By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
In a groundbreaking move for Syilx-led environmental stewardship, Syilx Chiefs, Mayors, Regional District Chairs and Councillors of the Syilx Nation and local governments from the Okanagan and Similkameen Watersheds are coming together in a newly formed Collaborative Leadership Table.
This initiative marks a historic partnership aimed at protecting and restoring siwɬkʷ (water), and the t’əctx̌ap tl tqalqaltikn, watersheds, for current and future generations, the Syilx Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) said in a statement.
At the inaugural meeting, elected leaders will sign a Memorandum of Agreement that sets out a path for working together for siwɬkʷ and address water challenges that transcend jurisdictional boundaries.
This agreement represents the first time the Syilx Nation and local governments have come together on a large scale to deal with a matter of common concern.
Syilx Elder caylx, Richard Armstrong expressed his thoughts about this historic agreement: “As you move forward in this process, I encourage you to make a commitment to working together for the benefit of the watershed that we all share. Remember that the siwɬkʷ connects us all.
“This connection flows through our communities and across jurisdictional lines, and it carries with it a responsibility that we should not take lightly. I hold my hands up to each of you for taking the first step in this Collaborative Leadership Initiative”
The leaders at this table will work together as neighbours to address common concerns for protecting and restoring siwɬkʷ and the t´əctx̌ap tl tqalqaltikn watersheds and the meeting will create an opportunity for leaders who know their watersheds best to discuss and act on water challenges that are too big for any one government to solve on their own, according to the ONA.
This agreement supports the frameworks of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the BC Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA).
This agreement supports government-to-government relationships between the Syilx Nation and local governments through a collaborative and inclusive engagement process that builds relationships based on respect, trust, cooperation and partnerships, the ONA said.
