tkwəɬniwt (Westbank, BC), Syilx Okanagan Nation Territory: The Syilx Okanagan Nation (Nation) is calling on Premier David Eby and the Province of British Columbia to correct the record on what it has heard from First Nations regarding its proposed unilateral suspension of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) and section 8.1(3) of the Interpretation Act (Proposed Suspension). DRIPA was unanimously passed by the Legislature in 2019 under former NDP Premier John Horgan.

Premier Eby’s recent statements suggesting that the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) has been a barrier to progress on the Proposed Suspension, and that the Province is now looking to work with Chiefs directly as a result, are deeply misleading. To-date the Province’s limited and impoverished engagement sessions on its Proposed Suspension have included Chiefs, leadership, and representatives of First Nations throughout what is now known as British Columbia (BC). The message delivered at those sessions has been clear and unanimous: First Nations reject the Proposed Suspension.

“Title holders have already directly delivered our message to the Premier, and we have been unequivocal,” said Osoyoos Indian Band Chief Clarence Louie, Chair of the Syilx Okanagan Nation Chiefs Executive Council. “The issue is not the FNLC or First Nations not being clear in our position — it is that the Premier has apparently refused to hear us.”

First Nations throughout BC, including member communities of our Nation, have invested significant time, money, and other resources into engaging with the Province on the Proposed Suspension and some have developed and proposed reasonable alternatives to it. By blaming the FNLC for the Province’s failings the Premier discounts the significant effort of First Nations and clearly demonstrates that he has not taken those efforts seriously.

“First Nations have seen this divide and conquer approach play out many times,” Chief Clarence Louie added. “But DRIPA and the Proposed Suspension implicate our basic human rights, which First Nations will never be divided on.”

“This is fundamentally about the basic human rights of our people,” said Chief Greg Gabriel of the Penticton Indian Band. “Title holders have spoken collectively and have rejected the Proposed Suspension. Respecting title holders means respecting the collective direction we have already given and not dismissing that direction by blaming others.”

Our Nation’s position on the Proposed Suspension is clear, and that position is our own: we unequivocally reject it. Our Nation again calls on the Province to abandon the Proposed Suspension and to work in consultation and cooperation with First Nations to co-develop real, ethical, common-sense solutions.

Media Contacts:

y̓ilmixʷm ki law na Clarence Louie

xaʔtus Chairman, Okanagan Nation Alliance

Mobile: 250-498-9132

y̓ilmixʷm sil-teekin Greg Gabriel

Chief Penticton Indian Band

Mobile: 250-490-7250

tkwəɬniwt (Westbank, BC), Syilx Okanagan Nation Territory: The Syilx Okanagan Chiefs Executive Council stands with Joan Phillip, MLA, in her principled decision not to support the suspension of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA). Her position reflects the strength of leadership our people expect and a commitment to uphold the Province’s obligations to First Nations.

MLA Phillip is a member of the Penticton Indian Band and a former Councillor for her community. She has spent decades on the front lines advancing and defending First Nations Title and Rights. Alongside her spouse, Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, she is part of a generation of syilx leadership that has advanced the protection of syilx Okanagan Nation law, governance, and jurisdiction.

“We stand behind Joan Phillip because she is doing exactly what our leadership is expected to do—protect our Title and Rights and hold the Crown to its commitments,” said Osoyoos Indian Band Chief Clarence Louie, Chair of the Syilx Okanagan Nation Chiefs Executive Council. “DRIPA was co-developed with First Nations and reflects the recognition of Indigenous rights as fundamental human rights. Any attempt to step back from those commitments without us is unacceptable. The work of advancing Title and Rights is not only necessary for our Nations—it is foundational to a stable and just future for all British Columbians.”

“I have known Joan Phillip for many years, and her leadership has always been grounded in advancing our Title and Rights,” said Chief Greg Gabriel of the Penticton Indian Band. “Her decision to enter provincial politics reflects that same commitment—ensuring that First Nations leadership is present where decisions are being made. Advancing and leading on Title and Rights benefits all British Columbians. This is about coexistence—we are all here to stay.”

The Syilx Okanagan Chiefs Executive Council unequivocally reject any suspension or amendment of DRIPA. We again call on the Province to abandon any plans to suspend or amend DRIPA and to work in consultation and cooperation with First Nations to co-develop real, ethical, common-sense solutions.

