After years of dedication, advocacy, planning, and overcoming countless challenges, this milestone stands as a testament to the strength and perseverance of the Syilx Nation and all those committed to restoring our ecosystems.

Yesterday morning, over 200 people joined us to witness this historic moment. For the first time in generations, salmon now have permanent, unimpeded access from the Okanagan River into 350 square kilometres of Okanagan Lake and 13 of its tributaries. This reconnection allows for staggered migration times, opening the door for salmon to return to their historic spawning grounds. This marks a major milestone in restoring salmon habitat and supporting the health of our ecosystems for generations to come.

“100 years ago, dams were built throughout the valley, severing the connection of water and their ecosystems. Devastation continued with the channelization of Okanagan River and its tributaries, and with further fragmentation and extreme loss of habitat, salmon were on the brink of extirpation.”- Zoe Eyjolfson

“Today, we are going to open up this waterway to create a passage for our salmon to continue on with the with their journey, as they did thousands of years ago and today for me, this is an amazing day. This is an amazing day for our Nation. This is an amazing day for our relatives across the 49th parallel. This is an amazing day for our community in snpintktn.”- sil-teekin y̓il̓mixʷm Greg Gabriel

ONA expresses immense gratitude and appreciation to everyone involved.  Years of advocacy, partnership development, public education and a tremendous amount of hard work have led to one of the greatest success stories in history – the salmon are back! Project partners include the Penticton Indian Band, City of Penticton, Province of BC and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Okanagan Dam Fish Passage construction was funded by the Habitat Conservation Plan and the Habitat Subcommittee of the Priest Rapids Coordinating Committee, and a fall planting of indigenous species is funded by the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation.

 

After 100 years salmon can finally return to Okanagan Lake – TimesChronicle.ca

Fish passage opens at Okanagan Lake Dam | Watch News Videos Online

Salmon reaching Okanagan Lake unfettered for first time in a century – Castanet.net

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The ability of Syilx students to access post-secondary education is central to our Nation moving forward and our voices being heard.

This year the Okanagan Nation Alliance, Fortis BC and EMB Management Ltd. provided a total of 10 awards to financially support eligible Syilx Okanagan Nation students. The Building a Better Future Bursary has been granted every year since 2009.

This year the Okanagan Nation Alliance is pleased to announce four bursaries as part of this year’s Building a Better Future Bursary Program. 

The 2025 recipients for the Syilx Highschool Siya Bursaries are:

• Abbey Coyne
• Cashanea Holmes
• Dempsey Cohen
• Keanu Manuel
• Tehya Carpenter
• Yakmaxn Louie

The 2025 recipients for the Syilx Post- Secondary Bursaries are:

• Nikki Marchand
• Kirsten Pike
• Keilan Thompson
• Cely-Rae Street
• sk̓ik̓aycin Peter Waardenburg Jr
• Kara Ross
• Graci Gallicano

2025 Bursary Recipient Slides

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tkwəɬniwt (Westbank), Syilx Territory: Approximately 700 bighorn sheep are spread across four population units in the Okanagan and Similkameen portions of Syilx Okanagan Territory: Granby, South Okanagan, Similkameen-Ashnola, and Westside Road. These units are geographically isolated with limited interactions. The health of the yilíkʷlxkn (Okanagan bighorn sheep herds)  has been compromised by several diseases, including epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) outbreaks, persistent pneumonia outbreaks linked to Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (M. ovi) and issues with external parasitism from Psoroptes cuniculi that have further impacted their health and numbers.

Bighorn sheep are an integral and critical part of the  Syilx Okanagan Nation culture since time immemorial. “The bighorn sheep is a relative with whom we have shared tmxʷulaxʷ (land) and resources for thousands of years. There is an inextinguishable responsibility to care for the land and the tmix^w (all living creatures), including bighorn sheep.” – says Jordan Coble, the Okanagan Nation Alliance’s(ONA) Natural Resource Committee(NRC) Chairman. ”

The ONA is aware that the Provincial Ministry of Water, Lands and Resource Stewardship (WLRS)  is grappling with budget constraints that are impacting BC’s ability to implement the work that must continue in order steward the Bighorn sheep and their habitat. As noted in several previous articles, this year’s budget allocation to WLRS amounts to less than half of what was spent the previous year, for an already chronically underfunded program. This has meant that the disease monitoring program, crucial for protecting these populations, is losing some of its’ support, as Provincial budgets and capacity dwindle. Provincial budgets and support are only part of the equation when it comes to yilíkʷlxkn stewardship though, and the ONA certainly will not allow a lack of Provincial support to ‘cancel’ the Bighorn programs. These circumstances, in the ONA’s view, only add pressure to BC to advance co-management agreements, and acknowledge and recognize the Syilx Okanagan Nation’s responsibilities for wildlife. BC has a responsibility as well, to work to ensure that wildlife are protected and managed, and to act as partners with the ONA in doing so.

The Syilx Okanagan Nation is very aware of the threat to many important issues, including Bighorn sheep, and remain committed to finding pathways and solutions to ensure these important programs are not lost. In partnership with the Wild Sheep Society of BC, ensuring continued efforts to protect these herds is a top priority. ‘We understand that a combination of awkward timing, budget constraints and adjustments after multiple re-organizations in WLRS are creating challenges, but British Columbians can be assured that Bighorn work will continue. The Syilx Okanagan Nation’s work on the Wildlife matters long predates that of BC’s DRIPA. We hold steadfast to our responsibility to advocate for Syilx title and rights, and rightful role in the context of wildlife stewardship. Specifically for the yilíkʷlxkn, we have been partners in every aspect of this work for many years and will continue to step forward and hold the line regardless of Provincial dynamics and politics’-Cailyn Glasser, ONA NRD Manager.

Kyle Stelter, Chief Executive Officer of the Wild Sheep Society of BC, comments, “Bighorns are an iconic wildlife species in BC and are an important part of our natural ecosystem. In recent years, the Society has invested over $1.3 million towards bighorn sheep management and raised another $1 million through grants and partner funding. Our members are dedicated to investing in the vitality and health of wild sheep populations across BC, and we will continue to work with the Syilx Okanagan Nation to ensure that the bighorn sheep disease management program continues to run.” The Okanagan Nation Alliance and the Wild Sheep Society of BC have developed a memorandum of understanding, committing to partnership to ensure BH Sheep recover and persist in the Okanagan.

B.C. fish and wildlife programs are in ‘crisis’ | The Narwhal

Okanagan bighorn sheep disease monitoring program cancelled | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan’s News Source (infotel.ca)

 

For information please contact:

Jordan Coble, ONA Natural Resource Comittee Chair

Cell: 1-250-300-5673

 

Cailyn Glasser, ONA Natural Resources Manager

Cell: 250-469-1595

 

Photo Attribution: Okanagan Nation Alliance

Assurances that Okanagan yilíkʷlxkn (Bighorn Sheep) are not left behind

 

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