Evidence on the Adequacy of First Nations Consultation - BC Hydro ...

DRAFT REPORT: Rights and Title Interests in the Columbia Valley Transmission Project Area
the Blackfeet who he referred to as the “Meadow Indians.” 89 The plains east of the Rockies were
generally referred to as the “meadows.” Alexander Henry recorded similar information on the
identity and relationships of the tribes, noting the animosity between the Ktunaxa and the plains’
people. 90
During the early months of 1808, David Thompson explored the Kootenay River. He then
returned to Kootanae House before making another trip through Howse Pass to Rainy River
House, and back, to spend the winter of 1808-1809 at Kootanae House. In the fall of 1809
Thompson again travelled south, this time extending his journey to the “Saleesh” River, his term
for both the Clark Fork and Pend d’Oreille rivers. 91 On the 19 th of September he sat with a group
of “Pointed Hearts” [Coeur d’Alene], “Flatheads” and “Kootanaes.” He wintered among these
people after first establishing Kullyspel [Kalispel] House at Pend d’Oreille Lake, and then
Flathead House, also called “Saleesh House,” situated at Thompson Falls, Montana. During this
winter, Thompson gained information on the southern groups, including the Spokane, who in
1809 were ill, as was another southern tribe. 92 Thompson instructed some of his men to establish
Spokane House the following year. 93 By this time, Kootanae House was no longer occupied,
although still standing, and the relocation of the main depots resulted in the fur trade being
focused farther south. 94 Chance proposes that the relocation of the trading post to the south “may
have helped to start the Kutenai tendency to gravitate southward, something that happened
whenever they lacked an active trading post in their own territory.” 95 If this is so, there is no
evidence that the Rocky Mountain trench was abandoned.
In the summer of 1810, Thompson travelled via Howse Pass to Rainy Lake, but with Howse Pass
now blocked by the Peigans, he had to return westward during the winter through Athabaska
Pass. 96 On this trip, Thompson followed the “Stone Indian Road” where, on the east side of the
mountains, he met Aboriginal people identified as “Stone.” 97 His party descended the Wood
River and, in January 1811, arrived at the Columbia, where they wintered near the mouth of the
Canoe River.
89 Belyea 1994, pp.70, 229.
90 Coues 1897, pp.708-711.
91 Belyea 1994, page 244.
92 Belyea 1994, page 113.
93 Chance 1981, page36.
94 Chance 1981, page 37.
95 Chance 1981, page 37.
96 The Peigans had suffered considerable loss of lives in a battle with the Flathead (“Se’lish”) the summer
earlier and didn’t want to see their enemy armed (Coues 1897, pp. 639-644).
97 Belyea 1994, pp. 119-120, 123.
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