Media Contacts:

y̓ilmixʷm ki law na Clarence Louie

xaʔtus Chairman, Okanagan Nation Alliance

Mobile: 250-498-9132

y̓ilmixʷm sil-teekin Greg Gabriel

Chief Penticton Indian Band

Mobile: 250-490-7250

Jordan Coble, Westbank First Nation Councillor and Chair of the ONA Natural Resource Committee, and Mackenzie Clark, ONA tmixʷ (Wildlife) Program Lead, were recently featured in The Narwhal in a compelling in-depth article exploring the future of grizzly bear restoration in the North Cascades.

The story follows one of the most endangered grizzly populations on the continent, where as few as six bears may remain, and examines a growing, Indigenous-led effort to bring them back. Led by the Okanagan Nation Alliance and partner Nations, the initiative blends Indigenous knowledge, science, and long-term stewardship to restore not only grizzly bears, but the ecological and cultural relationships they represent. While past recovery efforts have faced setbacks, the article highlights renewed momentum, careful planning, and a vision that may take decades to fully realize.

As Jordan Coble reflects:

We should do this, and we must do this, and we must do it together.

Suiki?st, Pauline Terbasket, Executive Director of ONA, further emphasizes that the article “raises the complexities of numerous issues faced by those working to right, restore, reintroduce, and ultimately rebalance the relationship between human social and economic impacts and the natural world.”

This is really the task, the responsibility of upholding the principles that challenge our Nation rebuilding in every facet of our work. I have shared over and over, decolonization is messy work if truly committed to “the people to be” and as this article shares for the 20 Grizzly bears that may survive in this Area in the next 20-50 years.

— Suiki?st, Pauline Terbasket
Executive Director, ONA

To read the full article click HERE: B.C. First Nations are bringing grizzlies back to the North Cascades | The Narwhal 

What does it mean to plan not just for the next ten years but for the next ten generations?

In the Okanagan and Similkameen watersheds, leaders are beginning this conversation with a bold initiative that looks 250 years into the future.

The long view will be front, and centre as Syilx leaders, scientists, local governments, and international water experts gather for the siwɬkʷ Water and Climate Forum, hosted by the Okanagan Nation Alliance in recognition of World Water Day.  The two-day Forum will bring together regional and global voices to explore climate-resilient governance and collaborative watershed stewardship. The Forum will be opened by renowned Syilx Scholar lax̌lax̌tkʷ Jeannette Armstrong, PhD.

Global Perspective on Living with Less Water: Alongside regional leaders, the Forum bring will bring an international perspective with a keynote address sharing insights from the strategy adopted by Spain in the face of their water shortages. Water governance expert Nuria Hernández‑Mora, PhD will discuss her region’s process of learning to live with less water amidst a changing climate, including the roles of ecosystem-based management, economic analysis, and public participation.

Long-Term Regional Commitment to Water: The Forum will spotlight one of our regions most significant new initiatives, the Okanagan Similkameen Watershed Collaborative Leadership Table (CLT).

This milestone in regional cooperation brings together, more than 130 elected leaders from Syilx communities and neighbouring municipalities and regional districts committed to safeguarding the waters that sustain us all.  This is a Syilx guided process where leaders strengthen government-to-government relationships and work together to address shared priorities to protect and restore siwɬkʷ including kɬúsx̌nítk^w Okanagan Lake and the nməlqaytk^w Similkameen River.

For a region facing rapid population growth, intensifying drought, wildfire risk, and climate change, the stakes are high. Water systems across both watersheds are under pressure, and leaders recognize that no single government can solve these challenges alone.

“It’s amazing to see the leadership of the districts come together on an issue of common concern, and that’s water,” says y̓ilmixʷm sil-teekin Chief Greg Gabriel of Penticton Indian Band.

There is a strong foundation for watershed planning in the past and current work undertaken by both the Syilx Nation and Local Governments. Because of this foundation—and building on our collective responsibility for water.

“This is our opportunity to build a new history together,” says Penticton Mayor Julius Bloomfield.

The Collaborative Leadership Table is developing a Watershed Responsibility Plan with a multi-generational approach to stewardship, recognizing that decisions made today will shape the health of the watershed far beyond typical political timelines.

Forum participants will hear directly from regional leaders involved in the CLT during a special discussion moderated by CLT Co-Chair Tricia Brett, Councillor for Lake Country.

