Cultural ecotourism - Ktunaxa style

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here are seven communities within the Ktunaxa nation - the Columbia Lake Indian Band, Kutenai Tribe of Idaho, Lower Kootenay Indian Band, Salish/Kootenai/Flathead Indian Reservation, Shuswap Indian Band, St. Mary's Indian Band, and Tobacco Plains Indian Band.

Within the Ktunaxa nation, there are two sub-groups that have been classified as the Lower Kootenay and the Upper Kootenay. The Lower Kootenay has developed specialized knowledge about water resources for survival. This traditional knowledge includes fish and waterfowl harvesting, as well as the use of plants associated with water resources for such items as housing. A unique feature of the Lower Kootenay is the use of the sturgeon-nosed canoe. The canoe was traditionally made using six different types of trees -birch, white pine, cedar, maple, bitter cherry and Douglas fir.

The Ktunaxa Tipi Company is a year-round operation owned and operated by Wilfred Jacobs and his wife, members of the Lower Kootenay Indian Band in Creston. They make sturgeon-nosed canoes and tipis for sale and rental. Their tipis have attracted customers as far away as Europe and Asia.

The Upper Kootenay Indians traditionally were a forest and mountain people who adapted to prairie life when the need arose. They existed by traveling on horseback throughout their territory, hunting, fishing and gathering. Two or three times a year, the Upper Kootenay would travel through the mountain passes often in dangerous situations (due to neighboring enemies, such as the Blackfoot Indians) to hunt for buffalo, which was once one of the staple foods of the Ktunaxa nation people.

The Upper Kootenay obtained horses through this trading network and were adept in horsemanship.

The Ktunaxa Indians had thousands of horses living in their territory and up until the 1950s much of this stock was still in existence. The last of the wild horses were caught and the ones that remained on the reservations, such as St. Mary's Indian Reserve, were killed off because the Ministry of Forests said the horses were overgrazing. Fortunately, there are still some horses remaining on the reserves and there is even a trail ride operation at the Columbia Lake Indian Reserve.

Alfred Joseph, a Ktunaxa Indian of the Columbia Lake Indian Band, operates the JN Ranch near Windermere and is known for his guide outfitting and daily trail rides. His customers include German tourists. It is recommended to call ahead to arrange a trail ride.

Dan Gravelle, with his wife Erin, of the Tobacco Plains Indian Band operates the Circle-O-Ranch and have a few head of horses for hire. They specialize in raising Texas long horn cattle.

A 29-par golf course called Set'etkwa Golf Course is owned and operated by the Eugene family of the Shuswap Indian Band. It is a seasonal course open until October each year. As well, the Shuswap Band has opened another golf course. It is just off of Highway 95 at the crossroads of Invermere and Radium Hot Springs. They also lease a portion of reserve land to a helicopter company that operates daily scenic tours of the Columbia Valley.

At the Columbia Lake Reserve you will find the Lakeside Resort, a tent and trailer campground operated from May to October by the Columbia Lake Indian Band. Activities are jet skiing, canoeing and boat rentals.

The Lower Kootenay Outfitters Ltd. is owned and operated by Wayne Louie of the Lower Kootenay Indian Band. He specializes in traditional hunts for grizzly, black bear, mountain goat, shiras moose, whitetail, cougar, geese and ducks and has summer pack trips.

Well before the Indian residential schools were established in 1886, the St. Eugene's Catholic mission was started, about 1878, by Reverend Father Fouquet, a Catholic priest of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. He built a small chapel for worship at Kootenay, B.C., and the Ktunaxa people would gather there for religious holidays to attend the Catholic Mass.

After Father Fouquet came Father Coccola, a RomanCatholic prest who wanted education for the Ktunaxa children and asked the government for a school to be built for the Kootenay Indians at the Mission. A residential school was erected in 1912 built from Indian education funds and was shut down in 1970. It is the largest historical building in the region.

Year 2000 marks the opening of the Casino of the Rockies, with 18-hole golf course, interpretive centre and tipi village, all at the St. Eugene's Mission. The project includes a strong cultural theme. There will be a Ktunaxa/Kinbasket Interpretive Centre, as well as an arts and crafts centre. Guests will have the option of staying in a 24-unit tipi village, one of the 25 suites in the resort, or in the 92-room lodge. The destination casino will have up to 30 gaming tables and 300 slot machines. The casino will open some time in the summer.