Okanagan Nation Alliance facts for kids
The Okanagan Nation Alliance is a group of First Nations communities. They are also called a Tribal Council. This alliance is found in British Columbia, Canada. It also includes parts of Washington state in the USA.
Their traditional lands cover a huge area, about 69,000 square kilometers. This land includes deserts, lakes, forests, and grasslands.
The people of these communities are connected to the Syilx tribe. Their ancestors lived across both British Columbia and Washington state. The Syilx people have their own language, called nsyilxcən. Not many people speak it fluently today, so it is considered endangered. It is a Salishan language. Its use decreased a lot after colonization in the 1800s.
The Alliance includes seven different groups in British Columbia and one in Washington. These groups are the Okanagan Indian Band, the Westbank First Nation, the Lower Similkameen Indian Band, the Upper Similkameen Indian Band, the Osoyoos Indian Band, the Penticton Indian Band, the Upper Nicola Indian Band, and the Colville Confederated Tribes.
Contents
History of the Syilx Okanagan People
The people of the Okanagan Nation Alliance call themselves Syilx Okanagan. They have lived on their lands for a very long time, even before Europeans arrived. The Syilx Okanagan people were self-sufficient. They had a strong economy. They hunted, fished, gathered, and grew food across their entire territory. This created a way of life that supported their people for generations.
In the 1800s, colonization began. This led to the Syilx Okanagan lands being divided. The 49th parallel, which became the Canada-U.S. border, was created in 1846. This border split the tribe geographically and legally. Seven of the eight groups stayed in Canada. However, the Colville Confederated Tribes, whose lands are in Washington state, were separated from their Syilx relatives.
Between 1877 and 1893, land was set aside for the Syilx Okanagan people. These were called reservations. But these reservations were often changed. Their size was made smaller without the Syilx Okanagan people's permission. The Indigenous people of British Columbia did not want to be forced onto smaller lands. Their ancestral lands were vast.
In 1910, different Indigenous groups gathered. They signed the Sir Wilfred Laurier Memorial Declaration. They hoped to get back their land rights. They also wanted to protect the rights of all First Nation peoples. For many years, Indigenous peoples lived on their reservations. But in 1969, the Canadian government tried to take over reservation lands. This was part of a policy called the "White Paper." It aimed to make all First Nation peoples live like other Canadians. This policy did not succeed, and the tribes kept their reservation lands.
In 1987, the Okanagan Nation Alliance made their first legal declaration. It was written in both English and their Syilx language. All the chiefs and council members from the eight groups signed it. The document ends with a promise to protect the Earth and its resources forever.
Education and Learning
The Okanagan Nation Alliance helps with several education programs. These are offered at the University of British Columbia Okanagan. This university was started in partnership with the Syilx Okanagan people in 2005. It offers many different degrees. These include Arts, Sciences, Education, and Engineering.
One special thing about UBC Okanagan is that the ancestral language of the Okanagan people is taught there. This helps the language be passed on to future generations.
How the Alliance is Governed
The alliance is led by the current chiefs of each community. They are called the Chief Executive Council (CEC). The CEC's main goal is to protect the rights of the Syilx Okanagan Nation. They also work to address the needs of their people. The current elected leader of the CEC is Clarence Louie, who is the chief of the Osoyoos band.
The CEC usually meets every month. In July each year, they have a larger annual general assembly meeting.
Syilx Nation Rising!
In 2018, there was a big movement to bring back Syilx culture, language, and land rights. The leader of the Okanagan Nation Alliance called for this revitalization. It was a call for all Syilx people to work together. They wanted to create a constitution. This would help preserve Syilx traditions. It would also make their government systems stronger.
This movement also aims to protect the Syilx people's territory. This way, they would not have to constantly battle with the Canadian government. This effort is known as "Syilx Nation Rising!" Many members of the nation were encouraged to share videos, messages, or their voices. They wanted to support the rebirth of Syilx culture.
Traditional Food and Salmon
The most important food for the ancient Syilx people was the Sockeye Salmon. When Europeans arrived, and with too much fishing, the number of salmon in the Okanagan valley dropped a lot. Since 1990, there have been big efforts to help the salmon population grow again.
Because their traditional food sources declined, the Indigenous people of the Okanagan valley sought "food sovereignty." This means they want control over their own food supply. They want to rely less on market food. The decline of salmon also encouraged them to bring back their traditional responsibilities to their lands, waters, and food. For the Syilx, Salmon is more than just food. It is seen as a relative that connects their people through generations. Salmon are vital to the Okanagan Valley ecosystem. The Syilx people work hard to keep their population strong.
Member Communities
The Okanagan Nation Alliance includes these communities:
- Westbank First Nation (in West Kelowna)
- Lower Similkameen Indian Band (in Keremeos)
- Upper Similkameen Indian Band (in Princeton)
- Osoyoos Indian Band
- Penticton Indian Band
- Okanagan Indian Band (in Vernon)
- Upper Nicola Indian Band (near Merritt) - also part of the Nicola Tribal Association
- Colville Confederated Tribes
Okanagan Indian Band
The Okanagan Indian Band has seven reservations. These lands cover 11,282 hectares. They are in British Columbia. This is the northernmost band in the Okanagan Nation Alliance. About 2,030 people are members of this band. The current chief is Byron Louis.
Westbank First Nation
The Westbank First Nation has five reservations. These lands cover 5,340 acres. They are in British Columbia. They are next to the Okanagan band to the North. About 855 people are members of this Nation. The current chief is Christopher Derickson.
Lower Similkameen Indian Band
The Lower Similkameen Indian Band has eleven reservations. These lands cover about 15,048 hectares. They are in the Keremeos region of British Columbia. About 500 people are members of this band. The current chief is Keith Crow.
Upper Similkameen Indian Band
The Upper Similkameen Indian Band has eight reservations. These lands cover about 2,726 hectares. They are in the Similkameen Valley, north of the Canada-U.S. border. About 200 people are members of this band. The current chief is Bonnie Jacobsen.
Osoyoos Indian Band
The Osoyoos Indian Band has one large reservation. It covers about 32,000 acres. It is in British Columbia, just north of the Canada-U.S. border. About 600 people are members of this band. The current chief is Clarence Louie.
Penticton Indian Band
The Penticton Indian Band has three reservations. These lands cover about 46,000 acres. They are west of the Okanagan band. They are in the southern part of the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia. About 922 people are members of this band. The current chief is Greg Gabriel.
Upper Nicola Indian Band
The Upper Nicola Indian Band has eight reservations. These lands cover about 30,848 acres. They are in the Nicola Valley in British Columbia. They are the only Syilx Okanagan tribe in the Nicola Valley. About 980 people are members of this band. The current chief is Harvey McLeod.
Colville Confederated Tribes
The Colville Confederated Tribes have one large reservation. It covers 2.83 million acres. They are the only Syilx Okanagan people located in the United States, specifically Washington State. About 9,520 people are members of these tribes. The chairman is Andrew Joseph Jr.
