We Will Protect siwɬkʷ | ks ‿ kəɬqayxʷntimiʔ siwɬkʷ
We Will Protect siwɬkʷ is designed to bring Syilx and non-Syilx partners together to address the cumulative impacts threatening the long-term viability of Okanagan Lake and its ecosystems to provide clean drinking water, habitat for fish and wildlife, erosion and flood control, and contribute to climate change mitigation. The planning process is Syilx-led and brings the voices of Elders, youth, knowledge holders, hunters, fishers, and harvesters to articulate and share the Syilx values associated with Okanagan Lake stewardship.
In 2025, this project will undertake the development of the siwɬkʷ Responsibility Action Plan. This Action Plan is a key component contained within the Syilx Water Strategy published in 2021: Syilx siwɬkʷ Strategy
The goal of the siwɬkʷ Responsibility Action Plan is to change and provide guidance for new land use decision-making processes, policies, and practices for stronger environmental protection that are guided by Syilx values for meaningful and lasting change. This work will support the Province’s implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA).
Project Goals
The main goal is to facilitate Syilx and non-Syilx engagement and decision-making processes focused on the Okanagan and Similkameen Watersheds. This process will bolster protection measures for siwłkw and watersheds and will address the threats and challenges to the long- term viability of ecosystems to provide clean drinking water, habitat for fish and wildlife, erosion and flood control and climate change mitigation. This Initiative will also strengthen relationships between Syilx and non-Syilx communities in the Okanagan and Similkameen and will increase the influence Syilx Aboriginal Rights and Declarations have on regional environmental policy.
As a result, this project will change land use planning by creating new decision-making processes, policies, and practices for stronger environmental protection that provide meaningful and lasting change.
The Initiative’s first meeting in the fall of 2018 brought together representatives from Okanagan Nation Alliance, Westbank First Nation, regional governments, conservation organizations, and the province to discuss collaborative ways for addressing the ongoing loss of natural areas around Okanagan Lake, and the need for a Syilx led planning process to create greater environmental and cultural protection.
A summary of the progression of the initiative is as follows:
- 2019: Conducted presentations to secure formal resolutions of support from the ONA Chiefs Executive Council, 7 Mayors and Councils, and 3 Regional Districts and their technical staff. Established guiding principles for the initiative. Facilitated a Syilx led workshop to introduce a Syilx siwɬkʷ methodology planning process and began to explore the major barriers and solutions for greater environmental protection of the watershed.
- 2020: Conducted a policy review of government environmental protection measures for the natural area around Okanagan Lake and its tributaries. This included workshops, a policy gap analysis on environmental legislation, and interviews with professionals in water management with ONA and band staff, senior government managers and land use planners. Identified the need for new legislation, a desire to learn more about syilx water laws and how they apply to water and land management.
- 2021: The siwɬkʷ Strategy was published. We also completed several capacity building workshops using a Syilx nʕawqnwixʷ planning process. The workshops examined Syilx values and perspectives through the lenses of the four food chiefs and identified issues and solutions for greater cultural and environmental protection. This work unveiled the systemic issues that are holding land use planning processes in place, examined Syilx water laws and new provincial DRIPA legislation for establishing power-sharing opportunities for land use decision-making
- 2022: The initiative completed interviews and workshops with Syilx leadership and community members; and non-Syilx government staff and elected officials to gather input and direction on water governance related to the siwɬkʷ Responsibility Action Plan
- 2023/24: Project expanded by developing Syilx-led Okanagan and Similkameen River Watersheds including kɬusx̌nitkw, Okanagan Lake and nməlqaytkw, Similkameen River Collaborative Leadership Table with elected leaders from 16 Syilx and non-Syilx governments. Signed a Memorandum of Agreement, November 15, 2024 (attach the link once available). Both initiatives exist under the umbrella of ONA NR’s Water Program.
- 2025 Writing and publishing of the siwɬkʷ Responsibility Action Plan
- 2026 Implementation of siwɬkʷ Responsibility Action Plan
2019 workshop with over 50 representatives from all levels of government, indigenous communities and conservation organizations to examine the major issues affecting Okanagan Lake Watershed.
limləmt | Thank You to Our Partners and Funders
To date, the ONA Chiefs Executive Council, seven municipalities and three regional districts have provided formal resolutions of support for the initiative and the province has assigned staff to the initiative. There are 50 individuals representing 27 organizations that include all levels of government involved in a planning process where Syilx and non-Syilx partners are working to co-create the siwɬkʷ Responsibility Action Plan.
- Key Partners:
- Okanagan Collaborative Conservation Program
- Regional District Central Okanagan
- Ministry of Land, Water and Resource Stewardship
- UBCO
- Funders:
- Indigenous Watershed Initiative
- Watershed Security Fund
- Okanagan Basin Water Board
- Vancouver Foundation
For More Information:
Tessa Terbasket, siwɬkʷ | Water Program Lead