For many involved in the initiative, the message is simple but urgent.

“No life exists without water. If we don’t protect it, we’re going nowhere,” says Lake Country Mayor Blair Ireland.

The siwɬkʷ Water and Climate Forum brings people together around the shared goal of ensuring cold, clean, flowing water for all living things—today and for generations to come.

EVENT DETAILS 

Date: March 23-24, 2026

Location: The Delta Grand Okanagan Resort, Kelowna BC

REGISTRATION REQUIRED and is closing soon, get your tickets while they last! Registration extended to Thursday Evening.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION: siwɬkʷ Water & Climate Forum – Okanagan Nation Alliance

The Okanagan Similkameen Watersheds Collaborative Leadership Table (CLT) is a Syilx-guided initiative bringing Local Governments and the Syilx Nation together to protect and restore siwɬkʷ|water. Over 130 elected leaders signed the Memorandum of Agreement building government-to-government relationships honoring the jurisdictional spaces of each member government. Currently, the CLT is hosted by the Okanagan Nation Alliance in partnership with the Okanagan Collaborative Conservation Program. The CLT is focused on creating a 250-Year Watershed Responsibility Plan as a means of facing the complex challenges of the region with a united response and multi-generational perspective.

Learn more about the CLT: Okanagan Similkameen Watershed Collaborative Leadership Table – Okanagan Nation Alliance

For more information please contact: 

waterforum@syilx.org

The 2026 2026 siwɬkʷ Water and Climate Forum would not be possible without the support of our Sponsors:

limləmt | thank you

In recognition of World Water Day, the Okanagan Nation Alliance is bringing together Indigenous leaders, local government representatives, researchers, scientists, regional and international water experts and community partners for the siwɬkʷ Water and Climate Forum. Held in partnership with the Okanagan Similkameen Watershed Collaborative Leadership Table (CLT), the two-day gathering will focus on climate-resilient governance and collaborative watershed stewardship.

Rooted in the Syilx understanding of siwɬkʷ, this year’s Forum emphasizes cold, clean, flowing water for all living things, underscoring the critical need for strong watersheds — because without water, nothing lives. The Forum seeks to build practical pathways toward long-term watershed resilience as drought, wildfire risk, and ecosystem stress intensify in the region. Over two days, participants will engage in keynotes, panels, and dialogue sessions addressing drought planning, watershed governance, climate risks, and long-term stewardship.

This years Forum speaker and panel highlights include:

• Dr. Jeannette Armstrong, Syilx scholar and Canada Research Chair in Okanagan Indigenous Knowledge and Philosophy, speaking on siwɬkʷ as Life – Past, Present and Future, setting the intention of the Forum on day one.
• Joining us from Madrid Spain, Dr. Nuria Hernández-Mora, a globally recognized water governance expert and advisor to the European Commission on the European Union Water Framework Directive. Her keynote, Learning to Live With Less Water: Spain’s Journey Toward Climate-Resilient Water Governance, will explore collaborative governance approaches to water scarcity in Europe offering international examples that can guide and inspire local action.
• Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson, Principal of White Raven Law and counsel to the Haida Nation, presenting lessons from long-standing government-to-government agreements
• Gwen Bridge, CEO of Gwen Bridge Consulting, addressing Indigenous and regional collaboration in water governance
• Riverside chat with 4 leaders of the CLT monitored by Co-chair Councillor Tricia Brett.
• Panels and discussions will also feature regional scientists, economists, and practitioners addressing climate impacts on aquatic habitat, hydrology, agriculture, forestry/wildfire, and watershed sustainability.

Our forests are burning, our waters are drying, and the time to act is now — the siwɬkʷ Water and Climate Forum is a call to action to protect our watersheds and ensure that there is:

cold, clean, flowing, water for all living things.

“Without water, we cannot live.” — y’ilmixʷm simo Chief Robert Louie, Westbank First Nation, Co-Chair of the Collaborative Leadership Table

EVENT DETAILS 

Date: March 23-24, 2026

Location: The Delta Grand Okanagan Resort, Kelowna BC

REGISTRATION REQUIRED and is closing soon, get your tickets while they last!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION: siwɬkʷ Water & Climate Forum – Okanagan Nation Alliance

The Okanagan Similkameen Watersheds Collaborative Leadership Table (CLT) is a Syilx-guided initiative bringing Local Governments and the Syilx Nation together to protect and restore siwɬkʷ|water. Over 130 elected leaders signed the Memorandum of Agreement building government-to-government relationships honoring the jurisdictional spaces of each member government. Currently, the CLT is hosted by the Okanagan Nation Alliance in partnership with the Okanagan Collaborative Conservation Program. The CLT is focused on creating a 250-Year Watershed Responsibility Plan as a means of facing the complex challenges of the region with a united response and multi-generational perspective.

