Syilx Territory

ax̌aʔ l kʷu syilx itmxʷu̓laxʷtət, istəɬtaɬtət, lut pnkin tə x̌ʷickmntm km tə tumi̓stmntm. məɬ kl ts x̌ʷuys, l̓a kin ts sx̌əlx̌a̓lt

This is our Syilx life place, our laws/responsible life-ways have never been given away or sold. These ways are forever, until the end of days

The land, all creation, and us as Syilx people are one.

The Syilx Okanagan People’s territory is a diverse and beautiful landscape of deserts and lakes, alpine forests and endangered grasslands. It extends over approximately 69,000 square kilometers. The northern area of this territory was close to the area of Mica Creek, just north of modern day Revelstoke, BC, and the eastern boundary was between Kaslo and Kootenay Lakes. The southern boundary extended to the vicinity of Wilbur, Washington and the western border extended into the Nicola Valley.

Our traditional Syilx territory includes the Okanagan Indian Band, Upper Nicola Band, Westbank First Nation, Penticton Indian Band, Osoyoos Indian Band, Lower and Upper Similkameen Indian Bands, and the Colville Confederated Tribes.

Syilx Okanagan oral history provides teachings about the past and being in those places reinforces memories and connections to the land. Sacred sites such as those for fasting, praying, medicine preparation, and burial grounds are spread throughout Syilx territory and each has a long held spiritual and physical significance to the Syilx Okanagan people. Children learn from the land, and thus when taken to those places, they learn how to care of nxʷelxʷeltantet (hat which gives us life).

We, the Syilx Okanagan people, still affirm that this land is ours as no treaty has ever been negotiated.

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