Honoring Our Ancestors & Praying for the Salmon We honour our ancestors with this annual ceremony in which we gather in five separate locations along the Columbia River to help pray for the return of the salmon, two on the United States side and three on the Canadian side. This five-day event starts at Kettle...
We run for our people and our land The Unity Run emerged in June 2009, as a response to youth requesting to come together and find a way to raise awareness about suicide and violence in their communities. This event allows the ONA to engage with the youth in the community, provides a significant opportunity...
kł cp’elk’ stim’ This ceremonial release of Okanagan Sockeye fry takes place by members of the Syilx Okanagan Nation and over 430 students from local schools so that kł cp̓əlk̓ stim̓ (cause to come back) will continue. These fry have been raised as part of Okanagan Nation Alliance’s (ONA) Fish in Schools Program along with...
ɬə txətʼntiməlx mnimɬcəlx kʷu ks txətʼntimʼ The Four Food Chiefs Gathering is an annual gathering of Syilx Nation members. This event focuses on information sharing, utilizing the enowkinwixw model through our Four Food Chiefs. Join us for a two-day gathering featuring workshops, presentations, keynotes, and activities focused on connecting with the land and water, promoting...
iʔ scx̌asəsmil̕tət The YES Program is dedicated to assisting the Syilx Nation in addressing family violence and sexual assault. As part of the Specialized Training within the YES Program, we offer a comprehensive full-day training session aimed at enhancing the capacity to effectively respond to various forms of violence. Open to Syilx Nation Members, Community...
iʔ scəcmálaʔtet The Early Years Gathering provides opportunity for Aboriginal Early Childhood professionals to engage in a manner that can contribute to capacity building and resource development through a process that draws on the wisdom and experience of the attending staff, managers and parents. This annual two-day training fulfills the Professional Development requirements of frontline...
The Okanagan Nation Alliance in collaboration with many project partners have been successfully restoring spawning and rearing habitat for salmon in the Okanagan Basin for over 20 years. Traditional Ecological Knowledge, best management practices, measured stream geometry and natural habitat features have guided these restoration works. This workshop will teach the math behind the stream...
Gathering and Supporting Frontline Workers he YES Program offers specialized training and self-care opportunities for frontline workers of the Syilx Nation, addressing their community responsibilities in crisis response. It aims to combat vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue by providing tools for self-care and a relaxing environment for respite. This event will feature training aimed at...
The Syilx Data Plan has been guided by the collective knowledge and wisdom of our ancestors, elders, knowledge keepers, and Nation members of today to plan and prepare for the people-to-be. Good quality wellness data helps with community planning and monitoring of programs. ONA data team would like to invite you learn about the Nation...
As part of the kł cp̓əlk̓ stim̓ initiative, ONA has been beach seining and collecting eggs and milt from adult Sockeye in the Okanagan River for rearing and release into Skaha Lake. Since 2004, ONA has stocked Skaha and Osyoyoos Lake with hatchery-reared fry and monitored their growth, survival, and impacts on the Skaha Lake...
The kł cp̓əlk̓ stim̓ Hatchery is a testament to the perseverance of the Syilx Okanagan People to realize their dream of restoring the n’titxw (Chief Salmon) – one of our Four Food Chiefs – to their original habitat and rightful place in our territory. This hatchery represents a critical stage of our Nation’s restoration initiative and is part of...
Join our Celebration and Honour the Sacredness of the River It is one of the goals of the Syilx Okanagan Nation to carry on the work of the people’s ancestors and Elders who taught the importance of preserving and revitalizing the traditions, customs, and language of the Syilx people. The Salmon Feast honours the sacredness...
