The Story of Chief Louis
Louis Xle Xxle’xken, or Louis Hli-Hleh-Kan, stands as a revered figure in Secwépemc history, presiding over pivotal moments from 1828 to 1915. Familiarly known as “Petit Louis” for his stature, he wore multiple hats – from serving the Hudson’s Bay Company and managing substantial livestock to cultivating farmland. Taking leadership around 1855, Louis witnessed the creation of the Kamloops Indian Reserve and fervently advocated for land rights during his time as Chief. An unwavering advocate for education, he supported schools and represented the concerns of interior Indians on national and international platforms. Louis embraced Catholicism, becoming a “church chief or watchman” and actively contributing to the reconstruction of St. Joseph’s church. Louis later lived in a large house next to the church.
His influence reached global proportions, with particpation in a delegation to England to present grievances to Queen Victoria. Fluent in Chinook jargon, Louis, alongside Chief Johnnie Chilliheetza of Douglas Lake and Father LeJeune, embarked on a European tour in 1904. The two native men took part in an exhibition of stenography, at which they received three gold and five silver medals. They also met Pope Pius X and were received at Buckingham Palace by King Edward VII.
Once Chief Louis started to fight hard for aboriginal rights and title he fell out of favor with Father LeJeune. Chief Louis led the interior chief to Ottawa and to England several times, to ask the King and Queen to honor their agreement with Indigenous people.
Beyond his leadership, Louis was a dynamic force, championing indigenous causes and successfully expanding the Kamloops Reserve to over 33,000 acres in 1878. When the CNR was going through Kamloops, the ranchers met with the Chief Commissioners becuase they were afraid for their safety. Chief Louis was ready to go to war becuase the government was proposing a reserve reduction to 3×3 square miles. The governement relented and increase the resrve to 7×7 square miles and added 4 more hunting and fishing sites at Hefley Lake, by Hi-hum Lake, by McLure and by Merritt.
In Kamloops, he was a familiar face, hosting dignitaries and actively engaging with the community. Reflecting on his passing in 1915, the Kamloops Sentinel aptly noted, “He was generally recognized as one of the best Chiefs in the interior. He was a man of keen intelligence, very diplomatic in all business connected with the interests of his people, and he will be missed by them.” The legacy of Louis Xle Xxle’xken stands as a testament to Secwépemc resilience and leadership.
Story excerpt based on the original text by Kenneth Favrholdt and supported by Tk̓emlúps Language & Culture Department & Krista Stoesz.