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Indigenous-owned · Saskatoon, Treaty 6 · Shipping across Canada
An introduction to Williams Lake: its history, the Nations whose lands it sits on, and Indigenous community life today, with sources.
That lake was named in 1860 for Chief William, a Secwépemc leader from what is now the Sugarcane reserve. Williams Lake First Nation, known in Secwépemc as T’exelcemc, is centred right beside the city. Secwépemc people have lived in and travelled through the Williams Lake area for thousands of years. The local Downtown association notes the Secwépemc name Yucwt for the area. Chief William of the Secwépemc counselled his people not to join the conflict of that era. From 1886 to 1981, St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School operated near T’exelc, run by Catholic Oblates. In July 2021, Williams Lake First Nation began its own investigation of the former school grounds.
Williams Lake is in unceded Secwépemc territory, home of the T’exelcemc (Williams Lake First Nation). The Nation has never signed a treaty and signed an Agreement in Principle in modern treaty talks in 2018.
Nearby: Williams Lake First Nation (T'exelc / Sugarcane) · Xatśūll (Soda Creek) · Esk'etemc (Alkali Lake) · 150 Mile House · Quesnel · 100 Mile House
Williams Lake First Nation counted 1,053 members in 2024, with most living off reserve. Its main reserve, Sugarcane, covers about 1,645 hectares southeast of the city. The Nation manages eight reserves in total, including Five Mile, Chimney Creek and San Jose. It is a member of the Northern Shuswap Tribal Council and is led by Chief Willie Sellars. The Cariboo Friendship Society has been active downtown since 1967 and registered in 1969. It runs Aboriginal Head Start, counselling, pregnancy support and housing. Since 1985 it has built 88 residential units, mostly for Indigenous residents. The society also operates The Hearth restaurant and an arts and craft shop. Its board requires that two-thirds of directors be of Native descent. Of its 83 staff, 36 identify as Indigenous. Indigenous-owned businesses listed by Tourism Williams Lake include the Chief Will-Yum Gas Station and Gift Store and Coyote Rock Golf Course. The visitor centre says it follows the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's call for economic reconciliation. Williams Lake First Nation continues treaty negotiations with Canada and British Columbia.
More on the region: Indigenous British Columbia · all of Canada.
XUSI is an Indigenous-owned business from Saskatoon, started in 2020 by two brothers from northern Saskatchewan. Along with our clothing, we bring Indigenous youth workshops and custom screen printing to Williams Lake and across British Columbia.
Strong Roots Strong Future is our interactive workshop for Indigenous youth, led by the two brothers who founded XUSI. We travel to schools, First Nations and Indigenous communities, youth organizations and funding programs in Williams Lake and across British Columbia. Youth ages 10 and up work through identity and culture, financial literacy, fitness, entrepreneurship and business skills, career readiness and hands-on screen printing.
Custom t-shirts, hoodies and crewnecks for Williams Lake schools, sports teams, businesses, events and First Nations and Indigenous organizations. Send us an idea, get free design help and a full quote before anything is printed. We print in Saskatoon and ship to Williams Lake. 10-garment minimum, up to 4 colours per design.
Screen printing for Williams LakeCustom clothing and designs
Heavyweight cotton tees, hoodies, crewnecks and A-frame hats with Cree words and the stories behind them. Fitness is part of how XUSI started, so our pieces are built for the gym and the street, and we ship them to Williams Lake.
Yes. Orders of $90 or more ship free to Williams Lake and anywhere else in Canada. Orders under $90 show the shipping cost at checkout. Everything leaves our Saskatoon shop within 1 to 3 business days.
Yes. Custom screen printing starts at 10 garments, with up to 4 colours per design. Every order gets a full quote before anything is printed, and design help is included. We print in Saskatoon and ship the finished order to you in the Cariboo.
Last reviewed . Facts on this page come from the sources listed below.
Putting nêhiyawêwin on a shirt is a small way of keeping it in use. XUSI does it on purpose: each design carries a Cree word, and each one is explained in the founders’ own words for whoever picks it up in Williams Lake.
The brand is Indigenous-owned and based in Saskatoon, on Treaty 6. Read every meaning on the Meanings page, or shop Cree language clothing.
