Parks

The Simpcw territory is made up of fresh air and beautiful landscapes. Apart of these landscapes are the many parks and recreational sites throughout our territory. Some of these parks are protected to help protect the wildlife of our territory and other parks are public and set up so that everyone can enjoy the beauty of our land.

One of these parks that is set up for everyone’s viewing pleasure is the Mount Robson Provincial Park. Mount Robson has the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies and is the second oldest park in British Columbia. Another famous park is the Wells Gray Provincial Park. Wells Gray is a park that consists of a little something for everyone and contains many sites that show that Simpcw ancestors once inhabited the land.

For more information on these two parks, feel free to visit the sites below.

Wells Gray Provincial Park
Mount Robson Provincial Park

Another place to keep in mind when thinking about parks and recreation is the Raft River Viewing Platform. The Raft River Viewing Platform is located about 5km north of Clearwater, BC and is an amazing place to go and view the salmon as they return to their home waters to spawn. Not only is the Viewing Platform a place to go and see salmon, but also it overlooks the area where the Simpcw return to every year to go fishing. Here the Simpcw pull salmon from the waters using traditional fishing methods like gaffing (it looks like a giant fish hook attached to a spear) and seine netting. In addition to Raft River being a traditional fishing place for our people, it is also now the site where the First Fish Ceremony is held every year in August to celebrate the return of the salmon.

Recreation

The Simpcw are very active within their community. Past events have included softball and basketball tournaments that were organized by various band members. In addition to those tournaments Chu Chua has been the home of the Chu Chua Chiefs men’s fastball team, the Chu Chua Coyotes and several other sports teams.

Today, the Chu Chua Coyotes ladies basketball team calls the Simpcw community home along side the both the Chu Chua men’s and master’s basketball teams. Every year members from both the men and women’s team organize the Kamloopa Basketball tournament held over the Easter holiday weekend. This tournament hosts not only has a men’s and ladies bracket, but also hosts a masters’ bracket when there is enough interest.

In addition to the softball and basketball tournaments are the slo-pitch tournaments hosted by the Simpcw community on a yearly basis. These tournaments include the Chu Chua Fire Department tournament, the annual CCR tournament and the Juanita Haller Memorial Ladies Slo-pitch tournament.

Information about all these tournaments can be found posted within the Simpcw First Nation community and throughout other First Nation communities as the events draw near.