Blind Bay ~ Shuswap Lake, BC ~ Canada

When we talk of Shuswap Lake, we usually think summer fun but there are three other great seasons and many sights to enjoy.  We were there on the first snowfall of the season and it was absolutely beautiful.  The bay was shrouded with clouds that gave us a very ominous quiet morning.  A perfect winter morning to enjoy through the lens of my camera.

Blind Bay on Shuswap Lake, BC in winter

Some say there is 1000 km (600 mi.) of shoreline on this lake that is shaped like an “H” and located on the Trans Canada Highway #1.  There are several communities scattered around the lake, including Sorrento and Salmon Arm and some of the lake even has cabins that are only accessible by boat.

A lone boat on Shuswap Lake, BC in winter

Winter activities include snowmobiling, snowshoeing, sleigh rides and great ice fishing. There are several dining spots scattered around the lake to visit, shops and galleries with arts and crafts created by some of the many artisans and skilled artists that live in the Shuswap area.

The marina and park wait for summer to return

Blind Bay is in the South Shuswap, which is known as the heart of the Shuswap. Blind Bay is a quiet community in winter compared to all the summer traffic that comes this way. The Bayside Marina is closed for the season and the park sits waiting for summer to return.

Red berries frozen on the bush

The Shuswap has a rich history and much can be seen in the local museums and archives.  There is the 15th Annual Heritage Week happening Feb. 21-26, 2011 held at the Piccadilly Mall in Salmon Arm, BC with the theme celebrating parks and protected areas.

 

Scene of serenity at Blind Bay on Shuswap Lake

The Shuswap area was once mainly a summer retreat that had many cabins where families would spend their holidays at and enjoy the lake for boating and water activities.  There were always some year round residents but I believe that has grown to be the majority and most homes are now lived in year round.

The Shuswap country, located one hour east of Kamloops, has so much to see any season of the year. To learn more about this area, click here.

Kamloops ~ Secwepemc Museum & Heritage Park

We love Kamloops ! We have lived here most of our lives and have had the good fortune to also live and travel in other parts of the province of British Columbia, but no matter how beautiful other places may be, there is no place like home.

Kamloops has a rich and colorful history that has made this area what it is today and we are able to read about and see how we have grown and evolved by visiting many locations as well as our museums.

One very interesting museum to visit is the Secwepemc Museum and Heritage Park.  The word Secwepemc means Shuswap and that is most commonly used.  I asked  how to pronounce it a couple of times and was told that if I could speak German, I might be better, but I don't !  They have a throaty sound with the "c" that I cannot use but it sounds a bit like "Sek-wep-emk". 

   TK'emlups marsh in Secwepemc Heritage Park

We recently took family visiting from the U.K. to see the Secwepemc Museum and Heritage Park. It is located in the Chief Louis Centre next to the Powwow Arbor on the Yellowhead Highway.

The museum shows the history and culture of the Shuswap Indians, which consists of 17 remaining tribes including the Kamloops Indian Band. There is a short film to view with pictures and stories of years gone by to stories of today and storytelling by elders who also teach arts and crafts used by their ancestors. The museum holds many artifacts, clothing, pictures. canoes and tools of the early days. It is a wonderful way to learn some of the history of the Secwepemc.

Lean-to at Indian Heritage park, Kamloops,BC

The lean-to is part of the reconstructed summer village in the outdoor cultural display on this 12 acre park. Several structures show their summer village with fish drying racks, fish traps, etc.

Winter underground home in Indian Heritage Park, Kamloops, B.C.

The Native Heritage Park offers a nice walk through the grounds to see the 2000 year old winter village as well as other structures to see how they lived.  There is a Ethnobotonical Garden that was created to show the native plants of the area that were harvested and used for medicinal and food as well as other purposes. There are a total of five garden sites in the Native Heritage Park.

Symbolic fencing at Indian Residential School, Kamloops, B.C.

This is past of the fencing in front of the old Kamloops Indian Residential School (KIRS) that still stands on the grounds but was closed in 1977.  I don't know why the letters are in a different sequence (KISR) and I may never know but there is a reason , I am sure.

Yellow headed blackbird ~ British Columbia Birds

In the park there is also the wonderful TK'emlups Marsh that is home to some beautiful birds and ducks. There is no doubt that there are more living creatures here, too, we just didn’t see them on this visit but we saw several of these beautiful yellow headed birds. I am guessing it is a blackbird but would be interested to hear if it is something different.

 Marmot - BC rodent family

The marmots are setting up homes nearby, and that can become a problem but at this point, they’re making themselves right at home and even pose for the occasional photo !

We were told there was a family of coyotes in the park but they didn’t show themselves during our visit. They were likely sleeping during the heat of the day when we made our visit.

The Secwepemc Cultural Education Society is a non-profit group that strives to maintain their culture, history and language and a visit to the Secwepemc Museum will take you back in time to show some of the history that goes back many years. Check out their web page for prices and times at: http://www.secwepemc.org/museum/hours.

Here is a map to the museum from Riverside Park in downtown Kamloops.

We love Kamloops and this is just one reason why “there is no place like home” !