Scw'exmx
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The Scw'exmx are a branch of the Nlaka'pamux (Thompson) people in the Nicola Valley of the Canadian province of British Columbia. Together with the neighbouring branch of the Okanagan people the Spaxomin (usually Spahomin), who live in the upper, eastern reaches of the Nicola Valley, they are generally known in English as the Nicolas. They also share governmental institutions, and their alliance dates to before the time of Chief Nicola, for whom the river was named and whose father had led the Okanagan migration into the valley in the late 18th Century. The Scw'exmx intermarried with the Okanagans, and also with the Stu'wix, a now-extinct Athapaskan-speaking people who migrated into the valley in the 17th Century.
[edit] Language
The Scw'exmx speak the Scw'exmx dialect of Nle'kepmxcin, the Nlaka'pamux language. The language is now nearly extinct but as with other indigenous languages in British Columbia efforts to educate new generations in the language shows hope for survival.
[edit] Communities
The main Scw'exmx communities are:
- Shackan
- Shulus (Lower Nicola)
- Nooaitch
- Coldwater (Ntsla'tko)
[edit] Government
Their tribal government is the Nicola Valley Tribal Council. It sub-bands are:
- Shackan
- Shulus (Lower Nicola)
- Nooaitch
- Coldwater (Ntsla'tko)
- Spaxomin (Douglas Lake) - primarily a Spahomin communityTemplate:NAm-native-stub
