Alfred Joseph grew up in the traditional territory of the Ktunaxa, in the area of ?akisq’nuk, the area of the two lakes in what is now known as the Columbia Valley, British Columbia. He spent his childhood exploring the woods, playing and fishing by the beaver dams along Lake Windermere and catching trout for the family’s weekly Friday fish dinner. In the late summer, he’d take his slingshot and hunt grouse.
What he didn’t do as a child much, however, was hear the stories his grandmother had taught to his older siblings and cousins.
“When I came along, she was pretty much done with her teaching, so I never did learn too much from her,” Alfred said.
So, he set about teaching himself the stories of the Ktunaxa people — stories of his heritage and the land that has supported his Nation for generations. Alfred knows not to show fear to bears, for example, and what plants to use for food and medicine. He’s learnt the Ktunaxa language, too, and now commits much of his time to teaching this language to others.
Today, Alfred is a respected Ktunaxa Elder and former chief of the ?Akisq’nuk band. He recently shared some of his stories and knowledge with participants from Wildsight’s Columbia River Field School, setting the tone for the students as they prepared to spend two weeks on the river.
The group met at the Columbia River headwaters in Canal Flats on a hot summer’s morning. Here, the vast Columbia River begins as a shallow pool of clear, trickling water. The students walked a winding gravel path with Alfred to reach this special spot, then gathered in a circle to listen.
Learning from the Ktunaxa Creation story
The Creation Story, as Alfred explained, tells of a time when large animals roamed the Earth before humans arrived. The creatures looked after the land together. But one day, a big sea creature, Yawuʔnik̓, began to cause chaos on the land. The spirit animals resolved to capture Yawuʔnik̓. They chased him around and around the waters that drew a big loop (following the path of the Columbia River, but as an unbroken circle). They finally trapped Yawuʔnik̓ when a large, powerful being called Naⱡmuqȼin created a land barrier (where the Columbia and Kootenay rivers are now separated).
“Through hearing the Ktunaxa Creation Story, I hope students learn a lesson. Before humans, animal spirits watched over the Earth. When people came, it became our job to look after this place,” said Alfred.
For many students, this encounter with Alfred was moving.
“We learned a lot about how creation stories could teach you more about your surroundings and how the past has affected the future,” reflected participant Faeron Henderson from Winlaw, BC. “The Creation Story gives me more value in my knowledge of the land.”
Faeron, 16, joined the field school because he loves being outdoors and enjoys activities like canoeing.
“I saw there was an outdoor 15-day field trip down the Columbia, and I wanted to do it. I want to learn more about the land, more about its history and everything,” said Faeron. “These outdoor trips give you such a great sense of being, and teach you things you would never even realize.”
Field school
Each summer, Wildsight’s Columbia River Field School offers a unique opportunity for youth to explore this iconic river. This July, 16 young participants joined field school leaders for a 15-day immersive journey that combines camping, canoeing and hands-on learning. Students learned about the Columbia’s history, culture and ecology, with a strong focus on the Columbia River Treaty’s history and future.
The field school also provided students with the opportunity to engage with current environmental issues. Alfred spoke about the “Bringing Back the Salmon” movement, an initiative led by several Indigenous Nations to restore salmon populations to their historic spawning grounds that have been blocked by dams for decades.
“There is hope for the salmon,” Alfred pondered, though he also voiced concerns about the river’s health due to industrial impacts and boat traffic.
Students expressed their gratitude for Alfred’s time.
“It’s very special to me to be able to hear these stories about a place that I live now,” participant and Argenta resident Larkspur Phoenix told Alfred. “To hear these stories helps me better understand a huge variety of things — the way that the land is, and how the people lived there before me.”
The remainder of the two-week field school was spent exploring the Columbia wetlands, the free flowing Columbia River and the dammed Arrow Lakes Reservoir. Along the way, students met scientists, politicians and other local and Indigenous representatives who all helped guide them to learn more about this watershed.
For many participants, the field school was transformative.
“This experience meant a lot to me and will forever change my perspective on life,” said Olivia Berkley of Nelson. “I will forever have memories of this through the friends I made, photos, and the way it made me rethink my whole life.”
