The Secwépemc society did have a chief system. They had a war chief, hunting chief, and a chief of dances. They were men elected as the best qualified for these positions. There were a few other men who were called chiefs due to their intelligence, storytelling, or wealth. There were some men who were called chiefs due to a man having large feasts and giving gifts to the people. He never expected anything back for giving gifts. Thus, called a chief due to his generosity.
Each band or community had one hereditary chief. This was passed down in the male line. There was a system in place if he had more than one son, or no sons, etc. The duty of the hereditary chief was to look after the general welfare of the band. He would regulate the gathering of food supply so that all have an equal supply. He would discipline those that were being lazy and bothersome. Along with the other chiefs, he would give advice on all important matters. They were also the representative of the band when dealing with people from a different band or nation. He was expected to set the prime example of a good person of his band and to act fairly in all matters. There was no nobility or privilege in being a hereditary chief.
Pre-contact Kamloops economy had three sectors: Fishing, Gathering (Roots/Berries) and Hunting. These were important to the Secwépemc people. As found through archaeological and anthropological literature.
The land and hunting grounds were looked at as a nation property. Anyone from any Secwépemc band was allowed to hunt anywhere in Secwepemcúl’ucw. Every community had its own common hunting areas but did not forbid anyone from a different band to hunt there without restrictions. Fishing places or spots were treated as nation property as well. No one had special placement or owning of specific fishing spot. If a spot was good for fishing, often times the men would take turns fishing. All the fish caught was distributed evenly among the people anyway. That way no one had more or less than another family. Berry picking spots were also nation property. Usually if a place had a lot of berries, people from other bands would go there to pick and harvest.
Almost all of the wild game was distributed evenly among the people. The only special treatment you will find is that some hunters get first rights to pick the fats and good part of the skins of game first before the people.
Secwépemc lived in a way that suited them to survive together and work together. One person should not have an abundance of anything, especially food. The Old-One created an abundance of resources and created everything people needed to survive. They believed to treat everything with respect or you will lose it.
The Slemxúlexemc “People of Slemxúlax”, people of the Fraser River from High Bar to Soda Creek. Most reserves are on the Eastside of Fraser RIver except for some near High Bar. Tcexwépkememc, inhabited Empire Valley, west of Fraser River. Who were nearly extinct with remnants settling with Canoe Creek.
The Slemxúlexemc claim hunting grounds 30 miles west of the Fraser River, including some of the feeders of Bridge River, all of Big Creek and other creeks joining the Fraser, North to Churn Creek. Which includes Empire Valley and the Ground-Hog Mountains. The country opposite Soda Creek and Williams Lake 20 miles back is claimed by the people there. The territory of the Se’tlemux was also used as hunting-grounds by bands living opposite of them. Xwalxástcen “Plenty of roots”, a little hill with a lake or swamp near was a tributary of Bridge River, known as a boundary-mark showing the junction of the hunting grounds of the Slemxu’lemxamux, Lillooet and Chilcotin. East side of the Fraser they claim the Green Timber plateau back to Bonaparte, Clinton and north of Green Lake to Lac La Hache, further north to Quesnel Lake. Along this line, division is not defined. The Slemxúlexamemc, Stetamemc, and ts̓axtcínememc often hunted the same grounds.
The Sétlememc of Sélomemc “People of SetL”, district around Chilcotin River below the canyon. The indian name of Lillooet is also SetL or SEtl, both places being situated close below the canyon where a swift stream flows. This division lived West of the Fraser, from Church Creek to Risky Creek. The main villages at the foot of the canyon of the Chilcotin River. The people claimed the country back to Hanceville, to Pestát, near the junction of Deer Creek and Chilcotin River, on to north and south hunted over the same grounds. At the crossing of Hanceville trail over Deer or Big Creek is one of the boundary markers, there is a shape of two boulders called the “Coyotes sweathouses” which 1 – úhax or Xúlax means “country” and Slem to mean some connection between the names Slétememc, Lemsí7i, Slaxí7emc, SetL – all names along the Fraser River. All that remains of the Sétlememc are one or two families who have a reserve near the mouth of the Chilcotin River on the south side. With very few elders and their descendants settled among friends at Alkali Lake.
The Sti7étmemc “Interior People”, inhabited the interior plateau between the Fraser River and North Thompson rivers, with headquarters near Canoe Creek or Canim Lake. Most were classed as the Lac La Hache division. They fished and hunted around the lakes of the plateau and ranged not far south or west because of the close proximity to other divisions. They hunted around parts of Horsefly and Quesnel Lakes, Clearwater Lakes and up in the Cariboo Mountains opposite the Yellowhead Pass.
The Texqákallt or Texqékmalltemc “People of the upper reaches or top”, People of the whole Thompson Region. Subdivided in two bands, the símpcwemc “People of the North Thompson River”, the Npsimpcw, people who live on the lower part. Headquarters at the Red Trees Reserve, located 50 miles above the mouth of the river. And the Texqákallt or Texqakalltúw̓i “People of the upper reaches proper” or Xexkállt “Those at the top”. The people almost completely nomadic lived near the heart of the Rocky Mountains, around the headwaters of the North Thompson River, the Yellowhead Pass, and Jasper House. To the west hunting grounds were shared with the Interior people. To the East and North extended along Adams Lake, Canoe River and part of the big bend of the Columbia River, part of the Rocky Mountain region near Athabasca, and the Upper Fraser country north towards Smoky River. In those days most Upper North Thompson bands were mixed with Iroquois and Creek. Some Secwépemc was spoken but the people were proficient in Cree and understood Canadian French. Most of the mixed people now located in the vicinity of Jasper House, East of the Rocky Mountains, intermarriage between the Secwépemc women, the Iroquois and Cree of the region are thought to be largely Secwépemc in blood. This band was often called “Rocky Mountain Secwépemc” by non-Aboriginals. Rocky Mountain Band might be a preferable title instead of Upper North Thompson Band. Belonging to this original division is the band of Secwépemc located on Upper Columbia River near Lake Windermere. They are called from the name of former Chief “Kenpésq̓t’s Children” by the other Secwépemc people. The non-Aboriginals called them Kinbaskets or Kootenai Secwépemc. Their hunting territory extends on both sides of the Columbia, north beyond Golden.
The Sxstéllnemc “People of Sxstelln”, People of the Upper South Thompson, Secwépemc Lake and Spallumcheen River. They hunted south along Salmon River, North to Adams Lake to the Columbia above Revelstoke, East around Mabel Lake and Sugar Lake to Upper Arrow Lake. Sometimes they hunted in the mountains East of Lardeau and Nakusp. Arrow Lakes were claimed by an Okanagan band in Washington.
The Stk̓emlúpsemc “People of the confluence; of North and South Thompson Rivers)” Also referred to Secwepemcúw̓i “Secwépemc”. These are the people of Kamloops and Savona. They hunted in the south of Stump Lake, all the Kamloops Lake territory, along the South and and main Thompson rivers. North claimed Deadman’s Creek. Some of the headwaters of the Bonaparte. Also some country on each side of the North Thompson for 15 miles, close to Louis Creek.
The ts̓extcín̓emc “People of the low valley or shore”, the valleys are lower than the others in the Secwépemc. The people claimed the valley of Bonaparte River near Ashcroft on the main Thompson, Cache Creek, Loon Lake, lower Hat Creek, through Marble Canyon to Pavillion. Both sides of the Fraser River. They inhabit Thompson River between Savona and Ashcroft.