Tribal Spokesperson:
Kukpi7 Wayne M. Christian (Splatsin)

Kukpi7 (Chief) Wayne M. Christian, Wunu”xtsin, is of Shuswap/Okanagan ancestry. He is the proud father of seven children and 15 grandchildren.

For over 30 years, Chief Christian has worked to establish healing and health systems for the indigenous nations of B.C. He is known as a tireless and passionate advocate for recognition of aboriginal title and rights. 

In December, 2009, Chief Christian was re-elected for a third consecutive term as chief of Splatsin First Nation. Earlier in the year, in April, he was elected as Tribal Chairman of the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council. In this role, he is the tribal spokesperson for 10 of the 17 communities of the Secwepemc (Shuswap) nation. 

Chief Christian truly believes that solutions are found in the heart, mind and spirit of

the Secwepemc people. He has articulated a six-point strategy for renewal of the Secwepemc nation.

{1} Children come first. If we truly believe that the children are our future, then our future is now. We must re-establish Secwepemc laws on the land in order to exercise jurisdiction over our children.

{2} Let’s communicate and share information with each other through our natural working relationships, based on historical divisions and kinship ties.

{3} We must actively engage our youth and our elders in the business of our communities. It’s our responsibility to mentor our youth; they are our future leaders. Our respect for our elders and the knowledge that they share, is part of our future too.

{4} Let’s create economic certainty for the Secwepemc people by building government to government relationships for resource and revenue sharing based on the Memorial to Sir Wilfred Laurier. 

{5} We will exercise effective jurisdiction over our traditional lands by re-structuring the Chiefs’ portfolio system - with specific strategies that are ratified by resolution at the tribal and community levels - and by developing the wealth and resources required to support our progress.

{6} The time has come, for our communities, our divisions, our Nation, to stop talking and to start making strategic decisions for the benefit of our people. Let’s respect our protocols and declarations and work together to implement the decisions that we have made.

“Thus they commenced to enter our ‘houses,’ or live on our ‘ranches.’  With us when a person enters our house he becomes our guest, and we must treat him hospitably as long as he shows no hostile intentions. At the same time we expect him to return to us equal treatment for what he receives. Some of our Chiefs said, "These people wish to be partners with us in our country. We must, therefore, be the same as brothers to them, and live as one family. We will share equally in everything-half and half-in land, water and timber, etc. What is ours will be theirs, and what is theirs will be ours. We will help each other to be great and good."

(Excerpt from the Memorial to Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Prime Minister of Canada, from the Chiefs of the Shuswap, Okanagan and Couteau Tribes of British Columbia, presented at Kamloops, B.C., August 25, 1910.)