Prior to European contact,
ḵalpilin (Pender Harbour) was one of the most populous and powerful regions in the
shíshálh swiya (world, "territory"). Several villages shared the well-protected home sites and productive harvest locations of the harbour, including
sex̱wʔamin (Garden Bay), p’ukwp’akwem (Bargain Harbour)
, salalus (Madeira Park)
, smishalin (Kleindale),
and kwayahkuhlohss (Myer’s Creek). In political and economic terms, the village of
sex̱wʔamin, could be considered one of the most important residential locations of the
shíshálh Nation. It was a year-round village that, by virtue of its location, served as the gateway to transportation corridors on
sinkwu (Georgia Strait and Malaspina Strait) and ''
lekw'emin (Jervis Inlet) via lilkw'emin
(Agamemnon Channel). Together with the village of klayahkwohss
(Buccaneer Bay) on sx̱welap''
(Thormanby Island) to the south, it also served as a primary location for winter dances and ceremonials. With the increase in European settlement in
ḵalpilin (Pender Harbour) during the early 20th century, many resident shíshálh were forced to move to
sexaliten (Skardon Islands), the small islets at the harbour entrance with no access to fresh water. ==See also==