sx̌ʷýʔłpx | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Historical Colville homelands were along the Kettle and Columbia rivers in Washington | |
| Total population | |
| 3,782 (1990) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| United States (Washington) | |
| Languages | |
| Nsyilxcən | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| otherInterior Salish peoples |
TheColville people (nselxcin: sx̌ʷýʔłpx)[1] are anInterior Salish people and anIndigenous people of the Northwest Plateau.
Today, Colville people are primarily enrolled in theConfederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, afederally recognized tribe; however, some Colville descendants belong to the Columbia Rivers Indians, anunrecognized tribe.[2]
The nameColville comes from association with theColville River andFort Colville,[3] named afterAndrew Colvile of theHudson's Bay Company. Earlier,outsiders often called themScheulpi, Chualpay, orSwhy-ayl-puh; the French traders called themLes Chaudières ("the Kettles") in reference toKettle Falls. The neighboringCoeur d'Alene called themSqhwiyi̱'ɫpmsh and theSpokane knew them asSxʷyelpetkʷ. Their name innselxcin, sx̌ʷýʔłpx, refers to "sharp pointed trees".[1]
In the 18th century, the Colville tribe lived around theKettle andColumbia rivers innortheastern Washington.[3] They lived betweenKettle Falls and the town ofHunters.[4] Their territory went as far north as Almond Creek, where it drains into theGranby River. In the northwest, it reached the divergence of West Fork Cedar Creek from Cedar Creek, down to Marias creek. In the west, it reached Timber Ridge, and in the southwest, it reached Thirteenmile Mountain, down to the Twin Lakes. It extended as far south asHunters, and followed theColville River to the east.[1]
The tribe's history is tied with Kettle Falls, an important salmon fishing resource,[5] and an important post of theHudson's Bay Company, which brought the advantages and disadvantages of contact with people of European heritage.
Asmallpox epidemic in 1782 killed many Colville people.[3] With the arrival of Europeans and Euro-Americans in their territory, Colville people entered thefur trade.[6]
Christian missionaries entered Colville territory in 1838.[6]In 1846, the JesuitSt. Paul's Mission was established. Through its influence nearly all the upperColumbia tribes were converted to Christianity.[5]
In 1872, the Colville tribe was relocated to theColville Indian Reservation, anIndian reservation in eastern Washington.[5] It is inhabited and managed by theConfederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, which is afederally recognized tribe comprising twelve bands. The twelve bands are the Methow, Okanogan, Arrow Lakes, Sanpoil, Colville, Nespelem, Chelan, Entiat, Moses-Columbia, Wenatchi, Nez Perce, and Palus.[citation needed]
In 1938, theConfederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation was formed[6] under the 1936Indian Reorganization Act. They reclaimed more of their historical lands in 1956.[6]
Mooney (1928) estimated the number of the Colville at 1,000 as of 1780, butLewis and Clark placed it at 2,500, a figure also fixed upon by Teit (1930). In 1870, there were 616; in 1900, 298;[5] in 1904, 321; in 1907, 334; and in 1937, 322.[citation needed]
The Colville language or N̓x̌ʷʔiłpcən is one of six dialects ofColville-Okanagan historically spoken by the "Syilx peoples" including Northern Okanagan and Southern/Lower Okanagan (Sinkaietk),Methow,Sanpoil (Nesilextcl'n),Nespelem (sometimes considered a Sanpoil subtribe), Colville, andSinixt (Senijextee/Arrow Lakes Band) peoples.Syilx is the historic autonym of the Okanagan peoples and today a political term for land and cultural claims for all Colville-Okanagan-speaking peoples.
Together with Wenatchee-Columbian, Spokane-Kalispel-Bitterroot, and Coeur d'Alene, Colville-Okanagan belong to the fourSouthern Interior Salishan languages of the Plateau.
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