The Collaborative Leadership Table (the Table) is a facilitated Syilx-led process that provides resources and expertise to support Syilx and municipal elected leaders by creating the conditions to act on shared water challenges. The Table focuses on bringing together all these leaders as a powerful regional voice to influence and direct Syilx-led future policies within the Provincial and Federal governments as it relates to Watershed security throughout the Syilx territory.
Our Shared Vision
Our relation siwɬkʷ, our most sacred medicine, must be kept healthy to restore and holt its relationship to tmixw, in order to ensure resiliency of all, for the good of all, for all time. – Memorandum of Agreement, 2024
The Collaborative Leadership Table (the Table) is a governance partnership between the Syilx Nation and Local governments within the Okanagan and Similkameen watersheds. The Table consists of 30 elected leaders from Syilx Nation communities, municipalities and regional districts. The Table has agreed to work on siwɬkʷ, water matters of common concern to protect and restore both the Okanagan and Similkameen watersheds.
In 2022, the Okanagan Nation Alliance partnered with the Centre of Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER) to bring and co-facilitate the Collaborative Leadership Initiative Process to the region and connect into the kɬúsx̌nítkʷ, Okanagan Lake Responsibility Planning Initiative now renamed to the Okanagan Similkameen Responsibility Planning Initiative.
In December 2023, the Syilx Nation invited local government leadership to join the Table to create a powerful collective regional voice for siwɬkʷ to influence and direct policy change within the Provincial and Federal governments. This is the first time that elected leaders from the Syilx Nation and Local government have come together at a Table to build working relationships, take action on important water issues and transcend jurisdictional boundaries in the Okanagan and Similkameen watersheds.
The leaders signed a Memorandum of Agreement on November 15th, 2024, formally establishing the Table and a commitment to working with each other. The Table creates an opportunity for leaders who know their watersheds best to discuss and act on water challenges that are too big for any one government to solve on their own.
The elected leaders agree to work together on matters of common concern to protect siwɬkʷ in the Okanagan and Similkameen Watersheds. These matters include, but are not limited to:
Governance and Decision-Making
(e.g., mechanisms for collaborative decision-making, and implementation processes)
Protection
(e.g., headwaters, species (salmon) and riparian areas)
Restoration
(e.g., rivers, creeks, lakes, and lakeshores, wetlands, aquifers or other ecosystem restoration
Maintenance and Enhancement
(e.g., support and enhance existing work)
Water Quality and Quantity
(e.g., base flows and flow regimes, water quality and quantity standards)
Data and Information Priorities
(e.g., ensure foundation in Syilx Knowledge and Western Science, priorities for mapping, priority research areas)
Addressing Systemic Issues, Climate Change and Cumulative Impacts
Additional matters of common concern may be addressed subject to agreement of the Table. An important role of the Table will be to provide direction and input into a Okanagan and Similkameen Watershed Responsibility Plan.
For More Information:
Tessa Terbasket, siwɬkʷ | Water Program Lead