Learn more about the CLT: Okanagan Similkameen Watershed Collaborative Leadership Table – Okanagan Nation Alliance

For more information please contact: 

waterforum@syilx.org

The 2026 2026 siwɬkʷ Water and Climate Forum would not be possible without the support of our Sponsors:

limləmt | thank you

Okanagan Nation Alliance tmixʷ Technician Delaney Hall Shares Knowledge on Beaver Mimicry and Watershed Restoration

Last week, Delaney Hall, one of our tmixʷ technicians at Okanagan Nation Alliance, presented at the Columbia Mountain Institute’s CRED Talks and Kootenay Conservation Program Winter Webinar Series. The webinar, titled “Lessons for the Next Chapter of Restoration and Stewardship in the Kootenays,” brought together leaders and community members to explore innovative approaches to land and water stewardship.

Delaney spoke about the powerful connection between Traditional Knowledge and science, highlighting how Beaver Mimicry can help revive Okanagan Nation watersheds.

The webinar reached an audience of up to 220 live viewers — a testament to the growing interest in collaborative, community-driven restoration work.

Thank you, Delaney, for sharing your knowledge and representing the Okanagan Nation Alliance.

If you would like to watch the full webinar, click here to view the video: Delaney Hall: Traditional Knowledge & Science in Beaver Mimicry to Revive Okanagan Nation Watersheds

ATTN: Syilx Okanagan Nation members

RE: US TRAVEL ADVISORY FOR SYILX OKANAGAN NATION MEMBERS

With great concern, we, the Syilx Okanagan Chiefs, are observing the political situation in the United States growing increasingly uncertain and unsafe. Members of our communities are expressing their concerns related to US travel, including to Washington State.

We strongly condemn the violence of the US Administration, and its enforcement of immigration policies which are affecting our communities and relations throughout Turtle Island. The exercise of our inherent rights should not come at the expense of our safety and wellbeing. When the safety of Indigenous peoples is compromised, Indigenous sovereignty is compromised.

We strongly advise the following to our Members travelling to the United States:

1. Exercise extreme caution
2. Carry proper identification including Status Card and a valid Passport.
3. Check all relevant government travel advisories and information, which may change from time to time.

Although the Jay Treaty reaffirms our right to travel freely to and from the United States, we expect that not every federal law enforcement officer and ICE agent will be familiar with our rights to cross the border freely. The US administration’s unpredictable arrest and detention practices may impact how quickly and effectively you may receive assistance.

Please exercise extreme caution if travelling to the United States.

Contact information for emergency Canadian Consulate services in the US:
SOS@international.gc.ca
1-888-949-9993
https://travel.gc.ca/assistance/emergency-assistance/emergency-contact-form

RE: US TRAVEL ADVISORY FOR SYILX OKANAGAN NATION MEMBERS

The King’s Counsel (KC) designation for 2025 is being awarded to 31 lawyers for making exceptional contributions to the legal profession in British Columbia. The KC designation is a provincial honour that recognizes contributions that strengthen the functioning and perception of the legal system. At any time, no more than 7% of practicing B.C. lawyers can have this designation.

This well-earned designation recognizes exceptional leadership, mentorship, and service to British Columbia’s legal profession and communities. The King’s Counsel title remains a proud tradition that honours excellence in the law.

Rosalie is general counsel to the Syilx Okanagan Nation Chief Executive Council and senior legal counsel to the Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA).

With a juris doctorate from the University of British Columbia and a master in business administration degree in Indigenous business and leadership from Simon Fraser University, Yazzie specializes in Indigenous rights, governance and transboundary negotiations.

Rosalie’s core convictions remain with upholding Syilx law, protocols, and legal orders endorsed by the Chief Executive Council, including ancestral burial repatriation, serving on Canada’s Columbia River Treaty negotiation team, and guiding the wisdom of fluent nsyilxcən language speakers in the development of the Syilx Okanagan Language and Family Declarations.

