PARTNER NATION

Okanagan Nation Alliance

PROJECT TYPE

Governance Foundations

STATUS

In Progress

Project Overview

Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA), Tribal Council for the Sylix Nation, is facilitating the Syilx Nation Data Roadmap, which outlines a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach to strengthening data sovereignty, governance, and management across the Nation. Its development was guided by:

  • Understanding that Syilx data stories is cared for through a nested model of protections, reflecting layered responsibilities (individuals, families, communities, Nation, broader public)

  • Existing Syilx Nation Tribal Council resolutions on data, information, and knowledge 

  • Nation-identified priorities and feedback on data/information needs

  • A data capacity and needs assessment with ONA staff

  • Engagement with Nation members and leadership on the draft roadmap

“The Nation Roadmap is a Framework of where we have been and where we want to go. We can continue to build on this map and further define our priorities.”

— Nation Member at a Leadership Gathering

Sylix Data Roadmap

The roadmap reflects the Nation’s data journey, identifying shared priorities and supports required to move the work forward.

It is grounded in five core foundations:

1. Data Rights and Responsibilities

2. Data Governance

3. Data & Research

4. Protective Data Tools

5. Data Sharing & Communication

“The Roadmap brings all the pieces together and it helps to visualize what needs to happen and in what sequence. It’s all here.

— Nation Member at a Community Open House

The Syilx Data Values and Principles

The Syilx Data Values and Principles lay the foundation for Nation data sovereignty in practice. This work is grounded in captikʷɬ (collection of stories about laws, customs, values, and principles), community voices, the Four Food Chiefs teachings, and nsyilxcən language, ensuring that it reflects Syilx data caretakership.

Through storytelling process, the Nation is defining how data is protected, shared, and used in ways that support community wellbeing and self-determination. This work is a foundational component of the broader Syilx Data Roadmap, ensuring that future data governance, management, and implementation efforts are clearly defined by Syilx priorities.

This work affirms the distinct Title and Rights position of the Syilx Nation in relation to data sovereignty, recognizing that governance over data is an inherent responsibility given by the Creator and Coyote throughout the territory. Engagement brought together elders, nsyilxcən speakers, knowledge keepers, Nation members, leadership, and technical staff through a series of facilitated sessions.


How the work is being done: 

  • nsyilxcən-speakers led

  • Leadership engagement (Chief Executive Council)

  • Guided by captikʷɬ 

  • Storytelling Nation-forums 

  • Syilx research methodologies & data analysis

  • Continuous group reflections

“Our knowledge is always holding law and moves in circular ways for our existence.”

— Elder