snpinktn (Penticton), British Columbia — The Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) proudly launches the 21st Annual Fry Release Ceremonies at Skaha Lake East Marina, highlighting over two decades of salmon restoration leadership and Syilx cultural revitalization.

This year marks significant growth in community engagement, with over 64 schools from both the Okanagan and Upper Columbia participating through the Fish in Schools (FinS) Program. The Skaha Lake ceremony is expected to host 800–900 participants, including more than 650 FinS students from the South Okanagan, making it one of the largest fry releases in the program’s history.  Due to the large increase in schools, the fry release location has been moved from Shingle Creek to Skaha Lake East.  Fry will also have a higher rate of survival against day-time predators being released into a larger body of water where there are more hiding places in comparison to that of a shallow creek.

Through the symbolic release of sc’win, sockeye fry, into Syilx waterways, these ceremonies continue to revitalize cultural practices, reinforce food sovereignty, and restore balance to ecosystems deeply impacted by colonization and development.

2025 Ceremonial Sockeye Fry Releases Information:

• mɬəɬt́pmuscin, Lower Vernon Creek – May 6, 2025 10:00am at Marshall Fields Dog Park
• kiʔláwnaʔ, Kelowna– May 7, 2025 10:00am at Rotary Beach Park
• sənƛ̓uxuxtan, Six Mile Creek – May 8, 2025 10:00am by OKIB Fire Hall
• snɬuxwqnm, Castlegar – May 13, 2025 10:00am at Millennium Park
• takliʕaickst, Slocan Lake – May 13, 2025 2:00pm at Village of Slocan Boat Ramp
• snkx̌ykntn, Revelstoke – May 14, 2025 10:00am at Centennial Park Boat Launch

*Dates for the Chinook Fry Releases to be confirmed.

Fry Release Highlights for 2025:

• Total Fry Released: 5.35 million across territory
• Mass Releases:
  • Equesis – 400,000
  • Nashwito – 200,000
  • Trout Creek – 200,000
  • Powers- 50,000
  • Lower Vernon – 50,000
  • Whitemans – 10,000
  • Mill Creek – 10,000
  • Penticton Creek – 10,000
  • Mission Creek- 4,000,000
• Okanagan Ceremonial Releases:
  • Penticton (Skaha Release)– 3,333
  • Equesis – 3,333
  • Trout Creek – 3,333
  • Mission Creek – 3,333
• Upper Columbia Ceremonial Releases:
  • Castlegar – 11,800
  • Slocan – 10,800
  • Revelstoke- 10,000
  • Invermere – 3,000 Burton – 200
  • Upper Columbia CRSRI: Columbia River Salmon Reintroduction Initiative – 120,000
• Chinook
  • 9400 chinook to release this year

Event Details: snpinktn Skaha Lake East Fry Release

Date: May 1^st, 2025

Locations: snpinktn Skaha Lake East Marina

Time: 10:00 am

Syilx Nation To Host Historic Fry Release Ceremony At Skaha Lake — Largest In Nation’s History

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The kł cp̓əlk̓ stim̓ Hatchery is a testament to the perseverance of the Syilx people to realize their dream of restoring the n’titxw (Salmon) – one of our Four Food Chiefs – to their original habitat and rightful place in our territory. Opened in 2014, the 25,000 square foot hatchery has the capacity to rear 8 million eggs. It is currently equipped to handle all fish culture aspects required for 5 million eggs from brood stock management until fry release.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Tara Montgomery, Communications Lead

T: 250-862-6866

OR

Chief Clarence Louie, ONA Tribal Chair

T: 250-498-9132

OR

Chad Fuller, ONA Fisheries Manager

T: 250-707-0095 ext. 104

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