A committed mentor and legal educator, Yazzie chairs national conferences, lectures widely at institutions, including University of Victoria’s faculty of law and UBC Okanagan, and advances Indigenous legal orders and transformative governance.

“This reflects years of practice shaped by good mentorship, collaboration, and service. I’m grateful to my family — Cordell, Cam, and my mom — for their steady support and patience with the demands of this work. I also acknowledge my late grandfather, Lloyd Wilson, and my late uncle, Percy Casper. Their teachings and example continue to guide me. 

I’m grateful to the Syilx Nation, and to our Chiefs and Elders who stand for our rights and carry our laws and responsibilities forward. The work I do is grounded in First Nations governance, Title and Rights, and our legal orders.

Thank you to Grand Chief Stewart Phillip for his mentorship and leadership over the years.

I am honoured to carry this work forward.” – Rosalie Wilson-Yazzie, KC

On behalf of the Chief Executive Council, as a member of the Syilx Okanagan Nation and as ONA Senior Legal Counsel, we would like to express our immense pride in your achievements. We commend you for your dedication, determination, and perseverance on behalf of our Nation. x̌ast asck̓ʷúl̓ (congratulations) on this esteemed honour, Rosalie.

BC Gov News: Attorney General – Outstanding B.C. lawyers awarded King’s Counsel designation

Stay Alert. Stay Ready. Stay Safe! ⚠️

As of 07:45hrs on Dec 11, 2025, a flood warning is in effect for the Tulameen and Similkameen River areas, along with a high flow advisory for all tributaries.

❗The Lower Similkameen Indian Band Virtual Emergency Operations Center has been Activated.

LSIB Duty Officer Contact: dutyofficer@lsib.net
A reminder, until advised, LSIB Duty Officer is the first point of contact.

kʷumis k’ʷəcəck̕ʷact kʷu ɬat c̕uluʔs — We are stronger together.

Here are additional community resources to help keep everyone informed and safe:

❗Flood Warnings: https://bcrfc.env.gov.bc.ca/warnings/advisories/FWT_2025_12_10_1145_CC_SC_VI_upg.pdf

❗Flood Warnings and Notifications: https://bcrfc.env.gov.bc.ca/warnings/index.htm

➡️Prepared B.C.

Flood Preparedness Guide: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/public-safety-and-emergency-services/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/embc/preparedbc/preparedbc-guides/preparedbc_flood_preparedness_guide_fillable.pdf

Resources for People with Disabilities: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/public-safety-and-emergency-services/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/embc/preparedbc/preparedbc-guides/preparedbc_emergency_preparedness_for_people_w_disability.pdf

The Government of B.C. has announced that confirmatory testing has shown the white-tailed deer sample taken east of Enderby is negative for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Although the initial screening returned a “non-negative” result, follow-up testing by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency using three independent methods confirmed that no CWD was detected.

Preventing the spread of CWD requires strong partnership, and the Okanagan Nation Alliance thanks the Province for its rigorous testing, rapid response, and ongoing efforts to help keep wildlife and communities safe.

At the same time, we strongly urge hunters and community members to keep bringing in animals for testing. Every single sample helps us detect CWD early, understand its movement, and prevent the spread. The more samples we receive, the more information we have to understand and monitor CWD.

ONA is here to support Syilx Nation members with CWD testing and answer any questions. Your participation is vital in protecting our tmixʷ (all living things) and ensuring the health of future generations.

To read the full statement from the Government of BC CLICK HERE: BC Gov News

For more information on CWD and Syilx-led drop-off locations CLICK HERE: Prevent the Spread: Chronic Wasting Disease – Okanagan Nation Alliance

For additional CWD resources CLICK HERE: Chronic Wasting Disease – Province of British Columbia

Important Wildlife Update: 

The province is currently investigating a potential case of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in a white-tailed deer harvested east of Enderby. This marks the first possible detection in the Okanagan, and the first outside B.C.’s current CWD management zone in the Kootenay region.

Hunters play a crucial role in B.C.’s CWD surveillance program. Without your participation, the level of monitoring and response needed to track this disease wouldn’t be possible.

We’re encouraging everyone to continue submitting samples from deer, elk, and moose harvested anywhere in B.C. Your samples help us understand where the disease may be present.

If you’re hunting in or around this region, we strongly urge getting your animals tested.

The ONA is here to support all Nation members with drop-off locations in Westbank, Penticton, and Castlegar.

