Burial Places and Graves:

Following the death of an individual, a burial place on a sandy plateau overlooking a river was chosen. His or her soul departed from the body through a process lasting four days.

Bodies were usually wrapped in deerskins and placed in a sitting position. Sometimes they appear to have been bent into a sitting posture and then laid on the side. The sitting position would represent the return to the fetal position.

During this time a wake was held. A fire was kept to communicate with the departed soul, and food and tobacco were burned to nourish the deceased along his journey. Personal possessions of the deceased were buried along with him. Stones or a small circular hut was placed on top. Flags or sticks with ribbons were set near the site. Animal hides were also hung near the site.

A feast to thank those who consoled and helped the mourners and to lighten their spirits followed the burial. During this feast, the guests would play lahal with the stakes provided by the family of the deceased.

A Story of Life and Death
Kye7e (grandmother)

Once there lived a Kye7e (grandmother) up north. She was seen to possess a gift at an early age, some even say before she was born. When she turned of age her elders trained her to be an Indian Doctor. Her mentors taught her a great deal, but she learned more from nature. Even though she was expected to stay and help the people, she preferred to be by herself.

At that time, most of the hunters were said to be men, but this woman could track, hunt, and skin any game that she got. She was so swift and agile in skinning a deer that before the people knew it she had prepared the deer in such a way that she was able to carry one pack on her back and return quickly from the mountains.

This Kye7e lived to a ripe, old age. And like many of her contemporaries, she realized that her time was coming soon. Living in a time when modern era conveniences were available, she witnessed such changes as the modern funeral home arrangements that cleanse, dress, and prepare one's body for viewing, yet, she opted for her own way.

One late fall day, people of her community noticed no smoke coming from her chimney. This was not unusual as some figured that in a few days she would return just as always. Yet, others were more concerned because Kye7e was getting on in age and she was not as physically strong as she once was. When the first snow started falling in the lower reaches though, all the people started wondering, "Where is Kye7e?"

Still with no Kye7e and much more snow, the community members gathered and sent out a search party. People went to all Kye7e's favourite hunting, trapping, fishing, root digging, berry picking, and medicine gathering grounds. Some even went to places where Kye7e had sat with them, shared stories of long ago, and prophesied of times to come. But to no avail, no one found Kye7e. Many family members felt sad, lonely, and some wished they were able to share that special cup of tea with her early in the mornings when it seemed the whole world was still sleeping.

After the ice started to break up, snow melted, green shoots sprouted, the birds started singing and the frogs started croaking, the people went out again. By this time, all the people had gathered and prayed to have success in finding Kye7e. By evening, the news of Kye7e had reached the community before her body. Some of the young men found Kye7e sitting beneath a berry bush with her back up against the trunk of the bush, tucked beneath the branches. She had burrowed her way underneath the foliage in the fall, and found her place of solitude. She had her most treasured earthly belongings with her underneath that berry bush: her body and soul.

As for Kye7e, her baskets, knives, axes, ropes, scrapers, awls, and other material goods were left behind for the elders in the community to give away. These material possessions were no longer useful to her and each would now have a new home where most would be used, even to this day. Kye7e still lives from day to day. Some say that each new year, she is present when the first berries fill the bottom of the baskets. Her songs still arise from the sound of the berries dropping in her old baskets.

Activity: Research

There are many different customs used for the burial ritual. Do some research to discover similarities and differences between the Secwepemc culture and a culture of your choice.

 
Important Information to Remember:
  • Burial sites were usually in valleys.
  • The bodies were wrapped in deer skin and placed in the sitting position to represent the return to the fetal position.
  • A communally provided feast to thank those who consoled and helped the mourners and to lighten their spirits followed the burial.