Lifting up the voices of our elders
The First Speakers Language Gathering is a space for fluent language speakers to gather and discuss planning around sqilxʷ education, culture, and well-being.
Honoraria and travel support will be provided to first speakers only. Other sqilxʷ are welcome to join and listen!
Day 1: 5 pm – 8 pm Reception dinner for visiting, laughing, and grounding ourselves in the purpose of the gathering.
Day 2: 9 am – 5 pm Discussions and planning around sqilxʷ education, culture, and wellbeing. Social visits in the evening.
Day 3: 9 am 1 pm Wrap-up discussions, next steps, farewells.
Open to Syilx nation Members only | Spaces are limited!
PLEASE NOTE: The March 2024 Gathering has been postponed due to a death in community. We will share new date as soon as possible. Our sincerest condolences to the family, friends, and community.
POSTPONED First Speakers Gathering Poster March 2024
nłk̓ʷsalqʷm: ackum iʔ sck̓łpaʔx̌tət
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 data plan that is built on sqlxʷɬcaẃtət (our ways).
Sessions will be held in each community – more info coming soon!
Apr 11 – OKIB Syilx Data Governance Plan Sessions
Strengthening Our Truth
Okanagan Nation Alliance will be hosting captikʷl Forums this year, in partnership with the En’owkin Centre. The captikʷł forums are held for insight and community engagement in examining Syilx captikʷł, how lessons from the captikʷł connect with our modern way of living, and how to integrate Syilx values and principles within captikʷł in Policy & Planning.
captikʷł are a collection of teachings about Syilx Okanagan laws, customs, values, governance structures and principles that, together, define and inform Syilx Okanagan rights and responsibilities to the land and to our culture.
Open to Syilx Nation Members only.
PLEASE NOTE: The March 28th session of captikʷɬ: k̓ʷəck̓ʷəcstim iʔ stəɬtaɬtet will be postponed due to a community funeral. We will email registered participants as soon as possible when a new date can be confirmed.
POSTPONED 2023-2024 captikwl Forum 3
puti kʷu‿alaʔ
The Syilx Indian Residential School (SIRS) Committee at the ONA holds an annual gathering for Syilx Okanagan residential school survivors, intergenerational survivors, and other family members to share stories, support each other, and participate in healing together.
Residential schools were extremely disruptive to Syilx Okanagan relationships. Families were separated and roles were forgotten, connections were lost, and sharing of culture between generations was disrupted. This event will be 2 days of working on our relationships with each other and with ourselves. Through various workshops, ceremony, and food, this event will bring survivors and Nation members together to heal and work towards a stronger, healthier Nation.
Open to Syilx Okanagan Nation Members & Community Members
2024 SIRS Gathering Poster
Calling Syilx Grandmothers who are passionate about working with children and families to reclaim and restore Syilx family ways of being.
This event is an opportunity for Grandmothers within the Syilx Okanagan Nation to gather and focus on familial roles, Nation needs, and traditional models of child-raising in today’s world. Grandmothers will identify training and capacity needs within the Nation, define and reclaim family roles and responsibilities, and connect with one another.
Syilx Grandmothers have an inherent role and responsibility to strengthen/teach the practice of Syilx traditions, culture and language. Following Phase II, and Phase IV of the Grandmothers Group Strategy, this event includes Nation and community relationship development and initial steps to the development of a Grandmothers Group Work Plan.
Open to all Syilx Nation Grandmothers | Spaces are limited
2024 Grandmothers Gathering Poster
Honouring our siwɬkʷ
The Water Forum is an annual event hosted by the ONA Natural Resources Department that works to promote and create public awareness of Syilx Okanagan People and their sacred connection to siwɬkʷ. One of the main goals of the Water Strategy is to improve the way water is managed within Syilx Territory and ensure that clean, flowing water is properly respected and available for all living things.
Each year of the Water Forum focuses on a different area within Syilx Okanagan Territory and the water in that area, as well as different topics to focus on each year. The event brings together Syilx Okanagan Nation members, community members, local partners and organizations, and leadership. The event is held on World Water Day, March 22, each year.
This year, the Syilx Nation would like to invite you to join us for a ceremony to honour and pray for siwɬkʷ (water) in the territory.
PLEASE NOTE: The March 22nd Water Ceremony has been postponed due to deaths in communities. We will email registered participants as soon as possible when a new date has been confirmed.
POSTPONED Water Forum 2024 Poster