Ktunaxa Nation Council Purchases Property on East Side of Columbia Lake to Protect Archaeological Site

Ktunaxa Nation Council Purchases Property on East Side of Columbia Lake to Protect Archaeological Site

July 28, 2021

Cranbrook/ʔa·kisk̓aqǂiʔit – The Ktunaxa Nation Council announced today that it has
purchased a piece of property on the east side of Columbia Lake near Canal Flats
containing an important archeological site.

“The purchase of this property is in alignment with Ktunaxa Nation cultural heritage
principles,” said Jesse Thomas, Ktunaxa Nation Council Archaeology Coordinator. “The
preservation and stewardship of our archaeology sites is a priority and this purchase will
ensure this site will be protected and managed in a way that is respectful of Ktunaxa
cultural values and traditional teachings.’

“I would like to thank Ktunaxa Nation Leadership, particularly the Ktunaxa Nation Council
Lands and Resources Council for acting quickly upon this opportunity as this time frame
was extremely short,” said Thomas.

There have been many efforts over the past years to protect this archaeology site as
many Ktunaxa oral histories, including the Ktunaxa Creation Story are connected to this
particular location.