the U.S. government.
Traditional Name: Sinixt
Meaning of Traditional Name: "Place of the bull trout," highlighting the importance of this fish species to their traditional way of life.
Alternate Names: Sinixt Nation, Sin-Aikst, Sin Aikst, Lower Sin Aikst, Upper Sin Aikst, Lower Sinixt, Upper Sinixt, Arrow Lakes Band, The Lake Indians, Sinixt tribe, Arrow Lakes Indians, Interior Salish, Northwest Salish, Mother tribe of the Pacific Northwest Salish, Colville Confederated Tribes, Colville Confederacy, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Colville Indians, Plateau Indians, Colville tribe.
Alternate Spellings: Sinxt

Population and Geographic Distribution

Registered Population: The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation have a registered population of approximately 8,700 members, encompassing all twelve constituent tribes. Several hundred of these individuals identify specifically as Sinixt Indians. Additionally, there are self-identified Sinixt people who reside with their Okanogan relatives in British Columbia, where approximately 80% of their ancestral territory lies.
Region: Columbia Plateau. This geographic area is characterized by its intermountain basin topography, drained by the Columbia River and its tributaries.
State/Province: Washington State (USA) and British Columbia (Canada). This trans-border existence has significantly shaped the Sinixt experience.

Historical Context

Bands/Population in the 1800s: According to historical accounts, the Sinixt population numbered around 3,000 in the early 19th century. They were organized into several bands, each with a population size suitable for hunting and fishing practices. These bands were broadly categorized as "Upper Sin-Aikst," located around the Arrow Lakes, and "Lower Sin-Aikst," situated in the Northport, Bossburg, Marcus, and Kettle Falls area of Washington State. The Lower Sin-Aikst consisted of at least eight large bands.
Language Classification: Salishan -> Interior Salish -> Southern. This classification places the Sinixt language within a broader linguistic family shared by other Indigenous groups in the region.
Language Dialects: The Sinixt dialect is closely related to the Okanagan, Sushwap, Skoyelpi (Colville), and Spokane dialects, reflecting the close cultural and linguistic ties between these communities.
Tribal Enrollment Requirements: To be enrolled as a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, individuals must possess a 1/4 blood quantum of any of the member tribes. Furthermore, at least one parent must have been an enrolled member at the time of the applicant’s birth and residing on the reservation. If living off the reservation, at least one parent must have had a permanent residence in the US, and the application must be filed within 6 months of birth. Adoption into the tribe is also possible with a 2/3 majority vote of the entire tribe.

