OKANAGON IDIANS IN CANADA

OKANGON RIVER IS DERIVED FROM THE OKANAGON RIVER NEAR OKANAGON FALLS, WHICH IS THE PLACE OF ORIGIN OF THIS TRIBE. THEY BELONGED TO THE INTERIOR DIVISION OF THE SALISHAN STOCK. THEY ARE LOCATED ALONG THE SHORES OF OKANAGEON LAKE. THEY HAVE THREE BANDS. THE HISTORY OF THE OKANGON DIFFERRED LITTLE FROM THE NEIGHBORING TRIBES. DURING THE LAST TWO CENTURIES HOWEVER THERE HAS BEEN A STEADY MOVEMENT OF THE TRIBE NORTHWARD. WHERE THEY HAVE DISPLACED THE SHUSWAP. THERE ARE ABOUT 2200 OKANAGON IN 1780. BECAUSE OF SMALLPOX THEIR NUMBERS DECREASED AND BY 1906 THERE WERE 825 FOLKS.

THEY LIVED IN EARTHEN LODGES SOMETIMES KNOWN AS PITHOUSES. THESE HOMES ARE PARTIALLY UNDERGROUND THEIR LODGES WERE SMALL AND ONLY A SINGLE SINGLE FAMILY. TODAY THEY ONLY PUT UP A TEEPEE FOR FUN. THEY WORE LEGGINGS WITH BUCKSKIN MOCCASINS.