This geocache is part of the Gold Country GeoTour – The Prequel: Be A Guest. This GeoTour focuses on a step back in time to learn about before the Gold Rush ensued: languages of the region’s culturally diverse families, handed down traditions such as recipes, flora and fauna, historic sites of significance, and points of interest. These stories will help preserve the oral languages and traditions of the region as well as assist in educating visitors and locals alike to the cultural diversity and environmental sensitivity of the region.
Kostering and Grinder
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).
The First Nations who are descendants from Big Bar Creek, Kelly Lake and Clinton are now predominantly located at the current Reserve No. 4 Whispering Pines/Clinton Indian Band north of Kamloops, BC. Despite the historic forced relocation to the current Reserve No. 4, they uphold their ancestral responsibility as Yucwmenúl’ecw (caretakers of the land) for the Clinton and surrounding area and continue to access for traditional land use purposes.
In 1888, Jenny Cemmetlenack from Big Bar Creek, married Conrad Frederick Kostering. Conrad was born in Germany and immigrated to Canada from Pennsylvania during the gold rush. He was a packer in the early days and did some gold mining and ranching. Jenny and Conrad had many children, the eldest being Louisa born in 1875, (married Alonzo Tresierra, whose mother is Josephine from Nuu-chah-nulth), Minnie (married William Grinder, whose mother is Marguerite Nancy Kastamalarx from Alkali Lake/Esketemc), Elizabeth Kostering (married Alexander Haller), and Charles (married Annie Haller).
Kostering Creek and Kostering Mountain were named after Conrad Kostering.
In 1859 Marguerite “Nancy” Kastamalarx from Alkali Lake/Esketemc, married Phillip Grinder. Phillip was born in Pennsylvania and immigrated to Canada during the gold rush. He was well known as a packer and driver and owned and operated the stage-line between Dog Creek and Clinton. Phillip and Nancy had many children, the eldest being Julia Ann (married Thomas Pocock), Marrianne Evaline (married Joe Haller Sr.), Maggie (married Albert Hartman), Johnny (married Angelina Tresierra, whose mother is Josephine from Nuu-chah-nulth), Susan (married Frank Gottfriedson) Sarah (married Joseph Heid), Bill (married Minnie Kostering, whose mother is Jenny Cemmetlenack from Big Bar Creek), Mary Irene (married Joseph Rosaire Pigeon), Louis Agnes (married Joe Bishop), Bella (married Gabrielle Tresierra, whose mother is Louise Kostering from Big Bar Creek) as well as Nora, Emma, and Jim.
Grinder Creek is named after Phillip Grinder who was one of the first settlers in the Big Bar Creek area.Members of these families were laid to rest in private family burial grounds, but several were laid to rest in the Clinton Pioneer Cemetery.
The ancestors of Pellti’qt and Steke’7us have left evidence of their existence in the Clinton area, throughtheir winter pit homes near Pear Lake, their hunting tools found throughout the mountain ranges surrounding Clinton, their involvement in the gold rush and sharing of knowledge of their food sources, water ways used for travel and trading of animal furs and skins to pioneers travelling north during the gold rush. The stories that are passed down from generation to generation are acknowledged and visited by members of the current Whispering Pines/Clinton Indian Band and hold significant meaning and importance that will never be forgotten or lost.
Researched and written by Krystal McKay