The incorporation of sməlqmix-syilx c̓apti̓kʷɬ, sm'im'a̓y and nsyilxcən language in land governance, protection, and management

"Indigenous peoples make up 5% of the world's population but protect 80% of the world's biodiversity" (COP 15, 2023). This close relationship to the environment means that Indigenous peoples are often the first and most severely affected by environmental degradation, yet insecure tenure rights over lands and territories results in exclusion from environmental decision-making, which further exacerbates socio-economic vulnerabilities and marginalization. For the sməlqmix-syilx (Similkameen-Okanagan People) traditional knowledge transfer is shared through c̓aptikʷɬ (oral story systems), sm'im'a̓y (true histories), and the nsyilxcən high language terms as a process to combat language and cultural heritage disruption and uphold Indigenous resurgence. This research project explored how language, culture, and traditional ecological knowledge inform land governance, protection, and management of the sməlqmix territory. Our research process included 3 elder/knowledge keeper interviews following Indigenous storywork methodology (Archibald, 2008) and document review. Our analysis utilized the 4 Food Chiefs framework along with research memos (e.g., observations and insights from our team collaboration). Our findings include: sqilxʷscawt as an integrative leadership process that is restorative and regenerative toward the natural world and is a transformative social process, that is inclusive of ideas, processes, and skills.