Long known to the indigenous peoples of the region, and in fact raided and at times occupied by the Blackfoot, the Big Bend is traditional territory of the Secwepemc (Shuswap) people, but also claimed by the Ktunaxa.
The Secwepemc name for the river is Kluhtows, which means "gravelly river".
For example, the Secwepemc people of the Kamloops Indian Band in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada, have designated their recently opened native elementary school the Sk'elep (Coyote) School of Excellence, while educational websites such as one co-sponsored by the Neskonlith Indian Band of Chase, British Columbia prominently feature stories about Sk'elep.
Ts'kw'ey'lecw in Secwepemctsin (Shuswap) (the Pavilion Band is also culturally Secwepemc and has independent political links with the Secwepemc tribal councils, though is not officially a member).
They are a subgroup of the Secwepemc people and reside on a remote stretch of the Fraser River about 50 kilometres north of Lillooet at a location known as High Bar, and also at adjacent Low Bar.
The term Nicola for them is a misnomer, though a common one used by ethnologists and linguists - it commemorates a famous Okanagan chief who once held sway over the valley and its peoples as well as over the Kamloops Shuswap).
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First appearing in the Bonaparte River valley and at Spences Bridge, they came into conflict with the Secwepemc and Nlaka'pamux peoples of that area, the Thompson Canyon, after journeying south to get away from "bad neighbours".
They are a subgroup of both the St'at'imc and Secwepemc peoples and reside at and around the community of Pavilion, an unincorporated settlement comprising the Pavilion Indian Reserve and adjacent ranches on Highway 99 about 30 kilometres north of Lillooet, near Marble Canyon.
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They historically have close ties and a shared cultural identity with their Secwepemc neighbours, particularly the Bonaparte group, but also with the St'at'imc of Fountain and Lillooet.
The Adams Lake Indian Band is a member band of the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council, which represents Secwepemc people in the Thompson and Shuswap districts of southern Central Interior region.
The Bonaparte Indian Band aka Bonaparte First Nation, is a member band of the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council of the Secwepemc (Shuswap) people.
The High Bar First Nation is a First Nations government of the Secwepemc (Shuswap) Nation, located in the Fraser Canyon-Cariboo region of the Central Interior of the Canadian province of British Columbia.
the Ktunaxa Kinbasket Tribal Council, a tribal council linking the band governments of the Ktunaxa people and including the Shuswap Indian Band, a Secwepemc group
The Little Shuswap Indian Band is a First Nations band government of a community of the Secwepemc (Shuswap) Nation, located in the Central Interior region of the Canadian province of British Columbia.
The Skeetchestn Indian Band is a member of the Secwepemc (Shuswap) Nation, located in the Central Interior region of the Canadian province of British Columbia.
The Spallumcheen Indian Band, also called the Splats'in First Nations is a member of the Secwepemc (Shuswap) Nation, located in the Central Interior region of the Canadian province of British Columbia.
The Whispering Pines/Clinton Indian Band, also called the Pellt'iq't First Nation is a member of the Secwepemc (Shuswap) Nation, located in the Central Interior region of the Canadian province of British Columbia.