Chief Louis Clexlixqen

CHIEF LOUIS CLEXLIXQEN

Sometime Employee of the Hudson's Bay Company. Hereditary Chief of the People of the Confluence: Tk’emlúps te Secwe̓pemc

Petite Louis; Little Louis; Louis Hi Kleh Kan; Louis Ha-tan-kun; Louis Klick-tick-tun' Louis TlihTlih-en; Louis Gleghleghken (xlexxle'yken); Louis XlExlexkEn,; Louis XlExxlExkEn, or Louis Xilextexken

Louis Clexlixqen served as hereditary chief of the Kamloops Indian Band from about 1852 onwards until his death at Kamloops on 12 April 1915: This is according to Duane Thomson, who also says that he was a farmer and sometime employee of the Hudson's Bay Company. Dictionary of Canadian Biography

Petit Louis or Hli Kleh Kan, was a dominant figure in the development of the Kamloops region and the construction of St. Joseph's Church. He was recognized as one of the best chiefs in the Interior. On several occasions he went to Ottawa in an attempt to negotiate for more land for his people and traveled to England to plead the case for the Band to Queen Victoria. His leadership did much to improve the oppressed condition of his people during the critical period of white settlement Secwepemc Nation Site

His Parents

Chief Louis Clexlixqen identified himself as the son of Tlitlehren and Asnaamr when he married Marie at Kamloops on 20 February 1889 British Columbia Marriage Registrations

The Year of his Birth

It is difficult or impossible to identify a year of birth for Chief Louis Clexlixqen from surviving records. According to the 1881 census return he was born in British Columbia in 1835 or 1836. 1881 Census of Canada but the age he gave up for his second marriage suggests 1838 or 1839 British Columbia Marriage Registrations The 1891 census suggests 1842 or 1843 [Canada Census, 1891] but the Kamloops Indian Band Timeline says this: "1915. Chief Louis passed to the Spirit Word age 81" and this suggests that he was born in 1833 or 1834 Kamloops Indian Band Timeline According to his memorial Inscription in St. Joseph's Cemetery, he was born in 1830 Memorial Inscription in St. Joseph's Cemetery

A Visit to Europe

In 1904 Chief Louis Clexlixqen and Chief Johnnie Chilleheetsa of the Douglas Lake Indian Band visited Europe with Father Jean-Marie-Raphaël Le Jeune, superior of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kamloops. Both 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 during a visit to England they were received at Buckingham Palace by King Edward VII. Dictionary of Canadian Biography

Death

Chief Louis Clexlixqen is reported to have died on 12 April 1915 Kamloops Indian Band Timeline

First Marriage

Chief Louis Clexlixqen married Eugenie Shush-latorx, as his first wife.

Second Marriage

Chief Louis Clexlixqen married Marie, the widow of Abraham Larue Federal Court, Trial Division, Collier J ., 18 June 1976: Leonard et al. v. The Queen They were married on 20 February 1889. British Columbia Marriage Registrations

Children

(1) Victoria

(2) Sophie Maria

(3) Fidell

(4) Elsa

(5) Alice

(6) Annie

Some Additional Evidence

1877 Census

Chief Louis Ha-tan-kun aka Klick-tick-kun is noticed at Kamloops in British Columbia in the Indian Reserve Commission Census of 1877 [Indian Reserve Commission Census, 1877]

1881 Census

Chief Louis Tlihtlih-en and his first wife, Eugenie Shush-latorx ,and their daughters (1) Annie and (2) Victoria, are noticed at Kamloops in 1881. Louis gave up his age as 45 years which suggests that he may have been born in 1835 or 1836. 1881 Census of Canada

1891 Census

Chief Louis and his second wife Mary (Otherwise Marie) are noticed at Kamloops in the 1891 census. Louis has daughters named: (1) Annie (2) Victoria and (3) Alice, and sons named (4) Fidell and (5) Elsa. Louis gave up his age as 48 years which suggests that he may have been born in 1842 or 1843 [Canada Census, 1891]

Memorial Inscription

CHIEF LOUIS: BORN 1830: CHIEF 1852: DIED 12 AP 1915: RIP Memorial Inscription in St. Joseph's Cemetery

Biographical Accounts

1. Dictionary of Canadian Biography