The Arrow Lakes Aboriginal Society is a registered non-profit corporation incorporated
under the Colville Tribal Code, Chapter 7-2. The Arrow Lakes Aboriginal Society is
registered as a foreign non-profit corporation in the State of Washington and as an
extraprovincial non-profit society in British Columbia.
The Arrow Lakes Aboriginal Society’s 14 member Board of Directors sets policies and goals for the Society, carrying out the purposes established in the Society’s Articles of Incorporation:
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1.to advance the social, cultural, political, educational, ceremonial, and spiritual rights of the Non-Profit Corporation and Arrow Lakes people;
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2.to foster awareness, appreciation and understanding of the Non-Profit Corporation and Arrow Lakes people;
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3.to advance the aboriginal and reserve rights of the Non-Profit Corporation and Arrow Lakes people;
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4.to establish an aboriginal governing body of Non-Profit Corporation and
Arrow Lakes aboriginal people within their traditional territory in British
Columbia; and
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5.to do whatever is necessary, appropriate, and timely in the attainment of
the charitable purposes of the Non-Profit Corporation.
Pursuant to Colville Law, the Arrow Lakes Aboriginal Society does not have members. Instead, its mission is to advance the interests of all Arrow Lakes People.
The Arrow Lakes Aboriginal Society represents thousands of Lakes / Sinixt people throughout the United States and Canada in terms of rights, title, and interests.
Our interests pertain to what has transpired historically to Sinixt / Lakes people in the past several centuries. The Arrow Lake Indian Band Reserve at Oatscott, British Columbia was the only reserve set aside for our people, but our territory ranged from above today's Revelstoke, B.C. to Addy, and we also own land in the area of Vallican, British Columbia next to a recognized Sinixt Heritage site. The Arrow Lakes Indian Band that was at Oatscott was considered extinct in 1956 by the Canadian government.
Our people have continued to utilize our original territory in many ways like residing, hunting, fishing, berry picking, gathering, sporting events, etc. We continue to consider this original territory as a very important part of the Lakes history, culture, traditions, and will continue to utilize this original territory in the future, and we will continue to recognize specific areas with place names in our own language.
Our quest for Lakes interests in our original territory has never ceased since becoming one of the twelve tribes of the Colville Confederacy. We have initiated our interests as it is within our rights as Lakes people, and as representatives for ALL Lakes people to do so. There are many other tribes now claiming title to our territory, as there was once an overlap of this territory. We are still here!
