Sts’ailes teachings empower us to reclaim our language, traditions, and our strengths so that we may continue to grow. We, the Sts’ailes, are a sovereign Coast Salish First Nation. Our ancestors have lived in our traditional lands since time immemorial and taught us how to respect it. Our name, meaning “heart on the chest” or “laying on the chest”, is derived from an ancient and formative battle between Xals the Transformer and Shay, a powerful Indian Doctor. Both this battle and our name are eternal reminders of Snowoyelh Xaxa Téméxw tei (traditional law of our sacred land). Today, as in the past, our culture and economy is centered on the land and its resources. Just as our ancestors knew the significance, use, and value of all resources and lands, we must also. This is essential not only to fully participate in the broader economy, but also to protect those resources and lands that are integral to Sts’ailes identity, success, and permanence.
“Xa’xa Temexw”, literally translates to “sacred earth” and expresses the Sts’ailes’ spiritual, physical, and cultural connection to the land, its water, and its resources. Human beings (Xwelmexw) are only one small part of Xa’xa Temexw and have the responsibility to take care of it because all living things are interrelated and when one is affected, it affects the health and well-being of all. Sts’ailes Xa’xa Temexw includes the entirety of Harrison Lake, Harrison River, Chehalis Lake, Chehalis River, the lower Lillooet River, the north-eastern portion of Stave Lake, and the Fraser River between Hooknose and Queens Island. These major waterways are surrounded by ecologically diverse wetlands, estuaries, and floodplains, a multitude of valleys with small rivers and streams, mountain lakes, and glacial peaks. Situated throughout Sts’ailes Xa’xa Temexw were ancestral settlements which were the nucleus of everyday commercial and domestic activities, and also semi permanent bases, which were used for hunting, fishing, plant gathering, and ceremonial trips.
