Coming together to honour siwɬkʷ, in recognition of International World Water Day.
Actioning Cold, Clean, Flowing, Water for All Living Things.
The forum is hosted every year the week before or after World Water Day, and explores the Syilx connection to water, focuses on various water tributaries, watersheds or bodies of water to raise awareness around the state of Water within the territory.
The 2026 siwɬkʷ Water and Climate Forum
siwɬkʷ 2026, was our largest Water Forum to date with over 300 community participants from across the Okanagan and Similkameen watersheds to advance dialogue and collaboration on water and climate. Grounded in Syilx law and values, the forum featured keynote presentations from local, regional and international speakers such as Dr. Jeannette Armstrong, Gwen Bridge, Dr. Nuria Hernández-Mora, and Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson, and panels with Collaborative Leadership Table (CLT) members and ONA technical experts. Over two full days, the forum created space for diverse perspectives to strengthen shared understanding of water governance, climate risks, and long-term stewardship through ceremony,storytelling, and dialogue.
Photo Courtesy of Aaron Hemens
THE 2026 REPORT IS NOW LIVE!
The 2026 siwɬkʷ Water and Climate Forum Report is a detailed account of the teachings, priorities, and opportunities discussed during the event. limləmt – Thank you to the Balance Co-Lab Team for your contributions in the creation of this report.