The focus of this portion of our guide is on the Sts’ailes people, largely represented by the Sts’ailes Nation, a First Nations band in British Columbia, Canada.
The Sts'ailes people were formerly known as the Chehalis people, and the Sts'ailes Nation was previously known as the Chehalis First Nation or the Chehalis Indian Band. Still used in some contexts, their English name, Chehalis, is identical to that of the larger Chehalis people of the Puget Sound in Washington. While there is no modern link between the American Indian tribe and the Canadian First Nation, there is a Sts'ailes tradition that speaks of a flood that separated a southern portion of its people.
The name Sts'ailes means "beating heart," which became the name of their village, located on the west side of the Harrison River.
Interestingly, the Sts'ailes people claim an affiliation with Sasquatch, Canada's Bigfoot. The word Sasquatch is an anglicized version of sasq’ets from the Sts’ailes upriver dialect, Halq’emeylem. It translates to "hairy man." Sts’ailes tradition holds that Sasquatch has the ability to move between physical and spiritual realms, and is considered a caretaker of the land and a totem for their Nation. The Sts’ailes community views Sasquatch sightings or encounters as both a gift and a responsibility. The Sts’ailes flag incorporates a stylized depiction of Sasquatch.
In collaboration with a Sts’ailes member, Boyd Peters, the Sasquatch Museum at Harrison Hot Springs seeks to balance Western accounts of sightings with Sts’ailes tradition and mythology.
The Sts’ailes did not participate in the 1999 treaty process with British Columbia because they felt that it was necessary in order to establish cultural identity and to be stewards of their ancestral homeland.
Topics related to the Sts’ailes First Nation or any other Sts’ailes organizations are appropriate for this category, along with any businesses, enterprises, schools, churches, medical facilities or programs, museums, events, or other entities associated with Sts’ailes groups or individuals.
Recommended Resources
The website represents the Sts'ailes Nation, sometimes known as the Chehalis First Nation. It discusses the Nation's history and heritage and introduces its chief, council, and committees. The organization's departments, programs, and services are featured, with contacts and other details, including links to outside resources, where appropriate. Annual reports, a comprehensive community plan, an election code, and a community care resource handbook can be viewed or downloaded from the site.
https://www.stsailes.com/
SCS is an educational institution within the Sts'ailes First Nation, a sovereign Coast Salish First Nation in British Columbia, Canada. Established to provide education to members of the community, the school includes both elementary and secondary levels, serving students from early childhood to high school. It integrates traditional teachings with a modern educational curriculum and weaves cultural teachings into the curriculum. The school is located in Agassiz, British Columbia, on Salish Way.
https://sites.google.com/chehalisschool.com/scs/home
Sts'ailes Development Corporation
The SDC was formed to raise revenues for the Sts'ailes Nation, which will support existing educational and social programs and new capital projects. The Corporation seeks to expand business and job development opportunities for the benefit of community members, with the goal of creating sustainable economic growth without risking the Nation's assets or incurring unnecessary income tax. Announcements of upcoming programs or events are posted on the site.
https://stsailesdevcorp.posthaven.com/