Read the full Statement from the Government of British Columbia: BC Gov News

More information on CWD and Syilx-led Drop-off Location found here: Prevent the Spread: Chronic Wasting Disease – Okanagan Nation Alliance

Planting at the Okanagan Lake Fish Dam Passage Site!

After years of planning, and months of sometimes challenging work, the new Okanagan Lake Fish Passage successfully allowed the 2025 salmon run free passage from sq̓awsitkʷ, Okanagan River, into their kɬúsx̌nítkʷ  , Okanagan Lake, historical spawning territory.

As with most major construction we were left with a considerable amount of bare soil, some was seeded to grass earlier in the fall. On November 7^th and 8^th, as promised post-construction, with the help of 220 volunteers including students from four schools, the Penticton scouts, various groups, Syilx Nation members and the public at large, we planted at least 500 native species. The volunteers collectively worked hard to get Saskatoon, willow, snowberry, thimbleberry, mock Orange, birchleaf spirea, rose, Oregon grape, hawthorn, and chokecherry shrubs into the ground.  The earlier planting of willows and cottonwoods along the lake shore quickly rooted, leafed out and are now dormant. In the years to come, new plantings will receive irrigation when soil moisture, and temperatures dictate the need. The volunteers took part in more than just the planting they received an overview of the many ONA led fish and wildlife enhancement projects along the Okanagan River and a tour of the passage project.

The ONA team is truly grateful for all the volunteers that came out to lend a hand and the planting funding provided by TD Friends of the Environment and the donation from the Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Alliance.  The benefits of this funding will be seen well into the future as we watch these plants grow and form mini habitats along the passageway.

The Okanagan Nation Alliance Okanagan Fish Passage Project, which is part of the kł cp̓əlk̓ stim̓ (cause to come back) initiative was funded by Chelan PUD’s Habitat Conservation Plan Rock Island Tributary Committee, Douglas PUD’s Habitat Conservation Plan Wells Tributary Committee and Grant PUD’s Habitat Subcommittee of the Priest Rapids Coordinating Committee. Project partners included the Penticton Indian Band, City of Penticton, Ministry of Water, Lands and Resource Stewardship, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Thank you to our funders and partners for making this project possible.

Check out this recent CBC news clip featuring ONA staff discussing the Okanagan Lake Dam fish passage. Fish Biologist Natasha Lukey and Cultural Facilitator Elliot Tonasket shared their perspectives on the project and its importance for the ntytyix (salmon), the environment, culture, connection, and future generations.

To view full video click here: Salmon Warriors restore spawning grounds as sockeye return to Okanagan | CBC.ca

Last week, Chief y̓ilmixʷm Robert Louie and Councillor Tricia Brett, Co-Chairs of the Okanagan–Similkameen Collaborative Leadership Table, published an Op-Ed in the Kelowna Capital News highlighting the table’s vital work and its growing significance across the region.

To read the full article click here: Creating watershed security through collaborative leadership | Kelowna Capital News

The Collaborative Leadership Table (CLT) brings together 30 representatives from Syilx communities, municipalities, and regional districts to speak with one unified regional voice on siwɬkʷ (water) policy. Grounded in trust and respect, the CLT works collectively to advance Syilx-led water priorities at provincial and federal levels and protect and restore the Okanagan and Similkameen watersheds for future generations to come.

To learn more about the CLT click here: Okanagan Similkameen Collaborative Leadership Table – Okanagan Nation Alliance

LISTEN | Full CBC Radio interview with Okanagan Indian Band Chief Dan Wilson

tx̌axetq̓enʔ (Tahaetkun Mountain), Syilx Okanagan Territory: The Okanagan Indian Band’s (OKIB) call for watershed protection has received strong support from First Nations leadership across the province.

OKIB’s resolution to protect Syilx watersheds received unanimous support at the recent UBCIC Annual General Assembly. This decision reinforces our shared responsibility to protect Browns Creek and Whiteman Creek for our people and future generations. Resolution no. 2025-63: Opposition to Mining in Okanagan Indian Band Watersheds and Protection of syilx Water, Salmon, and Sacred Sites calls for the protection of the Browns Creek and Whiteman Creek watersheds from proposed mining activity by Ximen Mining Corporation.

“Water is life. It sustains everything around us and connects us to the generations before and after our own,” said OKIB Chief Dan Wilson.

