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Secwépemc Nation

Questions the community has answered

Questions asked by members, answered by reviewers, and shared here with the asker's agreement.

Open to anyone

  • Special class to learn language for Adults

    Someone · October 2, 2026

    Is there any special course for the adults to learn the language?

  • Want to learn at fast speed, Tell me how

    Someone · September 8, 2026

    Pls guide me on this

    The community answered

    Please see the guide here: abc
  • A question the community answered

    Is there a word for the first salmon of the season?

    Shared with the asker's agreement · August 22, 2026

    I have heard there is a ceremony for the first catch and I wondered whether the fish itself has its own name.

    The community answered

    The first salmon is treated differently from every fish that follows it, and there is a protocol around how it is taken, shared and returned. The ceremony itself is not something to write out on a website, so what I will say here is that this is a question to bring to an Elder in person, or to the Tk'emlúps language team. What is safe to put in public is that yes, it matters, and it is not simply 'the first fish'.
  • A question the community answered

    What is the difference between Secwepemctsín and Shuswap?

    Shared with the asker's agreement · August 15, 2026

    I keep seeing both words used for the language and I do not want to use the wrong one when I talk to people.

    The community answered

    Secwepemctsín is the language's own name and the one to use. Shuswap is the anglicised name that came from outside, and you will still see it in older books, museum labels and government documents. Nobody will correct you harshly for saying Shuswap, but using Secwepemctsín is the respectful choice, and the same goes for Secwépemc rather than Shuswap for the people.