Community members from across the syilx Okanagan Nation gathered last week for their annual autumn salmon feast, to honour ntytyix (Chief Salmon) and to celebrate successes restoring the fish to their ancestral waterways.
The Sept. 22 event concluded the Okanagan Nation Alliance鈥檚 three-day snx虒a蕯iwl蓹m (honouring the sacredness of the river) gathering at sx虒史蓹x虒史nitk史 (Okanagan Falls), reclaimed by the nation last year.
鈥淚t was a good run for our people this year,鈥� said Osoyoos Indian Band Chief Clarence Louie (y虛ilmix史m ki law na) before the feast. 鈥淚t was so cool to see so many of our people 鈥� fishing like our people have fished here for thousands of years.鈥�
This year鈥檚 ceremonies were particularly celebratory 鈥� as the ONA鈥檚 decades-long salmon restoration efforts are paying off to bring several species back to syilx waterways.
Last month, ONA scientists recorded the return of the years to the lake, swimming roughly 1,000 kilometres from the sea, after decades blocked by dams. In August, the nation helped re-introduce for the first time in 80 years. And last spring, Youth in 60 local schools into waterways throughout syilx territory.
The salmon feast brought together families from different nations and cultures, including Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.
syilx fishers, including Youth, harvested the sc虛win (sockeye) from nk鈥檓ip (Osoyoos Lake) in July.
鈥淲e thank you gorgeous people for being here,鈥� said syilx Elder .
The day began with participants forming a circle, as the year鈥檚 first salmon offering was placed into the centre accompanied by drum songs.
Community members lined up to receive a piece of cooked salmon. c蓹qcqalx虒qn encouraged attendees to say a prayer, or to think about their own path, as they went up one-by-one.
鈥淵ou need a healing feeling; when you come by, remember who you love,鈥� Baptist said. 鈥淎ll of these organizers brought forth something to bless us with 鈥� we don鈥檛 take that lightly.鈥�
After the first offering of salmon, members of the community lined up with plates at a food tent to begin the feast.
The event鈥檚 hosts said any bones and skin left over from the feast would be collected and offered into the waters.
After eating, participants approached the river shores for a water ceremony, where leftover salmon was offered with prayers for the nation鈥檚 waters and all beings they give life to.
As people lined up at the Okanagan River鈥檚 edge, they were brushed with wet fir boughs.
鈥淲e can be thankful that we鈥檙e going to end another day together,鈥� Baptist said after the ceremony. 鈥淲hatever little knowledge that we have 鈥� we hold on to that dearly.鈥�
Prayers for the land and water
The gathering from Sept. 20 to 22 also included multiple events, including stick games, a canoe paddle, and educational booths for .
To kick off the annual celebrations, a group of motorcycle riders,, embarked south to the 鈥淯.S.,鈥� from sx虒史蓹x虒史nitk史 to 鈥淟ong Beach, Washington.鈥�
They followed the weaving and winding route of the Columbia River, and throughout their journey held ceremonies and prayers to bring salmon back to the species鈥� historical range.
The bikers returned the same day as other syilx members paddled in canoes from Skaha Lake back to sx虒史蓹x虒史nitk史. Before hitting the water, they offered tobacco.
Herman Edward, of Lower Similkameen Indian Band, helped plan the journey and carved He told participants the annual paddle reminds the nation鈥檚 children why their ancestral boats and waterways are so important.
鈥淓very pull you make is a prayer 鈥� you鈥檙e praying for everything that exists on the land,鈥� Edward, a founder and organizer of the annual, explained. 鈥淲ithout water, we cannot live.鈥�
He added it鈥檚 crucial to remind the wider community 鈥� especially settlers 鈥� to pray and take care of water, too.
鈥淭his work is something that will make you proud that you were a part of it one day,鈥� Edward said. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e going to remember 鈥� as young people 鈥� this as an important time that you went on this water.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 know what鈥檚 in the future; that鈥檚 why this prayer is important.鈥�
