Loading, about as long as a coffee at the Lion’s Head.
Loading, about as long as a coffee at the Lion’s Head.
Castlegar sits on the unceded traditional territory of the Sinixt (Lakes) People, who have cared for this valley since time immemorial.
Land acknowledgement
The Sinixt (also known as the Lakes People) have lived at the confluence of the Kootenay and Columbia Rivers for at least 10,000 years. Sinixt villages, including Kp'itl'els (Brilliant, BC), were displaced by Canadian settlement but the Nation is very much alive. In 2021, the Supreme Court of Canada affirmed Sinixt Aboriginal rights under Section 35 of the Constitution.
This page points to Indigenous-led and -serving organizations, crisis resources, and ways to deepen your own relationship with the territory.
24/7 crisis support
The Sinixt, also known as the Sin-Aikst, Lakes People, or Arrow Lakes Band, are the Indigenous people of the Arrow Lakes region, which includes present-day Castlegar and the broader West Kootenay. Archaeological evidence shows continuous occupation for at least 10,000 years.
In 1956, the Canadian government declared the Sinixt “extinct.” The Sinixt themselves never accepted that declaration and continued their cultural, ceremonial, and political life across the border. The Crown was wrong about it for sixty-five years. In R. v. Desautel (2021), the Supreme Court of Canada formally refuted the extinction claim and ruled that the modern Sinixt (now organized as part of the Colville Confederated Tribes) hold Aboriginal rights under Section 35 of Canada’s Constitution. Sinixt resilience, not bureaucratic correction, is why this page exists.
Several other Indigenous Nations have historical and contemporary connections to the broader Kootenay region:
COINS provides counselling, case management, mental health and substance-use support, and cultural programming for Indigenous people 15 years and up across the Kootenays, including Castlegar.
Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) represents self-identifying Métis people across the province. Regional Métis associations serve the Kootenays, offering cultural programming, advocacy, and services.
Beyond the crisis lines in the hero panel, additional services:
Reconciliation is not a single act but an ongoing relationship. Commitments reflected in current City practice include:
Tip
Residents wanting to deepen understanding
The Castlegar area includes multiple sites of deep Indigenous cultural significance:
Sinixt Nation (official)
News, land acknowledgement, culture, and governance.
COINS, Kootenay Boundary
Counselling, case management, cultural programming.
First Nations Health Authority
Health services and coverage for Status First Nations in BC.
Métis Nation BC
Métis citizenship, programs, advocacy.
TRC Final Report & 94 Calls to Action
Foundation for reconciliation in Canada.
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Verified against Sinixt Nation sources, Government of Canada (Indigenous Services), Supreme Court of Canada (R. v. Desautel 2021), First Nations Health Authority, and Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Indigenous self-identification and community leadership always takes precedence over external summaries.