Photo credit: Shelly Boyd
Modern Governance
The Desautel case confirmed that the Arrow Lakes tribe of the CCT is a rights-holding successor group to the Sinixt, one with members who descend directly from Sinixt ancestors. To date, we are the only legally recognized successor group to the Sinixt, but as discussed elsewhere we know that there are Sinixt descendants living under colonially-imposed systems of governance on both sides of the border, including among the communities of the Okanagan Nation.
Our Sinixt traditional governance had leaders whose primary work was to listen carefully to all sides, and search for areas of consensus. Read more here. Though consensus can be a slow and challenging process, we continue that spirit of leadership today, although now, we must function within structures imposed on us by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The Arrow Lakes people are one of the 12 member tribes of the Colville Confederated Tribes. The Colville Business Council conducts and guides all social and economic programs for all 12 of the tribes. Each district of the reservation elects two members to council. Each member serves a two-year term, with alternating re-election. Arrow Lakes people often serve on council, particularly as representatives of the Inchelium district. Learn more.
Sinixt Office Opening in Nelson, BC
On October 25, 2023, we celebrated the opening of our Fish & Wildlife office in Nelson, BC on our traditional and unceded territory.
We also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nelson Museum, Achives & Gallery, who will act as a repository and caretaker for Sinixt artifacts that have been recovered from the area.
