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香蕉视频直播檚 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.
香蕉视频直播淚t was a good run for our people this year,香蕉视频直播� said Osoyoos Indian Band Chief Clarence Louie (y虛ilmix史m ki law na) before the feast. 香蕉视频直播淚t was so cool to see so many of our people 香蕉视频直播� fishing like our people have fished here for thousands of years.香蕉视频直播�
This year香蕉视频直播檚 ceremonies were particularly celebratory 香蕉视频直播� as the ONA香蕉视频直播檚 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香蕉视频直播檓ip (Osoyoos Lake) in July.
香蕉视频直播淲e thank you gorgeous people for being here,香蕉视频直播� said syilx Elder .
The day began with participants forming a circle, as the year香蕉视频直播檚 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.
香蕉视频直播淵ou need a healing feeling; when you come by, remember who you love,香蕉视频直播� Baptist said. 香蕉视频直播淎ll of these organizers brought forth something to bless us with 香蕉视频直播� we don香蕉视频直播檛 take that lightly.香蕉视频直播�
After the first offering of salmon, members of the community lined up with plates at a food tent to begin the feast.
The event香蕉视频直播檚 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香蕉视频直播檚 waters and all beings they give life to.
As people lined up at the Okanagan River香蕉视频直播檚 edge, they were brushed with wet fir boughs.
香蕉视频直播淲e can be thankful that we香蕉视频直播檙e going to end another day together,香蕉视频直播� Baptist said after the ceremony. 香蕉视频直播淲hatever little knowledge that we have 香蕉视频直播� we hold on to that dearly.香蕉视频直播�
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 香蕉视频直播淯.S.,香蕉视频直播� from sx虒史蓹x虒史nitk史 to 香蕉视频直播淟ong Beach, Washington.香蕉视频直播�
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香蕉视频直播� 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香蕉视频直播檚 children why their ancestral boats and waterways are so important.
香蕉视频直播淓very pull you make is a prayer 香蕉视频直播� you香蕉视频直播檙e praying for everything that exists on the land,香蕉视频直播� Edward, a founder and organizer of the annual, explained. 香蕉视频直播淲ithout water, we cannot live.香蕉视频直播�
He added it香蕉视频直播檚 crucial to remind the wider community 香蕉视频直播� especially settlers 香蕉视频直播� to pray and take care of water, too.
香蕉视频直播淭his work is something that will make you proud that you were a part of it one day,香蕉视频直播� Edward said. 香蕉视频直播淵ou香蕉视频直播檙e going to remember 香蕉视频直播� as young people 香蕉视频直播� this as an important time that you went on this water.
香蕉视频直播淲e don香蕉视频直播檛 know what香蕉视频直播檚 in the future; that香蕉视频直播檚 why this prayer is important.香蕉视频直播�
