For generations, members of the Tsq̓éscen̓ First Nation (TFN) have come to Tspeten to fish and camp.
That tradition is carried on every spring by Eliza Archie Memorial School students who, together with the TFN's elders, make their way out to Tspeten, more commonly known as Gustafsen Lake, to catch spawning rainbow trout. This year, the trip took place on May 1, which proved to be a beautiful sunny day. Eliza Archie's principal, Mark Doolan, said it was a great chance for students to connect with their heritage and community members.
"The kids love to come out and literally get in the creek and do some fishing. This year we've had really good luck in the river, last year it was slow. We didn't catch too many fish, but it's always a good outing and a really good opportunity to mix with the elders," Doolan explained. "That's the big incentive for us, the time spent with elders and the time spent with the community."
In addition to his 30 students, Doolan estimated roughly 50 other members of the TFN came on the fishing trip. While the elders looked on and gave advice, adults hopped into the creek with sticks to scare the fish out from under the logs and rocks of the creek. Downstream, the students would wait with nets placed at strategic locations, calling out with delight whenever a trout swam into their net.
One of these chasers was Adrian Archie, who has worked for the school as a special education worker for the last 30 years. Adrian noted that last year was the first time they've been able to do the trip since the wildfires of 2021 burned much of the area around the creek. Before the school started doing the annual trip, Adrian remarked that families used to come out to fish, picnic and camp by the creek.
"It's just to keep the tradition going. We bring the kids out to have fun where they can learn and have fun," Adrian remarked. "We chase the fish to try and chase them down to the kids' nets to help them. They have fun that way. Some of them get a little impatient and move all over, but it's fun for them. It's fun for the chasers too but you have to get used to the water, it's cold."
Adrian said he enjoys watching the children learn and have fun during the trip. He noted the trip is also a chance for the elders to look for eagle feathers, as the birds also take advantage of spawning season to snag a meal.
Doolan noted that he was especially proud of his student's respectful attitude towards the fish. Anytime they caught a fish too small to keep, they'd return them to the water, just as Doolan and their teachers have taught them.
"We taught them about conservation and it's really good to see. We ask them questions like how many should you take and how many can you take? I've seen that several times today, kids putting the fish back in the river," Doolan remarked.
High schooler Mason Salter put this lesson into practice, noting that of the eight fish he caught during the trip, four of them he released back into the stream. Salter remarked he enjoys being outdoors where he can hunt, fish and camp.
"Everyone's caught a lot (today). (I enjoy) being able to hang out with all my friends and cousins, to laugh and walk around," Salter remarked. "It's good to bring everyone together and learn about our traditions and what our ancestors used to do."
During the trip, Doolan and elders like Mike Archie also took the opportunity to teach the older students how to gut and fillet a fish. As a former chief and current cultural worker, Mike also took the time to share with the students the traditions related to fishing.
"We come out to Gustafsen's Lake. It's a man-made lake and our people, the five northern communities, have come here to harvest fish, one of the foods we usually use during the summer and winter months," Mike said. "The name for this place in our language is Tspeten, a man-made lake made by our Shuswap people, specifically for harvesting."
It is important to keep the TFN's youth connected with the land and their cultural traditions, Mike said. One tradition that members of the Northern Secwepmec people used to do whenever they fished at Tspeten or any other popular fishing hole was to leave a net in the trees.
Mike explained that way, if anyone was travelling through the area and wanted to catch some food, they would have the tools handy to do so. He added they used to do this with a sweat lodge as well, hanging the pieces needed for the lodge in the trees.
"In my time, when I was here way back in the 70s, it was basically illegal for us to fish. I remember the game wardens coming here and the RCMP taking our fish. We ended up going to court that year," Mike recalled. "(Today) it's about practising part of our culture, rights and title to. It's just awesome to get the kids to learn so they can pass it on to their kids."
When he was a child, visiting the site with his grandparents, Mike said they used to dam parts of the stream to make the fishing easier. He noted that in the past, community members used to travel to the area by horseback and carriage, setting up a smokehouse on site to prepare the fish.
"I just enjoy sharing those things I learned so I can pass them on to my granddaughter. I was showing her a little bit how to cut these fish," Mike said. "You have to learn how to get in there and get your elbows dirty and not be afraid of harvesting food. It's not a culture, it's just a way of life, and I'm glad to see the kids enjoy themselves because they feel so at home when they're here."
