The Lower Similkameen Indian Band or Lower Smelqmix (Okanagan: N̓iʔxʷín̓aʔ),[1] is a First Nations band government in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Their office was in the village of Keremeos in the Similkameen region,[2] until 2015 when they moved into their own $7million multi-purpose facility south of Cawston.[3] They are a member of the Okanagan Nation Alliance.
Population
The band's registered population is 500 with 209 band members living off-reserve[4][5] with a total area of 15,048.80 ha.[6]
The people are known as the Smelqmix (also written as Smalqmix or Sməlqmix), speaking the endangered Nsyilxcen language.[7]
Indian reserves
Indian reserves under the band's administration are spread out over 90km. They are:[8]
- Alexis Indian Reserve No. 9, on the left bank of the Similkameen River 4 miles west of Keremeos, 168.70 ha. 49°13′00″N 119°54′00″W / 49.21667°N 119.90000°W[9]
- Ashnola Indian Reserve No. 10, on the right bank of the Similkameen River at its junction with the Ashnola River, 3415 ha. 49°13′00″N 120°00′00″W / 49.21667°N 120.00000°W[10]
- Blind Creek Indian Reserve No. 6, on Blind Creek, 4 miles southeast of Keremeos, 161 ha. 49°11′00″N 119°44′00″W / 49.18333°N 119.73333°W[11]
- Blind Creek Indian Reserve No. 6A, west of Barcelo Road, 1 mile west of IR No. 6, 0.10 ha. 49°11′00″N 119°45′00″W / 49.18333°N 119.75000°W[12]
- Chopaka Indian Reserve Nos. 7 & 8 (Okanagan: C̓up̓áq̓), on the right bank of the Similkameen River, north of and adjoining the international boundary, 1537.80 ha. These two reserves are the most populated of the band's reserves.[13] 49°02′35″N 119°43′05″W / 49.04306°N 119.71806°W[14]
- Keremeos Forks Indian Reserve Nos. 12 & 12A, on Keremeos Creek at mouth of Marset Creek, 7 miles north of Keremeos, 954.10 ha. 49°18′00″N 119°49′00″W / 49.30000°N 119.81667°W[15]
- Lower Similkameen Indian Reserve No. 2, on the Similkameen River 6 miles southeast of Keremeos, 1293.70 ha. 49°07′00″N 119°45′00″W / 49.11667°N 119.75000°W[16]
- Narcisse's Farm Indian Reserve No. 4, on right bank of the Similkameen River 5 miles southeast of Keremeos, 750.30 ha. 49°08′00″N 119°46′00″W / 49.13333°N 119.76667°W[17]
- Range Indian Reserve No. 13, west of Narcisse's Farm IR No. 4, on left bank of Susap Creek, 6768.10 ha. 49°08′00″N 119°50′00″W / 49.13333°N 119.83333°W[18]