Indigenous Canadian Syilx women are using their ancestral roles of care and connection to siwɬk (water) to safeguard cultural lake-sites for future generations. Meeting in the En’owkin Centre in late July, they developed the Okanagan Lake Water Responsibility Plan for “our culture, our way of life, and our ancestral connections.” Meeting facilitator Tessa Terbasket highlights that to protect the kɬúsx̌nítk (Okanagan Lake), the alliance must garner input and cultural leadership from Syilx women across their ancestral lands. This push for a protective framework for the lake comes at a time of pressing concerns about environment deterioration, escalating development, pollution, and temperature change. Sarah Williams of the Penticton Indian Band also attended the meeting and shared her observations on changing water levels. Proactive measures are essential to protect the biodiversity and health of the landscape, as well as the many non-human species that rely on it. The women are embracing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology in combination with traditional mapping to document and protect these waterways. Janice Tom of the Upper Nicola Indian Band is a drone pilot who is using her skills to help map the lake using GIS cartography. Together, these Indigenous women leaders are ensuring that proper knowledge of priority conservation and watershed issues are incorporated into the responsibility plan.
