The annual salmon runs on the Columbia River system (Okanagan River) were the major source of food for most of the people in the southern interior or Plateau region. Fish were caught by gaffing, harpooning, netting or through fish traps called weirs. The salmon were cleaned by the women and hung to dry to preserve them for use during the winter. They had a ceremonial feast at the beginning of the salmon fishing season and also a solemn consecration of the first wild berries. Wild plants were widely used for food and medicine and not much agriculture was practiced. The edible roots of plants and various kinds of berries were gathered. One example was the Arrow-leaved Balsamroot, which was a very important food for the Okanagans. All parts of this plant were used; the young leaves were eaten raw or steamed; taproots were roasted or steamed, hung to dry and then soaked overnight; seeds were dried and pounded into flour. The Okanagan First Nations people have lived in the Valley for at least 3700 years and belong to the Interior Salish language family. At one time, they were guided by perhaps the most famous and widely respected of all the chiefs; Chief N’Kuala, who ruled during the fur trade era was affectionately referred to by non-natives as Chief Nicola. A valley and a lake bare his name and on very early maps (1827), the flat in Trout Creek District (now Summerland) was called Nicola Prairie. Indian Reserve Number Three sat plunk in the middle of Nicola Prairie, or Trout Creek District, and the Pierre family of the Penticton Indian Band staked 350 acres in this area called Siwash Flat, the present-day site of downtown Summerland. Johnny Pierre built a cabin on Washington Avenue and made arrangements for water rights from Aeneas Creek to irrigate his hay meadow and large potato patch. His brother, Antoine Pierre and family; wife Julia and children lived along Prairie Creek, near the site of the present-day Museum. Next: The Early Settlers: cattle ranching came first >> |
Metals were not used before the Okanagans came in contact with Europeans and rocks were used for hammers, seed grinders, projectiles for arrows and spears, cutting tools and scrapers. This stone fish net weight or sinking stone helped keep the fishing nets in the water. Rope would have rested in the groove and been attached to either a fish net or a canoe as an anchor stone. 