captikʷł
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. These stories provide instruction on how to relate to and live on the land.
captikʷł stories serve as reminder of Syilx Okanagan natural laws and protocols that need to be followed in order for future generations to survive in harmony with the tmixw (all living things). These stories are embedded in our culture and language and play a vital role in cultural renewal and revitalization.
In our oral traditions, it is recounted that kʷuləncutn (the Creator) dispatched sənk̓lip (Coyote) to aid in sustaining oneself on this land. The journeys of sənk̓lip serve as a repository of the natural principles vital for the survival and continuation of our Syilx Okanagan community. We did not inherently possess the knowledge of living according to nature’s laws; rather, we were endowed with memory to guide us on what actions are permissible or not. Transmitting an understanding of the land and how to integrate with it to our younger generations has been pivotal in the survival of our people, the Syilx Okanagan.
Today, our captikʷł are still used in this fast paced modern world. Syilx knowledge and cultural values from the captikʷł are being passed on to the youth to help them live in this modern world and to let them know who they are and where they come from. When passed down to subsequent generations, captikʷł acts as a feedback loop that redefines the societal structure into an environmental ethos. The Syilx Nation’s environmental ethic places a strong emphasis on the holistic regeneration of each tmixʷ (living entity) as a moral standard, guiding their behavior towards all forms of life.
To see an example of how Syilx captikʷł informs and governs the work of the Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA), please see the captikʷł below which guided the ONA to execute the Fish Passage at McIntyre Dam:
To learn more or purchase a limited selection of Syilx captikʷł, please click on the button below.