Fishing
The Secwepemc economy was based on hunting, fishing, gathering, and trade with neighboring tribes. Each band had regular hunting, fishing, and gathering spots that they returned to each season to harvest food.
There were a number of different methods of fishing. The Secwepemc used spears, nets, traps, weirs, and hook and line systems to harvest a winter supply of fish. Several types of fish were caught: chinook, coho, sockeye, chum, rainbow trout, and kokanee. Fish was an essential food that added calcium to the diet.
The
Secwepemc fished for salmon along the North Thompson, South Thompson, and
the Fraser Rivers. Dip nets were used on the Fraser and spears and traps
in the Thompson Rivers. Other methods included hook and lines, gill nets,
set nets, and fishing weirs.
Spear points were fashioned from sharpened antler or splintered animal
bone. Fishing nets were woven from hemp twine. Net sinkers consisted of
smooth stones of various sizes. Floats were made from dry reeds. Hooks
were splintered from animal bone. Traps were fashioned from willow sticks
and secured with hemp rope and lodge pole pine pitch. Stone knives were
used to cut and clean the fish.
Weir
This fence-like type of weir would be set up in shallow rivers. Fish
attempting to jump over would be stopped by a series of branches. When
the fish reached these "fences," they could be easily speared
or dip netted.
(Drawing by David Seymour)
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