The Syilx Okanagan Nation has the inherent jurisdiction to manage the land and resources within its territory. We consider the tmxʷulaxʷ as the foundation of our way of life and culture.
The Natural Resources Committee (NRC) is one of the Okanagan Nation Alliance’s primary technical and advisory committees. It brings together representatives from each of the Syilx member communities to provide coordinated direction on land, water, fish, wildlife, and natural resource issues across the Syilx Nation’s territory. The committee’s role is to ensure that natural resource decisions reflect Syilx values, rights, responsibilities, and priorities while supporting the direction of the Chiefs Executive Council (CEC).
The committee serves several important functions:
- Provides technical advice and recommendations to the Chiefs Executive Council on major natural resource matters.
- Coordinates natural resource priorities across the Syilx member communities.
- Reviews proposed developments, policies, and legislation that may affect Syilx Title and Rights.
- Guides ONA’s Natural Resources Department on strategic priorities and projects.
- Supports collaboration through specialized working groups and subcommittees focused on topics such as water, wildlife, forestry, climate adaptation, species at risk, and land stewardship.
Areas of work
The committee helps guide work across a wide range of natural resource priorities, including:
- Water stewardship and implementation of the Syilx siwɬkʷ Strategy.
- Fish and wildlife conservation, including habitat restoration and species recovery.
- Climate change adaptation and resilience.
- Forestry, range, and ecosystem management.
- Protection of culturally significant plants, animals, and places.
- Land use planning and cumulative effects assessment.
- Title and Rights considerations related to resource development throughout Syilx territory.
Who sits on the committee?
The committee is generally made up of technical staff and natural resource representatives from each ONA member community, along with staff from ONA’s Natural Resources Department. Rather than being a political body, it functions as a forum where technical experts work together to develop recommendations that are then brought forward to the Chiefs Executive Council for decision-making.
Strategic planning
From time to time, the Natural Resources Committee undertakes strategic planning with the Chiefs Executive Council to review its structure, mandate, and guiding principles and to seek input from Syilx Nation members. These planning sessions help ensure the committee continues to meet the evolving needs and priorities of the Nation.
In practice, the Natural Resources Committee serves as the bridge between the technical expertise of ONA’s Natural Resources Department, the knowledge and priorities of the member communities, and the political leadership of the Chiefs Executive Council. It plays a central role in ensuring that stewardship of tmxʷulaxʷ is guided by both Syilx knowledge and sound technical resource management.
Contact
Emily Matthew, tmixʷ (Wildlife) Biologist
Phone: 250-707-0095 ext. 226
Email: ematthew@syilx.org