The New International Encyclopædia/Colville

COLVILLE, kōl'vĭl (from the town of Colville, Wash.). A former important Salishan people, calling themselves Shwoyelpi, originally occupying the country on Columbia River about Colville and Kettle rivers, northeastern Washington. The great salmon-fishing resort of Kettle Falls was within their territory, and here, in 1846, was established the Jesuit mission of St. Paul, through the influence of which nearly all the upper Columbia tribes are now Christianized. They were put upon a reservation (Colville) in 1872, and have since rapidly decreased, having dwindled from 616, in 1870, to 298, in 1900.