Chiefs’ Statement

c kʼʷəckʼʷəctwilʼxstm iʔ syilx nukʼʷcwilxʷtət, iʔ kɬ ktʼəkmistntət kʷu yʕayʕat ks kiyʕaʔmncutmntm

Strengthening Our Syilx Nation, Creating a Syilx Constitution Together

iʔ kʷu syilx nukʼʷcwilxʷ iʔ kʷu xaʔxaʔtus iʔ kʷu ylilmixʷəm , nyʕayp ətc k̕ul̕əmstm iʔ scunən’maʔtət ks ətc unxcinmntm, uɬ ks səc k̕ɬqayxʷstm iʔ sqəlxʷɬcawt, ansyilxcn, iʔ tmxʷulaxʷ, iʔ tmixʷ, iʔ siwɬkʷ u ks ətc unxcinmntm, uɬ ks səc k̕ɬqayxʷstm iʔ sqəlxʷɬcawt, ansyilxcn, iʔ tmxʷulaxʷ, iʔ tmixʷ, iʔ siwɬkʷ uɬiʔ stəɬtaɬtət iʔ kʷu syilx tə sqaylxʷ.

iʔ naqs iʔ Kɬ tk̕ʷəck̕ʷəctans tac i k̕l ks unixʷuxʷs iʔ sqəlxʷɬcawts iʔ syilx nuk̕ʷcwilxʷ ankc̕x̌ʷiplaʔtntət iʔ sk̕uləls, ixiʔ iks ck̕ul̕tət cəm̓ yʕatswit iliʔ əcnxiʔ, lut t̕ə ks wykʷmntm ks ɬiq̓ʷɬuq̓ʷt ax iʔ cwilxʷ i kʷu ks kn̓xtuɬtəm iʔ ks ck’ul̕tət uɬ kʷu yʕayʕat ks knusəl̕xikstmntəm iʔ kʷu syilx ikɬ nak̕ulaʔmntət.

axaʔ ts ck̕ul̕ cem̓  yʕat iʔ cwuwilxʷtət kɬ kt̕əkmins uɬ ks tiɬxʷusysəlx iʔ tawnixʷ iʔ sqəlxʷɬcawt uɬ ankc̕x̌ʷiplaʔtntət iʔ tl anqaylxʷcns iʔ syilx itliʔ ki ats kʷiscts  atc xəʔit ankc̕x̌ʷiplaʔtn.

 iʔ captikʷɬ nc̕x̌iltn iʔ k̕l syilx sukʷnaqaynx iʔ ankc̕x̌ʷiplaʔtns, iʔ sqəlxʷɬcawts, uɬ iʔ xaʔxaʔtustət ətc haʔ stis ixiʔ iʔ sk̕uləl̕s iʔ ks mymayts ɬac k̕ɬ luxʷstis iʔ syilx sukʷnaʔqaynx iʔ stəɬtaɬtəts iʔ k̕l təmxʷulaʔxʷ uɬ iʔ k̕l sqəlxʷɬcawtət.

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As a unified Syilx Okanagan Nation Chiefs Executive Council, we continue to affirm our mandate to advocate, practice and preserve and protect the culture, language, tmxʷulaxʷ, tmixʷ , siwlɬkʷ and title and rights of the Syilx Peoples.

As one of the critical and necessary steps in strengthening and legitimatizing the evolving Syilx Okanagan Nation governance systems and processes, we will undertake an inclusive, transparent and accountable community engagement process to create and ratify a Syilx Constitution.

This work will be supported in each of our communities to uphold and renew Syilx legal order and laws, drawing on our oral traditions in which foundational Syilx laws are embedded.

captikwł teachings about Syilx Okanagan laws, customs, values, governance structures and principles define and inform Syilx Okanagan rights and responsibilities to the land and to our culture.

Approved by the Chiefs Executive Council, December 12, 2018

Chiefs’ Statement – Strengthening Our Syilx Nation-Creating Syilx Constitution Together