First Nations

The Lheidli T’enneh

Before Europeans arrived, the Carrier Nation lived in this area. The local band was known as Lheidli T’enneh, and they lived at the junction of the Fraser and Nechako Rivers. The translation of the word Lheidli means "where the two rivers flow together" and T'enneh means "the People". Eventually, the Grand Trunk Pacific purchased the traditional land from the First Nations, who were then moved to a reserve at Shelley. 

In 1911, the Lheidli T'enneh agreed to the sale of their traditional land at Fort George to the Grand Trunk Railway but later decided that they did not want to sell the reserve after all. The Lheidli T'enneh were then placed under threat of being burned out as they watched two of their cabins being burned down right before their eyes. Under threat of having their village and belongings burned to the ground, the Lheidli T'enneh reluctantly relocated to their new village near Shelley on their designated IR#2. A short time later, the remainder of the buildings were burned down. By the spring of 1914, all of the First Nations had left the reserve in Fort George, and the village was abandoned. 

The Lheidli T'enneh covers a vast traditional territory, stretching over an area of 4.3 million hectares, from the impresssive Rocky Mountains to the beautiful interior plateau. The Lheidli T'enneh community occupies four Indian Reserves totalling approximantely 675 hectares within and adjacent to the City of Prince George. By managing resources in a sustainable manner and seeking new economic opportunities, this First Nations community is keen to expand their participation on the wider global economy.

The People of the Confluence of the Rivers

Vision and Purpose

Nus Whehooda’en ink’ez Nus Wheni Lhazdutneh

(Vision and Preparation for the Future)

We are Lheidli T’enneh – the people from the confluence of two rivers

Wheni Lheidli T’enneh ts’inli – ’et nankoh took’oh lheghidli

(We are the people of the confluence of rivers – there two rivers converge)

Like the rivers, we aspire to move ahead as an organized, highly motivated, determined and self-reliant nation.

Nehudelhti ink’ez lhulh ’utsut’en. Yunka uzdelhts’i soo dune uzteleh ’et whza’a whutenelh ’et kah nus wheni soo ’uts’ut’en. Ts’iyawh, ts’ivan ink’ez ts’iyanne soo bulh ts’unteyelh.

(They pride us and we work together. As we live we will live as men and that it should be so. So we can ensure a high quality of life. We shall grow with all things, the land and the people.)

Our traditions and cultural beliefs are the driving force of our success and destiny.

Nek’oh ts’ih nus bezint’uk ’i be soo dune uzteleh ink’ez soo whuyenelh

Source: Lheidli T'enneh Band