Living in Penticton means residing on the unceded land of the Penticton Indian Band (PIB), part of the Syilx Okanagan Nation. This community has a deep history, rich culture, and strong traditions that are integral to understanding our shared heritage.
Historical Timeline
Pre-1700s: The Syilx Okanagan Nation existed as a sovereign entity before European contact. Their territory spanned from Mica Creek in the north to Wilbur, Washington in the south, and west into the Nicola Valley.
1763: The Royal Proclamation recognized Aboriginal title and established that all land was Aboriginal until ceded by treaty.
1794: The Jay Treaty allowed Native people from Canada to travel into the US, but Canada did not honour it.
1846: The US-Canadian border (49th parallel) split the Syilx Okanagan Nation geographically and legally, dividing the Okanagan Nation on the north side and the Colville Confederated Tribe on the south side.
1860s-1880s: The federal government began surveying and establishing reserves for the Syilx people. This process often ignored the consent of the Syilx communities, leading to conflicts, displacements, and severe generational damage.
1900s: Various legislations and commissions, including the McKenna-McBride Royal Commission, aimed to redefine reserve lands, often reducing them without the community's consent. The Indian Act was amended several times, affecting the governance and rights of the Syilx people.
Impact of Colonialism
The arrival of Europeans and the establishment of the Canadian-US border drastically affected the Syilx Okanagan Nation. Colonial policies and land disputes disrupted their traditional ways of life. The Syilx people faced numerous legislative changes aimed at assimilation, such as the 1969 White Paper Policy, which sought to dissolve the Indian Act and reserve system. However, the Syilx people have continued to uphold their rights and culture through resilience and advocacy. The impact of these historical events is severe and still very much felt today by the Syilx people and the new generations, influencing contemporary governance and cultural practices.
Modern Advocacy and Resilience
Today, the PIB and the broader Syilx Okanagan Nation continue to advocate for their rights and the preservation of their culture. They are actively involved in managing natural resources and ensuring the sustainability of their lands. Initiatives such as language revitalization and cultural education are crucial in maintaining their heritage. The PIB has a dedicated Language and Cultural Advisor working to increase the use of traditional language and practices.
Oral Histories and Teachings
The Syilx people know their history through oral records called cepcaptikʷɬ, which convey the meaning of being Syilx through stories rather than dates. These stories, passed down through generations, embody their culture's truths and natural laws. Central to these teachings is k'w'lencuten, the Creator, and senk'lip, the Coyote, who taught the Syilx how to survive on the land.
The cepcaptikʷɬ stories outline four stages of learning and living according to natural laws:
st’elsqilxw (life form of the first people without natural instincts to survive)
xatmaʔsqilxw (first-thinking people who learned natural laws)
sqilxw (original people who learned to live together on the land in peace)
ʔawtmaʔsqilxw (today's Syilx after the arrival of newcomers)
These stages reflect the development of the Syilx people's laws, which govern their interactions with the natural world and each other.
Governance and Social Structure
The Syilx people had an organized governance system that included chieftainship at various levels. Each district had a head tribal chief and village chiefs who worked together to ensure the community's well-being. Chiefs represented the will of the people, balanced human needs with natural laws, and protected the land and its resources for future generations. The high chief, chosen from the Northern Okanagan district, represented the Syilx at the nation level.
Rights and Responsibilities
The Syilx people believe their rights come from their responsibility to protect and preserve the land. This belief is deeply ingrained in their governance and social structure. Each person's right to live in any community within the territory is contingent on following the customs and laws of that community. The Syilx governance system emphasizes the importance of living in harmony with the natural world and each other.
Traditional Life and Economy
For thousands of years, the Syilx Okanagan people were self-reliant and well provided for through their own ingenuity and use of the land and resources. They lived united as a nation with a whole economy, travelling the breadth and depth of their territory; hunting, fishing, growing, harvesting, and trading created a sustainable economy that met their needs.
From first contact, the influx of settlers was slow yet steady, with both the Syilx Okanagans and settlers working towards a living arrangement. Through colonization, the Syilx were divided from one another and their way of life. At the same time, they were dispossessed of the resources they relied upon, and their self-sufficient economy collapsed.
As settlement of the Okanagan increased, the establishment of an international border and the colony of British Columbia joining the confederation put considerable pressure on the provincial government in B.C. to designate reserves for Indigenous people. This would allow settlers to formally own the lands they settled on. Reserves were finally established in the early 1900s. The Syilx Okanagan people opposed the establishment of the reserves without first negotiating a treaty.
The Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) was formed in 1981 as the inaugural First Nations government in the Okanagan, representing the eight member communities: Okanagan Indian Band, Upper Nicola Band, Westbank First Nation, Penticton Indian Band, Osoyoos Indian Band, and Lower and Upper Similkameen Indian Bands, and the Colville Confederated Tribes. Each community is represented through the Chiefs Executive Council (CEC) by their Chief or Chairman.
Affirmation of Land Rights
The Syilx Okanagan people still affirm that the land is theirs, as no treaty has been negotiated. Their connection to the land and their governance structures reflect a deep commitment to preserving their heritage and ensuring the well-being of future generations.
For more information and to support the Penticton Indian Band, visit their official website. Understanding and respecting the history and traditions of the PIB enriches our community and strengthens our shared future.
