The Autonomous Sinixt team would like to express our gratitude to all who assisted and supported our work in 2024.  Below is a list of our accomplishments and work.

Take it to the Water film

  • We completed a film about the Sinixt practice of developing a relationship with water, and showed it to our School District 10 partners. We are now submitting it to film festivals and planning a film tour for spring 2025. We also developed an extensive curriculum to go with the film when used in an educational setting.

Caribou Protection

  • Our team of four attended the Species at Risk committee Caribou recovery conference in Kelowna. The team included two Sinixt youth as well as Matriarch Marilyn James. Subsequently, we created a parallel document to the federal caribou recovery management plan for submission to the Federal committee.  We also began the creation of materials for a language-related curriculum around caribou for schools.

Snk’mip Dig Deeper film development and tour

  • We worked with Lorna Visser of Valhalla Foundation for Ecology to co-direct and co-produce the film Snk’mip: Dig Deeper, the story of a wetland restoration project north of Slocan Lake. We then partnered with them in a 8 community film tour, being available for Q&A and discussion, at each showing.

Record Ridge open pit mine proposal

  • Working with Rossland’s Save Record Ridge Action Committee (SRRAC) to draw attention to and demand an environmental assessment of the WHY Resources proposal to build an open pit magnesium mine above the town of Rossland. This is part of our ongoing work to address the mining of transition minerals in Sinixt təmxʷúlaʔxʷ.

Wheelchair accessible outhouse at nk̓ʕáwxtən (Vallican Heritage site/occupation camp)

  • We built the outhouse from trees felled on the land for beetle mitigation and milled them on site. This structure enables accessibility as well as better camp hygiene through providing a sink in which to wash hands as well as privacy for diaper and clothing changing. 

Beetle infestation mitigation at nk̓ʕáwxtən (Vallican camp)

  • 1000s of packets of MCH hormone were placed by forest ecologist Rosie Wijenberg in the trees at the site to help prevent the further spread of the beetles that are killing the trees. Infested trees were felled, had bark removed and were burned over a period of many weeks.

Plant protocol development

  • We worked in conjunction with Elkroot Farm to develop a  brochure on Sinixt protocols for harvesting plants in Sinixt təmxʷúlaʔxʷ and distributed this beautiful, full colour product. Smum iem Matriarch also spoke on plant protocols at the Herb Conference in Salmo.

Old Growth Forest film shoot

  • Photo shoot with biologist and author Wayne McCrory, with three generations of Sinixt in old growth for the Conservation International organization to profile the protection of old growth forests.

Repatriation of archaeologic and anthropologic items to Sinixt

  • Ian and Kathy Sheppard arranged the return of a stone tool found in the basement of a house in Trail.  They also rescued and donated an ancient basket.  Both objects are held for the Autonomous Sinixt by the Rossland Museum.

Creation of rebuttal documents for ONA and CCT claims to Autonomous Sinixt territory

  • Many surrounding First Nations are claiming Sinixt təmxʷúlaʔxʷ through the colonial land claims process as Sinixt themselves are considered “extinct” under the Indian Act.  We have been responding to the Okanagan Nation Alliance’s statements in particular, which tell settlers that they are the correct body to ally with and how to do this.

Installation of Sinixt-inspired sculpture in Winlaw

  • David Ducharme’s vivid sculpture of Sinixt paddling a sturgeon-nosed canoe was permanently installed in downtown Winlaw along with signage about Sinixt.  We attended the unveiling.

Talks and Appearances

  • Yoga Festival Welcome and workshop 
  • Elk Root Conservation workshop presentation
  • Heartwood homeschool group talk at Vallican camp
  • Presentations to school districts 10 and 51
  • Community Truth and Reconciliation Day presentation, Grand Forks

Consultations

  • Salmo community planning consultations 
  • Cohost community building event with BC schizophrenic society at Nakusp Hot Springs
  • Save What’s Left committee 
  • Rosebud Lake residents watershed

Change of Administrator

In the fall we transitioned from our first ever Administrator Jade Jeffers who went on pregnancy leave to our new Administrator. Kris Henry is learning the ropes and bringing her special skill set to all our work.