Syilx Member Communities
The Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA), established in 1981, is the inaugural First Nations government for the Syilx Nation. Our traditional...
Our tmxʷulaxʷ in the Arrow Lakes
Due to colonization, Syilx Okanagan/Sinixt people from the Eastern parts of Syilx Territory were dispersed. We have continued to return to the Eastern parts of Syilx Territory, including the Arrow Lakes, to hunt, fish, harvest, host ceremonies and be present on the land, maintaining our connection and responsibilities.
Land Acknowledgements
Introducing the Syilx Okanagan People’s territory involves more than just naming the boundaries; it is about acknowledging the profound cultural, historical, and spiritual significance of these lands.
kɬlil̕xʷ Spotted Lake
For centuries, Syilx people have gone to kɬlil̕xʷ to seek healing, whether it be physically or spiritually. It has been shared by the Syilx member communities of the Okanagan Nation Alliance since time immemorial.
ackɬt’pus Giant’s Head
Syilx people used ackɬt’pus as a training ground for young women and men, to encourage them to think about what it is that they can learn from being who they are, and believing in themselves. This place continues to be an important site to the Syilx people today.