Projects

The T’kikstn Project is an effort by Autonomous Sinixt revitalize our Interior Salish Dialect, Snslxcin. Our work includes reintroducing the names we use for the many wondrous places we inhabit and the things we interact with on our təmxʷúlaʔx (land) and siwɬkʷ (water). We share this knowledge with all so that it might become common knowledge again and foster more meaningful connections in our təmxʷúlaʔxʷ . In 2023, we published the first ever book in the Snslxcin, Captíkʷɬ Sw̓ar̓ák̕xən (Maa Press), the Frog Mountain story.

Our language revitalization work is currently focused on language training for our two Sinixt language warriors as well as planning, documentation and resource development.

Check out this website which features some stories, art and words from the book “Not Extinct: Keeping the Sinixt Way” at keepingthesinixtway.ca. Or get yourself a copy of the real book HERE

How can I help?

Amplify our voice by….

• Use and share the resources Autonomous Sinixt put out to promote the resurgence of our dialect.
• Learn some of the basic words and names so that you too can better understand for yourself how they are tied to this beautiful place we call home.
• Donate

Sinixt Children’s Book Series

We are working with authors and illustrators to create a series of books aimed at children from pre-school to youth exploring Sinixt captikʷɬ (the creation stories of the Sinixt) as well as contemporary Indigenous themes. In 2023, we published the first ever book in the Snslxcin, the Sinixt dialect, Captíkʷɬ Sw̓ar̓ák̕xən (Maa Press), the Frog Mountain story. Donations will go to editing, illustration, design and printing for two manuscripts that are ready for publication.

How can I help?

• funding is still needed to develop more books in the series and keep the existing ones in print.
• buy and share these books with the children in your circle.

“Red Road Home: the Audio-biography of a Sinixt Activist” by Marilyn James.

We are creating a unique “book” which is actually an audio, textual, and art project with the working title of “Red Road Home: the Audio-biography of a Sinixt Activist”. Initial funding for recording stories was provided by the Canadian Council for the Arts. As of 2024 we are working on audio editing, finishing the art work and finding avenues to manifest this unusual work. Donations will go to the design, costs associated with the web version and printing the paper version of this fascinating memoir.

How can I help?

• Buy the book when it comes out!
• Donate

The counter-map of the Sinixt təmxʷúlaʔxʷ is an important project. It funded by the First Peoples’ Cultural Council and is available through maapress.ca, stores and museums. A interactive digital map is available at sinixt.geolive.ca

How can I help?

• Support and Educate yourself by purchasing a Sinixt map from maapress
• Donate

We are actively working to re-establish traditional Sinixt governance systems based in Sinixt laws of whuplakn and smum iem. These laws centre around the governance circle of Matriarchs. The Circle of Matriarchs work is to uphold our laws, enforce the Land Declaration as well as setting up protocols for settlers and neighbouring Nations to follow when in our təmxʷúlaʔxʷ and when interacting with our governance body. In support of capacity building for Autonomous Sinixt, we also host Decolonization/Allyship gatherings and workshops for settlers.>

How can I help?

• educate yourself and your community about our laws
• participate in upholding our laws by engaging with violations to our lands and waters

In conjunction with the REACH Gallery Museum in Vancouver, we are working with curator Julia Lum on a project called “Reimagining the Canada-US Border”. We hope to create a sturgeon-nosed canoe installation for this project. Donations are needed to develop this idea and apply for grants to carry it out.

How can I help?

• grant writing assistance
• canoe-making expertise

We are developing live and virtual exhibits, and working on repatriations with various museums, including the Nakusp and District Museum and the Rossland Museum We also provide Sinixt input for a huge range of projects including the ‘Xast ixi med sin’ native plants garden and the camas field in Trail, the Mxiɬp/Cedar Trail in Rossland and mural by artist Petra Hekkenberg at the Goat Mountain Children’s Centre in New Denver.

How can I help?

• engage your local museum in coming into right relationship with Autonomous Sinixt
• help your local museum create innovative and interesting exhibits in collaboration with Autonomous Sinixt
• engage with your local school board and schools about coming into right relationship with Autonomous Sinixt
• create an interpretive project for your own community

We are working with authors and illustrators to create a series of books aimed at children from pre-school to youth exploring Sinixt captikʷɬ (the creation stories of the Sinixt) as well as contemporary Indigenous themes such as the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. Donations will go to editing, illustration, design and printing.

How can I help?

• funding is still needed to develop more books in the series and keep the existing ones in print
• buy and share these books with the children in your circle

We are creating an audio, textual, and art project with the working title of “Maps of My World: The Lifestory of Marilyn James”, funded by the Canadian Council for the Arts. Donations will go to the design, costs associated with the web version and printing the paper version of this fascinating memoir.

How can I help?

• Buy the book when it comes out!
• Donate