“The decision by the UBCIC to support this resolution shows that First Nations across the province stand together in defense of our lands and waters. This is about protecting the health of our people, our salmon, and our future.”

UBCIC and OKIB Joint Statement RE: Opposition to Mining in OKIB Watersheds and Protection of Syilx Water, Salmon, and Sacred Sites

READ | Full Article on IndigiNews

READ | Full Article on Castanet

READ | Full Article on Vernon Matters

READ | Full Article on National Indigenous Times

“We are the unconquered aboriginal people of this land, our mother; The creator has given us our mother, to enjoy, to manage and to protect; we, the first inhabitants, have lived with our mother from time immemorial; our Okanagan governments have allowed us to share equally in the resources of our mother; we have never given up our rights to our mother, our mother’s resources, our governments and our religion; we will survive and continue to govern our mother and her resources for the good of all for all time.” – Okanagan Nation Declaration, 1987

The Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) is pleased to announce the addition of the Women Uplifting Women Leadership Award, to our Building a Better Future Bursary Program for Syilx Nation Members. This additional $3000 Bursary gifted by Syilx community member Buffy Mills, recognizes Syilx women who demonstrate leadership, uplift other women, and create positive change within their communities.

“I created this award because I want to be the kind of woman who creates the change I wish to see in our community,” says Mills. “This bursary is for Syilx women who lead from the heart—who lift other women up, who walk with courage, and who make space for others to shine. You don’t need a title to be a leader. You just need the fire to rise—and the generosity to take others with you. If that’s you, I see you. I believe in you. This is for you.”

ONA extends its sincere thanks to Mills for founding and supporting this award, whose vision and generosity make it possible to celebrate and empower Syilx women. This initiative reflects ONA’s ongoing commitment to recognize student perseverance and achievement to encourage our members to continue their educational pursuits.

The award is open to Syilx women enrolled in any post-secondary program, and at any stage of their educational journey. Building a Better Future applications will open in mid-April 2026 and close in early June 2026. The recipient will be announced at the ONA Annual General Assembly on July 22, 2026, hosted this year by Lower Similkameen Indian Band, Member Band, Syilx.

For more information on our Building a Better Future Bursary Program visit: https://syilx.org/about-us/operations/building-a-better-future-bursary/

For More Information Contact:

Dorothy Harrower, Communications Coordinator

E dharrower@syilx.org

T 250-707-0095 ext. 123

SYILX OKANAGAN NATION TERRITORY – The Chiefs Executive Council of the Okanagan Nation Alliance is endorsing calls from the First Nations Leadership Council, for OneBC MLA, Dallas Brodie, to resign immediately.

Brodie stands accused of using public funds, inside and outside the BC legislature, to create and distribute racist and anti-Indigenous materials, including a recent image that was taken on Penticton Indian Band land. In the image, Brodie holds a sign that says, “Zero Bodies” while standing in front of a larger sign that references the 215 suspected unmarked graves at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School site.

Chief Gabriel of the Penticton Indian Band and Tribal Chair Clarence Louie of the ONA, issued the following statement:

“We condemn the Indian Residential School denialism and anti-Indigenous racist rhetoric of Dallas Brodie, and we call for her immediate resignation.

“MLA Brodie owes our Elders and Indian Residential School survivors an apology. She owes the voters of Vancouver-Quilchena an apology. She owes all British Columbians an apology for her hateful and divisive rhetoric, which belongs in the dustbin of history, not the halls of the BC legislature.

“As we have said before, political leaders who hold and espouse racist and backward views, are disqualified from public service, as such views and comments are hateful and hurtful to Indigenous people, and put at risk the government-to-government relationship with Indigenous Nations on whose land this province depends.”

Syilx Okanagan Nation Chiefs Endorse Calls for Immediate Resignation of OneBC MLA Dallas Brodie

For more information, or to arrange interviews:

Andrew Frank
CEC Communications Advisor
604-367-2112

‘This means a lot, putting Kelowna on the map,’ says Westbank First Nation chief

Reported by Sheena Goodyear · CBC Radio · Nov 04, 2025

The United Nations has officially recognized Kelowna, B.C., as a terrific place to eat and drink.

The picturesque lakeside city in Okanagan Valley has been designated a Creative City of Gastronomy by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

It’s the first city in Canada to earn that moniker.

