Over 10,000 years of rich history.

Our land:

The Columbia Valley has been home to the Ktunaxa (‘k-too-nah-ha’) for thousands of years, and covers more than 70,000 square kilometres along the shore of the Columbia Rivers and the Arrow Lakes of British Columbia, and historically included territory throughout Alberta, Montana, Washington, and Idaho.

Our Creation Story:

The Ktunaxa creation story tells of the sea monster Yawuʔnik̓ (ya-woo-nik) who had killed many animals. The chief animal, Naⱡmuqȼin (Nath-mook-tsin), who was so big he had to crawl on hands and knees to avoid hitting his head on the sky, decided Yawuʔnik̓ must be destroyed and a war party was formed. The animals chased Yawuʔnik̓ around and around the Columbia River and Kootenay Lake, which were joined at that time, and as the chase proceeded, Naⱡmuqȼin gave names to many locations along the Kootenay River, Kootenay Lake, Arrow Lakes, and the Columbia River.

Finally, a wise old one named Kik̓um told Naⱡmuqȼin to use his size and strength to block the river and trap Yawuʔnik̓. When Yawuʔnik̓ was killed, Naⱡmuqȼin took his organs in his hands and crushed and scattered them throughout the land: Naⱡmuqȼin said of the white swim bladder “These will be the white race of people,” of the ingredient from the black backbone and kidney he said, “These will be the black race of people,” He then took the orange roe and threw the pieces in all directions saying, “These will be the yellow race of people”.

Naⱡmuqȼin looked at his bloody hands and reached down for some grass to wipe his hands. He then let the blood fall to the ground saying,  “This will be the red people, they will remain here forever”.

Naⱡmuqȼin, in all the excitement, rose to his feet and stood upright hitting his head on the ceiling of the sky. He knocked himself dead. His feet went northward and is today known as Ya·ⱡiki (Yah-thee-kee), in the Yellowhead Pass vicinity. His head is near Yellowstone Park in Montana. His body forms the Rocky Mountains

Our people:

For thousands of years we enjoyed the natural bounty of the land, seasonally migrating throughout our homelands to follow vegetation and hunting cycles. We obtained all our food, medicine and material for shelter and clothing from nature – hunting, fishing, and gathering throughout our territory, across the Rocky Mountains and on the Great Plains of both Canada and the United States.

Today, there are six Nations that make up the Ktunaxa Nation Council (KNC), and it is directed by Leadership from four Ktunaxa First Nations: ʔakisq̓nuk First Nation, ʔaq̓am, yaqan nuʔkiy, and Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi‘it. The goal of these Bands and the Nation is to celebrate their people and their land, preserve and promote the language (a language isolate not related to any other language), and live as a self-sufficient, self-governing Nation to promote the health and well-being of its people.

Our names for landmarks throughout our homelands, and numerous heritage sites, confirm this region as traditional Ktunaxa land. Our history, our stories, and our people are who we are. Please come visit, respect, and enjoy the history, culture, and land of our people here on ʔakisq̓nuk territory in Windermere, BC.