The community of Summerland has a lengthy Indigenous history.
The former name of Summerland was Nicola Prairie, a term used since 1826, indicating the land of Grand Chief Nicola of the Okanagan Nation.
Much of the community is on land that was once part of the Penticton Indian Band.
The downtown area was once Penticton Indian Reserve #3.
The reserve was a cattle ranch and farm operated by the Antoine Pierre and Johnny Pierre families.
The home of Antoine Pierre was located close to the site of today’s Summerland Museum and Archives on what is now Wharton Street, while the Johnny Pierre home was near what is today Washington Avenue.
In 1886, Johnny Pierre settled what is now downtown Summerland and used water from Eneas Creek to irrigate crops of hay and potatoes.
In the 1890s, both families lived at the George Barclay home on Victoria Road. Later, Antoine Pierre assisted with the development of the Dominion Experimental Farm.
Johnny Pierre worked for William Ritchie’s lumber company and sold lumber to the municipality of Summerland. The Pierre family’s Okanagan name was quel quel sta.
In 1904, the Penticton Indian Reserve #3 was exchanged for land adjacent to Penticton Indian Reserve #1. The Penticton Indian Reserve #3 became West Summerland, or what is today known as the downtown core of Summerland.
In 1986, the Summerland Museum compiled 28 separate Indigenous burial sites (confirmed or speculated) in Summerland. The Heritage Commission and the Summerland Museum have attempted to protect these sites.
Historic Indigenous artifacts have also been found within what is now Summerland.