Cultural and Historical Information

Origins: The Sinixt have inhabited their traditional territory for millennia, their history deeply intertwined with the landscape and its resources.
Traditional Territory: The traditional territory of the Sinixt encompasses a vast area along the upper Columbia River, primarily within the West Kootenays region of present-day British Columbia. Their villages once dotted the banks of the Kootenay, Slocan, and Columbia rivers, while hunting parties established camps along the creeks descending from the Monashee and Selkirk mountains. The Slocan Valley and the Lower Arrow Lakes formed the heart of their territory, extending to the lower Kootenay River and the Columbia River from the "Big Bend" north of Revelstoke to just above Kettle Falls in Washington State, as well as along the Kettle River. Following the acquisition of horses, their hunting range expanded eastward onto the Great Plains.
Traditional Allies and Enemies: Historically, the Sinixt maintained complex relationships with neighboring Indigenous groups. They were strongly allied with the Skoyelpi (Colville), often intermarrying and sharing resources. However, conflicts existed with the Ktunaxa (Kutenai) people over territory along the lower Kootenay River. Later, the Sinixt and Ktunaxa renewed peace and allied against the Blackfoot.
Bands/Clans: The Sinixt were a matrilocal society, with subsequent generations choosing to reside with the wife’s family. In the early 1800s, there were at least eight distinct bands of Sinixt.
Historical Social Structure: The extended family formed the core social unit. Society was stratified into wealthy, middle class, and slaves captured from other tribes. Leadership was typically vested in the eldest family members. The division of labor was based on gender, with men primarily responsible for hunting, trading, and warfare, while women focused on gathering, domestic chores, and childcare. Women held respected positions and enjoyed general equality with men in economic, domestic, religious, and political spheres.
Burial/Funeral Customs: The deceased were traditionally buried sitting up and facing East. Spouses of the deceased would cut their hair short, wear ragged clothing, and refrain from remarriage for a year.
Marriage/Wedding Customs: Intermarriage with the Swhy-ayl-puh (Colville) was common. First marriages were typically arranged by parents or grandparents. Large families were the norm.
Creation Beliefs/Religion: Sinixt religion centered on harnessing power from the natural world, including the sun, stars, water, and various animals. Children embarked on spirit quests to acquire protective spirits, bringing back objects as proof of their journey.
Historical Clothing: Buckskin clothing was the norm until the arrival of white traders. Ceremonial clothing was elaborately decorated with porcupine quillwork and later beadwork. Beaver and bear furs were favored for winter cloaks and blankets.
Historical Dwellings: During the winter months, the Sinixt lived in warm, semi-subterranean houses. Summers were spent managing resources in their mountain and lake-dominated homeland. Pithouses in the Slocan Valley were among the earliest and largest of this type.
Historical Foods/Wildcrafting: The Sinixt were "complex collectors," living in larger groups in semi-permanent locations, with distinct class distinctions and family hunting and fishing grounds. Fishing was the main meat staple, including sturgeon, salmon, and bull trout. Other staples included huckleberries, camas, bitterroot, and various game meats.
Historical Weapons and Tools: The bow and arrow served as the primary weapon for hunting and war. Arrowheads, knives, and scrapers were crafted from obsidian or flint. Dugout log canoes were used for transportation.
Historical Political Organization: The village was the primary political unit, led by a village chief (headman). Specialized chiefs, such as war chiefs or salmon chiefs, assumed leadership during specific circumstances.

Contemporary Issues and Activism

The Sinixt face numerous challenges in the 21st century, including the lack of legal recognition in Canada, the ongoing impacts of resource extraction and environmental degradation on their traditional territory, and the need to protect their sacred sites and cultural heritage.

Current Reservation/Settlements: Colville Reservation in Okanogan and Ferry Counties, Washington. Allotment lands around Lake Colville in Colville County.
Subsistence/Industry Today: The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation have year-round hunting rights on the northern portion of the Colville Reservation. The Boldt Decision in 1974 affirmed Indian fishing access rights. The tribes own casinos, a sawmill, a plywood plant, and are involved in tourism.
Sacred Places: The Sinixt are actively working to protect their sacred sites, including burial grounds and village sites, from development and desecration. They employ a unique burial ritual, with the deceased sitting upright, facing the rising sun, that distinguishes their gravesites.
Ceremonies/Dances: The Sinixt host an annual public feast on their territory. The 4th of July Pow Wow at Nespelem is a major cultural event for the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. They also hold competition tribal dances, play a traditional game called sla-hal, and participate in the "Suicide Race" at the annual Omak Stampede rodeo.
Government Today: The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation are governed by an elected 14-member tribal council.

The story of the Sinixt is one of resilience, cultural persistence, and a determined struggle for self-determination. Despite facing historical injustices and ongoing challenges, they continue to advocate for their rights, protect their heritage, and ensure the survival of their unique culture for generations to come.

Famous Contemporary People:

Bob Campbell (elder)
Eva Adolph Orr (elder)
Marilyn James (activist)
Robert Watt (activist)
Bernie Whitebear (1937–2000), (activist and founder of several “urban Indian” organizations, was declared Washington state’s “First Citizen of the Decade” in November 1997
Luana Reyes (c.1933–2001) (deputy director of the U.S.’s 14,000-person Indian Health Services
Lawney Reyes (b. c.1931 – sculptor, designer, curator and author)

Historical Leaders:

Kin-Ka-Nawha
See-Whel-Ken
Joseph Cotolegu
Aorpaghan
James Bernard