Originally known to the First Nations of the Okanagan Valley as Khiluk, which was- and remains today revered as a sacred site producing therapeutic waters. During World War I the minerals of Spotted Lake were used in manufacturing ammunition. Later the area came under the control of the Ernest Smith Family, for a term of about 40 years. In 1979 Smith attempted to create interest in a spa at the lake. The First Nations responded with an effort to buy the lake; in October 2001 they finally struck a deal. First Nations arranged the purchase of 22 hectares of land for a total of $720,000, and contributed about 20% of the cost. The Indian Affairs Department paid the remainder.

“Finger Icons” manipulation series by Ditology. Among the characters is a number of historical and contemporary personalities such as Dalai Lama and Jesus Christ. Very nice! Photo: “Dito Steve Jobs”.

A protester holds a poster displaying the message “Get away UK” during an anti-British demonstration in the Iranian capital that resulted in a break in at the British Embassy on November 29, 2011 in Tehran, Iran. (Photo by FarsNews/Getty Images)

Military staff members of the German Bundeswehr check an Eurocopter Tiger military attack helicopter at the Eurocopter plant on March 8, 2012 in Donauworth, Germany. EADS, the parent company of Eurocopter as well as airplane manufacturer Airbus, is scheduled to announce financial results for 2011 today. (Photo by Johannes Simon/Getty Images)

Brick-carving featuring Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) maids performing musical instruments is seen at the Chinese Music History Museum in Xian University of Architecture and Technology on September 27, 2008 in Xian of Shaanxi Province, China. (Photo by China Photos/Getty Images)

Eghy (L) uses his makeshift snorkel as his colleague lifts up green mussels to their boat in Jakarta Bay, Indonesia, April 20, 2016. (Photo by Reuters/Beawiharta)