Upper Nicola
Upper Nicola that belongs to the Syilx (Okanagan) Nation, has eight reserves located near Nicola Lake and Douglas Lake, south of Kamloops, British Columbia
Upper Nicola is located 45 km east of Merritt and 90 km south of Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. Upper Nicola has eight reserves located near Nicola Lake and Douglas Lake. Upper Nicola’s two main residential communities are located on Nicola Lake (IR #1), and at the west end of Douglas Lake (IR #3). These communities are known locally as Spaxomin (Douglas Lake) and Quilchena (Nicola Lake). The reserves comprise approximately 30,848 acres that span a range of 50 kilometers along Highway 5A and the Douglas Lake Road.
pper Nicola is the only Syilx (Okanagan) community in the Nicola watershed. In the 18th century, ancestors of Upper Nicola permanently inhabited the Upper Nicola and Salmon River watersheds as a result of the Fish Lake Accord with the Kamloops Shuswap tribe.
Governed by the Indian Act, and through customary laws and policies, Upper Nicola continues to work towards regaining control over our affairs as an unconquered people. Upper Nicola’s registered population is approximately 900 people, with about half of registered members living within our communities.
Upper Nicola is one of seven (Canadian) Bands that belong to the Syilx (Okanagan) Nation. The Okanagan Nation’s administration office is located in Westbank, BC. There are also Okanagan Nation Tribe(s) in the United States of America (USA).
Upper Nicola is also affiliated with the Nicola Tribal Association/Nicola Tribal Council, which consists of seven Nlaka’pamux nation Bands and one Syilx (Upper Nicola) nation Band.
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