This geocache is part of the ongoing Gold Country GeoTourism Program. All the fun of geocaching with an added tourism twist; discover tales of our pioneers, unearth geological wonders or reveal magnificent sites of beauty. If you enjoyed this adventure look for more in this series.
New rewards and faster ways to claim them are coming soon!
Lake to Lake, Mountain Range to Mountain Range
Clinton, BC is rich with family history and many branches of these family trees that span across
Secwepemcúl’ecw (territory of the Secwepemc people) are intertwined with this specific geographical
area. Big Bar Creek and Kelly Lake are located west of the Village of Clinton and hold many traditional
stories of the Pellti’qt which means People of the White Earth (Kelly Lake) and Steke’7us which means
People of the Little Hanging Bridge (Big Bar Creek).
During the 1970’s, the Federal Government and BC Hydro expropriated the Clinton Indian Reserve 2A in
order to build what is seen today as the Kelly Lake Substation located on Kelly Lake Road, west of
Clinton. This expropriation of land required the population of the Clinton Indian Band to relocate. The
land obtained during that time became what is now known as Whispering Pines/Clinton Indian Band
Reserve No. 4 which is located on the North Thompson River, north of Kamloops, BC.
Despite the complete upheaval of livelihood, connection to culture and land, division of families and
friends residing on different Indian Reservation land, and deep-rooted memories and oral history, the
people from Pellti’qt and Steke’7us make great efforts to share the traditions of their ancestors with
future generations. Traditions that continue include such things as hunting large wildlife for food and
their hides (for such things as making drums); salmon fishing at the Fraser River; picking berries in the
mountain ranges; gathering medicine from areas of exclusive growth for use and preservation; and
practicing ceremony and cleansing on the shores of Kelly Lake.
Stories from those who were once children growing up in the area share how Kelly Lake used to be
colder than it was now and was always well respected for its beauty and unknown depth. Parents
warned their children to respect the lake and its power. Many traditional stories revolve around Kelly
Lake and continues to hold special significance to the people of Pellti’qt and Steke’7us. As part of their
nomadic lifestyle, Kelly Lake was one of the many locations where families would set up camp during
their travels and feast on the fish they caught from Kelly Lake as they travelled from lake to lake,
mountain range to mountain range and finishing their travels close to the Fraser River during the fall
salmon run and settling into their winter pit homes west of Pear Lake.
Researched and wrote by Krystal Mckay