What defines us as Nlaka'pamux is not a line on a map but a way of life, a shared culture
and a communal responsibility to future generations. Our homeland is a gift from the
Creator, passed to us from ancestors and held by us in trust for our children and future
generations.
The Indian Act also does not define who we are: it is oppressive and is a tool of divide and
conquer. The Act has separated families, destroyed traditional practices and created small
reserves without resources. A band is not an Nlaka'pamux community nor is reserve land the
same as our homeland and being an Indian does not mean you are Nlaka'pamux.
The Indian Act also does not define who we are: it is oppressive and is a tool of divide and
conquer. The Act has separated families, destroyed traditional practices and created small
reserves without resources. A band is not an Nlaka'pamux community nor is reserve land the
same as our homeland and being an Indian does not mean you are Nlaka'pamux.
As Indigenous peoples we are inherently connected to the land. Our physical, emotional and
spiritual well-being depends upon this connection. Fishing is the lifeblood of the Nation;
children the Nation's greatest resource. Our laws are grounded in our stories. We pass our
traditions and our culture on through our stories.