The Okanagan Nation Alliance’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Drone and Mapping Program uses geospatial technology to better understand, monitor and care for the lands, waters, fish, wildlife and ecosystems throughout Syilx territory.
The program transforms field observations, scientific information and spatial data into maps, models and other tools that support Syilx-led stewardship, informed decision-making and the advancement of Syilx Title and Rights.
Working across ONA’s Fisheries and Natural Resources Department, the program provides technical support for projects involving habitat restoration, wildlife conservation, water stewardship, land-use planning, cumulative effects and climate resilience. It also supports ONA departments, Syilx member communities and Nation-level committees with mapping, spatial analysis and data-management needs.
Geographic Information Systems, commonly known as GIS, allow information about the land to be collected, organized, analyzed and displayed geographically. By bringing different forms of information together in one place, GIS can reveal patterns, relationships and changes that may not otherwise be visible. ONA uses GIS to:
- Map wildlife habitat, movement corridors and culturally or ecologically important areas.
- Analyze watersheds, forests, aquatic habitats and changing land conditions.
- Support habitat suitability, connectivity and species-at-risk modelling.
- Assess cumulative effects associated with development and environmental disturbance.
- Prepare maps and digital data-collection tools for field crews.
- Support long-term ecological monitoring, restoration planning and land-use decisions.
- Respond to mapping and spatial-data requests from ONA programs and Syilx member communities.
GIS analysis can be completed at the site, watershed, landscape or ecosystem scale, helping project teams understand how conditions in one area connect to the wider territory. The program works with many types of spatial information, including aerial imagery, LiDAR, thermal imagery, digital elevation models, field observations and environmental datasets.
Drones, also known as Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), provide a safe and efficient way to collect detailed aerial information. Depending on the project, drone imagery can help document current conditions, identify changes over time and reach areas that may be difficult or unsafe to survey from the ground.
Drone and remote-sensing work can support:
- High-resolution aerial mapping.
- Habitat and vegetation assessments.
- Stream, shoreline and watershed monitoring.
- Restoration-site planning and follow-up monitoring.
- Documentation of erosion, flooding and other landscape changes.
- Wildlife and ecosystem research.
- The development of three-dimensional terrain and elevation models.
The information collected through drone flights is processed and analyzed alongside other GIS and field data. This gives ONA project teams a more complete understanding of conditions on the land and provides a visual record that can be compared over time.
Key Operational Areas and Activities
| Operational Area | Geospatial Team Role | Strategic Goal |
| Traditional Knowledge (TEK) & Culture | Mapping and Archiving Cultural Data: Digitizing and managing sensitive Traditional Land Use and Occupancy (TLUO) data, cultural sites, place names, and harvest areas. | Data Sovereignty: Ensure that the collection, storage, access, and visualization of all sensitive cultural information adheres strictly to Syilx Data Governance protocols and ethical data principles (such as OCAP®). |
| Natural Resource Management | Environmental Monitoring and Analysis: Providing the spatial foundation for Nation-led projects, including: habitat restoration (e.g., salmon reintroduction, wildlife corridors), water quality modeling, and climate change vulnerability assessments. | Ecological Resilience: Support the holistic care of the tmixʷ (everything in nature) and inform science-based resource management decisions that align with Syilx traditional environmental ethics. |
| Community Planning & Capacity | Internal Capacity Building: Developing and maintaining the Nation’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) infrastructure, providing technical training to member communities, and building data-sharing workflows across ONA departments (e.g., fisheries, wellness, natural resources). | Technical Empowerment: Foster geospatial literacy and self-sufficiency among Syilx community members to ensure the Nation controls the tools and knowledge necessary for its own planning and emergency management. |
Supporting fish, wildlife and habitat stewardship
The program is integrated into many of ONA’s Fisheries and Natural Resources initiatives. For example, GIS habitat models and field assessments have been used to better understand the availability and connectivity of habitat for kiʔlawnaʔ (grizzly bear) in the North Cascades. This information supports planning intended to restore habitat, improve connectivity and contribute to the long-term recovery of the population.
Geospatial tools can also help identify important fish habitat, assess water and watershed conditions, guide restoration projects and measure how ecosystems are responding to human activity and climate change. By combining information from multiple projects, the program helps ONA understand both local impacts and larger patterns across the territory.
Maps and spatial models are most meaningful when they are informed by the people who know the territory. The program works with ONA staff, Syilx communities, Elders and Knowledge Keepers to ensure that appropriate Syilx knowledge and community priorities inform research and stewardship initiatives.
Technical tools do not replace Syilx knowledge. Instead, they can help document environmental conditions, examine changes and communicate information in ways that support Syilx responsibilities to tmxʷulaxʷ, siwɬkʷ and tmixʷ.
The GIS, Drone and Mapping Program also supports Syilx data sovereignty by strengthening the Nation’s ability to collect, manage, interpret and safeguard information about its territory. Data concerning Syilx lands, resources, communities and knowledge must be governed responsibly and used in ways that respect Syilx authority, protocols and priorities.
Building internal geospatial capacity reduces reliance on outside organizations and helps ensure that information gathered within Syilx territory remains available to support long-term Nation planning, advocacy and decision-making. ONA’s geospatial work includes data management and collaboration across Fisheries, Natural Resources, Wellness and other organizational priorities.
Through maps, spatial evidence and long-term monitoring, the program helps ONA and Syilx member communities demonstrate their continued presence, knowledge and responsibility throughout the territory. This information can support discussions concerning land use, environmental protection, restoration, development and collaborative management.
Ultimately, the GIS, Drone and Mapping Program strengthens the Syilx Nation’s ability to understand changing conditions, make informed decisions and uphold its responsibility to care for the territory for present and future generations.
Recent Developments
ONA’s geospatial team has launched a deployment of ESRI Enterprise. This has strengthened the Syilx Okanagan Nation’s ability to securely store, manage, and analyze geospatial data within its own infrastructure, rather than relying on external cloud systems.
By maintaining local control over data environments, the Nation can ensure that sensitive ecological, cultural, and all geospatial information collected by ONA projects remains governed by Syilx ONA principles. This approach directly supports data sovereignty by enabling the Syilx Okanagan Nation to define how data is collected, shared, and applied, while protecting community knowledge and ensuring it is used in ways that align with Nation priorities, and stewardship responsibilities.
Contact
Skyeler Folks, GIS and Emerging Technology Lead
Phone: 250-707-0095 ext. 268
Email: sfolks@syilx.org