Saik'uz First Nation
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Saik'uz, translated as "on the sand", formerly known as Stoney Creek, is a
Dakelh The Dakelh (pronounced ) or Carrier are a First Nations in Canada, First Nations Indigenous peoples of the Americas, Indigenous people living a large portion of the British Columbia Interior, Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada. The Dakel ...
nation whose main community is on a reserve southwest of
Vanderhoof, British Columbia Vanderhoof is a district municipality near the geographical centre of British Columbia, Canada. Covering 2.92 square kilometers, it has a population of about 4,500 within town limits, and offers services to nearly 10,000 people in nearby rural c ...
along
Kenney Dam The Kenney Dam is a rock-fill embankment dam on the Nechako River in northwestern British Columbia, built in the early 1950s. The impoundment of water behind the dam forms the Nechako Reservoir, which is also commonly known as the Ootsa Lake Reserv ...
Road. Saik'uz is a member of the
Carrier Sekani Tribal Council The Carrier Sekani Tribal Council (familiarly known as CSTC) is a tribal council representing six First Nations in the Central Interior of British Columbia. It was originally known as the ''Lakes District Tribal Council''. The CSTC was incorporated ...
.


Amenities

The Saik'uz First Nation has a number of amenities, including a Band Administration Office where the Chief and Council make decisions on issues like housing, education, and forestry. The new band office is located in the new subdivision, which was previously an elementary school. Beside the band office is a daycare. The multiplex community hall is a building for traditional native dancing and annual general meetings (which all members of the community may attend). It is also used for extra-curricular activities like volleyball, basketball, floor hockey, and other social gatherings. Saik'uz First Nation is also home to a local health station, which provides the community with drug and alcohol counseling, parenting programs, and a community kitchen. The reserve also has a volunteer fire hall in case of emergencies, and a convenience store called G&F market. It has a gas bar (Which is closed for the time being) It sold canned goods, pizza, snack foods, and fresh milk as well as locally produced native crafts. There are three water pumps located in various parts of the reserve where community members found water before electricity. Today, water is stored in a Green water tower on the reserve. The reserve also honours its veterans with a memorial park to commemorate their service in the two world wars and the
Korean War The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...
. Saik'uz also has a baseball field and holds many tournaments and is home to the "RD boys" and "the Tigers".


Prominent members

There are currently 21 elders living on reserve. One of the nation's most famous elders was Mary John, Sr., whose 1989 memoir "Stoney Creek Woman" won the Lieutenant Governor's Medal for Historical Writing. She was also a recipient of the
Order of Canada The Order of Canada () is a Canadian state order, national order and the second-highest Award, honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with the Canadian Centennial, ce ...
. Another well-known elder was Sophie Thomas, known for her expertise in herbal medicine. The late Celena John was also a prominent leader among the Carrier Sekani people.
Dick Patrick Richard Patrick (born 1946) is a Canadian-born sports executive and is the part-owner, president and alternate governor of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is the son of Muzz Patrick, the grandson of Lester Patrick ...
was a war hero who became well known for his refusal to accept discrimination on his return from his military service.


Economy

The two largest sources of employment are the forest products industry and the band government. As in many First Nations communities, the unemployment rate is high. The band also operates several businesses. The Saik'uz
potlatch A potlatch is a gift-giving feast practiced by Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast of Canada and the United States,Harkin, Michael E., 2001, Potlatch in Anthropology, International Encyclopedia of the Social and Behavioral Scienc ...
house was built by the Stoney Creek Elders' Society on the shore of Nulki Lake. The potlatch house is a large log building that can hold 200–250 people, big enough for weddings, dances, meetings, and education courses. It serves important ceremonial purposes including governance, economy, social status, and other spiritual practices. Upstairs are the main hall, a kitchen, and two washrooms. Downstairs are a larger kitchen and several offices. Adjacent to the Potlatch House are eight cabins, a shower house, a boat launch, a smoke shack and a workshop. Six year-round staff members keep the campground and Potlatch House running smoothly.
Bingo Bingo or B-I-N-G-O may refer to: Arts and entertainment Gaming * Bingo, a game using a printed card of numbers ** Bingo (British version), a game using a printed card of 15 numbers on three lines; most commonly played in the UK and Ireland ** B ...
is held at the Potlatch House every Wednesday. It was started in the late 1980s by two women from the Saik'uz reserve. Past jackpots have included a truck and cash prizes up to $20,000. Other sources of revenue are the campgrounds and boat launch, which hold an annual fishing derby on May Long Weekend. In 2006, the 16th annual derby offered the highest prize to date, $5000. Other prizes are donated by various business in Vanderhoof and surrounding areas.


Bibliography

* Moran, Bridget and Mary John, Sr. (1988)''Stoney Creek Woman''. Vancouver: Tillacum Library. * Moran, Bridget (1990) ''Judgement at Stoney Creek''. Vancouver: Tillacum Library. *Poser, William J. (2021). ''Saik'uz Whut'en Hubughunek (Stoney Creek Carrier Dictionary)''. Stony Creek, British Columbia: Saik'uz First Nation. seventh edition. *Young, Jane and Alex Hawley (2002)''Plants and Medicines of Sophie Thomas: Based on the Traditional Knowledge of Sophie Thomas, Sai'kuz Elder and Healer''. © Sophie Thomas.


External links


Saik'uz Carrier DictionaryFirst Voices: Saik'uz Carrier Home page
{{First Nations in British Columbia, state=collapsed Dakelh governments Nechako Country Hudson's Bay Company trading posts