Oagan Peoplekan at a Glance Okanagan People at a Glance
Okanagan geography illustrating the hills, lakes and forests.
Map of the Traditional Okanagan Territory; pictograph painted with red ochre – used for storytelling.
An Okanagan pit house (winter home) showing the side entrance.
An Okanagan teepee (summer house).
A lean-to; used by the men when they went out hunting.
Preparation of salmon for drying; salmon hanging on racks – dried by wind
Other sources of food for Okanagan people: deer, rabbit, saskatoon berries and soap berries.
Tools for digging bitterroot (shown at right – not to be picked in bloom (top of picture); should be picked prior to blooming (bottom of picture).
Different ways of preserving food; Drying berries on tule mats;steaming food; pit fire; deer meat dry racks.
From left: pine needle basket; 2 women with woven basket; birch bark basket (used for gathering berries).
Traditional clothing: buckskin dress; outfit decorated with porcupine quills and ochre paint; dressed (with fur) buffalo robe.
Weapons: arrowheads; rabbit snare; bow & arrow
Means of transportation: snowshoes; birch bark canoe; horses; tule and pole raft; dug out canoe (making the canoe by burning).
Items the Okanagan First Nation received through trade: dentalia shells; parfleche (bags made from rawhide); buffalo robe; twine; horses.