Okanagan Song
For the love of our land and people, let us honour our sacred bond with the lad and all it has given us to live; the food, water, medicines, shelter, beauty, and life itself.
The Okanagan song was created by ɬək̓əmxnalqs Delphine Derickson Armstrong, lax̌lax̌tkʷ Jeanette Armstrong, and Herman Edwards, around 1988-1989.
The Okanagan Song was composed to strengthen Syilx cultural identity and unity, especially in a time when colonization and residential schools disrupted Indigenous language, songs, and ceremonies. It serves as an anthem for the Syilx Okanagan Nation, symbolizing sovereignty, strength, and beauty.
As we reflect on the words that embody us as Syilx sʔukʷnaqínx (Okanagan), we recognize that living in harmony with the land is as beautiful as the land itself, and we are beautiful too. This serves as a reminder of our connection to one another and to the entirety of nature.