As Syilx people, gathering together for an event is a time honoured tradition. From gathering together for storytelling in the winters, or in the summers to fish, events continue to hold an important role in our daily lives.
Continuation of multicommunal social institutions of interaction, of kinship, gathering, and practicing activities language and ceremony is a vital contribution in today’s day and age, building or enhancing relationship support and help and identity for all involved. The concept of getting to know the land and each other is a long-term practice in health and well-being in all aspects of traditional land management and self-care.
These community focused events help encourage and instill cultural teachings, education and awareness for the Nation and the public, build success in terms of understanding cultural identity through holistic occasions such as the Unity Run, R’Native Voice, and Youth Leadership Gathering. These events give cause to ignite the spark and passion in the journey that youth, women, men, and elders transition through.
Mar 2023 ONA Events Update
ONA Open Houses Varies (see posters for more details)
The ONA Open Houses will feature booths from all ONA departments that will showcase each program and service that is provided to Syilx Nation members and throughout the territory. There will be an opportunity to have individual discussions with staff and gather together to share information! Featured Booths: Wellness Programs and Services Natural Resources Fisheries […]
Forestry Principles Review and Discussion March 30, 2023
The objective of the Syilx forestry standards is to provide a framework within which forestry practices can be guided by Syilx principles and values. Through the collective development and implementation of the Syilx forestry standards, a commitment to ethical forestry practices within this framework is made by all licensees operating on Syilx Territory. The goal […]
Building Strength: Virtual Speaker Series March 20 - 23, 2023
The You Empowered Strong team is hosting a virtual speaker series to build strength by having these speakers share their expertise to increase community members capacity and empower Syilx Nation members’ in their healing journey. Click Here to for the Zoom Link (same link for all speakers) Virtual Speakers: March 20 – kisakihikawin (You are […]
Syilx Water Forum March 22, 2023
The Water Forums is a gathering of the community to showcase the work completed through the Natural Resource Department’s Community Water Forum Project. The...
Spirit of Syilx Youth Unity Run June 01 - 04, 2023
The Unity Run kicks off on the Thursday with a ceremony. Between 140 and 200 participants will come together over the 4 day...
Grandmothers Gathering April 05 - 06, 2023
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 […]
Syilx Nation Drug & Human Trafficking Forum April 19-20, 2023
Responding to the opioid drug crisis The Syilx Nation Drug Forum is an annual event to create space for sharing of information, resources, tools, stories and personal experiences related to drug and alcohol use. It began in response to the opioid drug crisis and focuses on bringing awareness to overdose. This will be a space […]
xʷəxʷmínaʔ Trout Fishery May 6-7, 2023
The Syilx Nation would like to invite Syilx Nation members to join us for the xʷəxʷmínaʔ Trout Fishery. We will be fishing for rainbow trout and bull trout and reconnecting with the eastern part of our Syilx Territory. Fishery will be hosted at the mouth of the Lardeau River at the Trout Lake Recreation Site […]
Children First Forum 2023 Date TBC
The Children First Forum is an annual ONA event held to bring together syilx Okanagan leadership, staff, and community members working with children and families to equip them with tools for care of our children. This includes building relationships, gaining new ideas and perspectives, preparing to lobby for legal jurisdiction, and addressing any gaps. Open […]
capti’kʷl: kʷəckʷəcstimʔ iʔ stəɬtaɬtet February 09, 2023
Okanagan Nation Alliance will be hosting several captikʷl Stories Forums this year, in partnership with the En’owkin Centre. The captikʷl forums are held for feedback and community engagement in examining Syilx captikʷl on the Syilx Way of Living, how lessons from the captikʷl connect with our modern way of living, and how to integrate Syilx […]
Four Food Chiefs Gathering October 2023
ɬə txətʼntiməlx mnimɬcəlx kʷu ks txətʼntimʼ The Four Food Chiefs Gathering is an annual gathering of Syilx Nation members. This event focuses on information sharing, utilizing the enowkinwixw model through our Four Food Chiefs. Each year, the event consists of workshops, discussions, presentations, keynotes and activities that focus on connecting to the land and water, […]
Syilx Indian Residential School Healing Gathering November 28-29, 2022
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, […]
Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, & Two Spirit Gathering October 2023
The Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLBTQQIA+ (MMIWG2S) has been a National tragedy over many decades, and has affected the Syilx Nation directly through the loss of our loved ones within our communities. The 4th annual MMIWG2S Gathering will feature Keynote speakers and presentations on some of the current issues so the Syilx […]
Syilx Water Forum March 22, 2023
The Water Forums is a gathering of the community to showcase the work completed through the Natural Resource Department’s Community Water Forum Project. The...
Spirit of Syilx Youth Unity Run June 01 - 04, 2023
The Unity Run kicks off on the Thursday with a ceremony. Between 140 and 200 participants will come together over the 4 day...
Sockeye Fry Release May 2023
This ceremonial release of 10,000 Okanagan Sockeye fry takes place by members of the Okanagan Nation and over 430 students from local schools so that kł cp̓əlk̓ stim̓ (cause to come back) will...
Salmon Ceremonies June 2023
We honour our ancestors with this annual ceremony in which we gather in five separate locations along the Columbia River to help pray for the return of the salmon.
Purple Ribbon Caravan 2023 Date TBD
#EndOverdose The Purple Ribbon Campaign is an annual campaign to raise awareness leading up to International Opioid Overdose Awareness Day on August 31. The campaign focuses on sharing resources, promoting discussion, and offering information related to the drug and opioid crisis and is a response to the urgent need to address the stigma that surrounds […]
Salmon Feast September 15-17, 2023
It is one of the goals of the Syilx Okanagan Nation to carry on the work of the people's ancestors and Elders who taught the importance of preserving and revitalizing...
Early Years Gathering 2023 Date TBC
I? scmala?tet The Early Years Gathering provides opportunity for Aboriginal Early Childhood professionals to engage in a manner that can contribute to capacity building and resource...
Grandmothers Gathering April 05 - 06, 2023
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 […]
Syilx Nation Drug & Human Trafficking Forum April 19-20, 2023
Responding to the opioid drug crisis The Syilx Nation Drug Forum is an annual event to create space for sharing of information, resources, tools, stories and personal experiences related to drug and alcohol use. It began in response to the opioid drug crisis and focuses on bringing awareness to overdose. This will be a space […]
