Working Together to Empower Thriving Ecosystems
The Canadian Columbia River Treaty Ecosystem Function Sub-Committee is an Indigenous-led Initiative whose aim is to ensure that Columbia River ecosystem functions are considered during the treaty renegotiation process.
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Sylix Okanagan
For thousands of years, we the Syilx Okanagan people were self-reliant and well provided for through their own ingenuity and use of the land and resources. We lived united as a nation with a whole economy, travelling the breadth and depth of our territory; hunting, fishing, growing, harvesting, and trading created a sustainable economy that met our needs.
From first contact the influx of settlers was slow and yet steady, with both the Syilx Okanagans and settlers worked towards a living arrangement. Through colonization we were divided from one another and from our way of life. At the same time we were dispossessed from the resources we relied upon, and our self-sufficient economy collapsed.
As settlement of the Okanagan increased, the establishment of an international border, and the colony of British Columbia joining confederation, put considerable pressure on the Provincial government in B.C. to designate reserves for Indians. This would allow for the settlers to formally own the lands they settled on. Reserves were finally established in the early 1900’s. The Syilx Okanagan people opposed the establishment of the reserves without first having negotiated a treaty.
The Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) was formed in 1981 as the inaugural First Nations government in the Okanagan which represents the 8 member communities including; Okanagan Indian Band, Upper Nicola Band, Westbank First Nation, Penticton Indian Band, Osoyoos Indian Band and Lower and Upper Similkameen Indian Bands and the Colville Confederated Tribes on areas of common concern. Each community is represented through the Chiefs Executive Council (CEC) by their Chief or Chairman.
We as the Syilx Okanagan people still affirm that the land is ours, as no treaty has been negotiated.
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Ktunaxa Nation
The Ktunaxa Nation is an Indigenous society whose traditional territory is within the asserted boundaries of Canada and the United States of America.
Ktunaxa Nation Citizens reside in both Canada and the United States of America and have empowered separate governments to protect their interests in both countries.
The Ktunaxa Nation Council is the Ktunaxa Nation government in Canada and is comprised of elected officials from ʔakisq̓nuk, Yaqan Nuʔkiy (Lower Kootenay), ʔaqam (St. Mary’s) and ʔakink̓umǂasnuqǂiʔit (Tobacco Plains) First Nation Communities.
The Ktunaxa people describe our territory using ancient place names; some of these names are thousands of years old, having been established at the time of Creation.
Ktunaxa place names often describe significant events remembered in oral histories; some referencing battles with other Nations, others the making of peace.
Each Nation has a territory that can be defined as being exclusive to historic use and occupancy, and also a territory that we would define as having been shared with other Nations, the latter generally coinciding with the region extending to the outermost boundaries of a given territory.
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Shuswap Nation Tribal Council
Formed in 1980 as an effort of the Secwépemc Chiefs to advance the issues of aboriginal rights. Working on matters of common concern, including the development of self-government and the settlement of the aboriginal land title question.
We support the work of our communities to provide stewardship for the fisheries in their territories and to assert their traditional fisheries rights within a co-management framework. This is accomplished as they are building capacity for self-government.
Our motto is “Me7 wéwlem-kt wel me7 yews” which translates to “Fishing for our Future.”
As part of a larger initiative to establish self-government for the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council communities, SFC advocates for First Nations rights and title with respect to our fisheries interests. Central to our mission is our commitment to protect existing fisheries resources, to promote integrated, holistic approaches to ecosystem conservation and management, and to provide policy advice on political and technical matters. The SFC promotes ecosystem conservation and the sustainable use and harvest practices of fisheries resources.
The re-invigoration of traditional fisheries practices and the strengthening of First Nations social and cultural heritage is a reflection of our respect for all living beings and contributes to the preservation of our values and beliefs. We form partnerships with other fisheries organizations for mutual benefit, and build relationships with other First Nations organizations. Co-management is a cornerstone of our mandate.