“We have a rich agricultural base, lots of orchards, vineyards, farms, wineries, craft beverages — you know, all the four seasons,” Robert Louie, chief of the Westbank First Nation, which borders Kelowna, told As It Happens host Nil Kӧksal.

“It’s just a beautiful place to live, so why not have some of the best foods and tastes that will be recognized worldwide?”

Traditional Indigenous foods

Westbank First Nation collaborated with the City of Kelowna, Okanagan College and various food industry partners to apply for the UNESCO title.

While Kelowna and the Okanagan Valley are well-known for their lush wineries, orchards and swanky restaurants, Louie there’s an important traditional component to the city’s culinary landscape as well.

“I’m Indigenous, so I’m partial to a lot of our foods, traditional foods,” he said. “And by that I mean the wild games, venison and the moose, the elk and the berries.”

Kelowna, he says, is located within the traditional territory of the Syilx people, whose stewardship of the land is key to preserving food culture.

“We cannot pollute the waters, and we cannot pollute the land,” he said.

“When you have good food and good drinks that are produced from the land, you’ve got to have an environment that’s sound, that everyone looks after and takes special care for.”

He points to the return of sockeye salmon to Okanagan Lake and its tributaries as an example.

For decades, a dam at the mouth of the lake blocked their passage, but a new fishway built by the Syilx Okanagan Nation now lets the salmon complete their historic migration.

“This is something that we used to survive on, is the fish, the salmon runs,” Louie said, noting that Indigenous fisheries will now open again. “This is something that will really be seen as a good, positive thing.”

READ | Full Article on CBC Radio

LISTEN | Full interview with Westbank First Nation Chief Robert Louie

limləmt | thank you to CBC Radio for sharing this fantastic news. It’s another significant step forward for the Syilx Okanagan Nation!

IndigiNews recently published a feature highlighting ONA’s stunx (beaver) mimicry initiative—a restoration project that seeks to bring back the ecological and cultural benefits of beavers to Syilx territory. 

Check out the article HERE: People are imitating beavers to help them return – Indiginews 

For more information about ONA’s beaver mimicry project click HERE: Coteay Creek stunx (Beaver) Dam Analogue – Okanagan Nation Alliance

SYILX OKANAGAN NATION TERRITORY: Chiefs of the Syilx Okanagan Nation are aware of the recent developments regarding the proposed ostrich cull at Universal Ostrich Farms Inc., in Syilx Okanagan Nation Territory, including the interim stay issued by the Supreme Court of Canada.

The Nation does not take a position on the ostrich cull itself. As Syilx people, our collective mandate remains to uphold our responsibilities to the land, waters, and the native species that belong to our territory. This responsibility is grounded in our Syilx laws and declarations, which affirm our inherent role as caretakers of tmixʷ—the life force and all living beings within our homelands.
The Syilx Okanagan Nation continues to uphold this responsibility through the guidance of our Chiefs Executive Council (CEC).

We emphasize that our focus is on the health and protection of native species in Syilx Okanagan territory

For More Information Contact:
Andrew Frank, CEC Communications Advisor
Okanagan Nation Alliance
604-367-2112

Syilx Okanagan Nation Statement On Ostrich Culling

ARROW LAKES – SYILX OKANAGAN NATION TERRITORY: Chief Clarence Louie, Tribal Chair of the Chiefs Executive Council (CEC) of the Syilx Okanagan Nation issued the following statement in response to legal challenges filed against the BC government, over transborder consultation, by the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation:

“As Rights and Title holders, and as the successor group for Sinixt people in Canada, the Syilx Okanagan Nation, as represented by the Chiefs Executive Council, agrees with the BC government’s approach to prioritizing consultation with BC-based First Nations, and to consulting with US Tribes at a notification level.

“We are disappointed by these legal challenges and accusations of discrimination, which are inconsistent with the way the BC government has worked diligently with our Nation and others, to ensure BC-based First Nations rightly remain the priority of the province, while still meeting the legal obligations of previous court rulings.

“The interests of our Sinixt members are protected and advanced by our Nation in Canada, and we remain committed to protecting our Territory in the Arrow Lakes. We will be reviewing these claims against the BC government and will respond in due course, when and if necessary.”

For more information please visit: https://syilx.org/arrowlakes/

To arrange media interviews:

Andrew Frank
CEC Communications Advisor
604-367-2112

Chief Executive Council Statement on Sinixt Lawsuits