Interior Design 180 Review

Pamela Ethridge
INTERIOR_DESIGN
INTERIOR_DESIGN_180_REVIEW
== Status today ==
The Sinixt today live primarily on the Colville Indian Reservation in Washington, where they
form part of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, which has governmental
recognition as an American Indian Tribe.=== Legal extinction in Canada ===
Presently, some Sinixt people live in their traditional territory on the "Canadian side" of the
49th parallel, mainly in Vallican in the Slocan Valley, or scattered throughout neighbouring
lands in the area now known as British Columbia.They are not recognized by the Canadian
Government, and were officially declared "extinct" by Canada in 1956 under the provisions
of the Indian Act.When asked about this extinction in 1995, Ron Irwin, then Minister of
Indian Affairs and Northern Development, stated that "The Arrow Lakes Band ceased to
exist as a band for the purpose of the Indian Act...It does not, however, mean that the Sinixt
ceased to exist as a tribal group."(August 9, 1995).There were more than 250 Sinixt in
Washington State at the time the Canadian Government declared the Sinixt extinct, along
with other self-identifying Sinixt who had relocated with relatives to the Canadian part of
the Okanagan region, some Sinixt descendants had joined the Spallumcheen Indian Band
(Splats'in First Nation) of the Secwepemc (Shuswap) peoples.=== Land claims in Canada
===
Members of Sinixt Nation have contested this extinction, and are taking steps to reclaim
their land rights in British Columbia, where about 80% of their ancestral territory
lies.Further complicating the question of Canadian territory claimed by the Sinixt are the
overlapping claims of Ktunaxa traditional territory.The Ktunaxa Nation is currently
negotiating a treaty with the Canadian federal government and the British Columbia
government in the region, particularly regarding the lower Kootenay River valley around
Castlegar and Nelson, and all lands within the curve of the Columbia as far north as Mica
Dam and all of the Slocan Valley.In a 1994 presentation to the United Nations, Sinixt
Appointed Spokesperson Marilyn James, along with the Official Vallican Heritage Site
Caretaker, Robert Watt stated that "Neither our ancestors nor the members of Sinixt Nation
have ever relinquished our inherent rights to any individual, any government or any other
organization, including other native tribes or native nations.Similar to the conflicting
Ktunaxa land claims, territorial claims shown on maps published by the Okanagan Nation
Alliance, of which the Colville Tribes is the American-side member, do not show Sinixt
territory, instead showing the region as part of Okanagan traditional territory.On July 28,
2008, "directors of the Sinixt Nation Society have filed a lawsuit claiming aboriginal title to
Crown land in the Kootenays."Their lawyer David Aaron describes the intent of the action as
"asserting a right (for the Sinixt) to be consulted, and to consent to all uses or dispositions
of Crown land within that territory," and notes that private lands in the area will not be
affected by the claim.=== Sinixt as "Urban Indians" ===
Many Lakes (Sinixt) feel that to live ethically one must follow a moral code which maintains
a reciprocal relationship between humans, the land, and the realm of spirits in which the
ancestors dwell.(Ancestor) Eva Orr called this 'keeping the Lakes' way.'The ideal of keeping
the Lakes' way requires that people not take for their own gain but instead give back by
following a cultural ethic of egalitarianism, reciprocity and peaceful living.Orr was
acknowledged as spiritual leader—a klakwilt.Marilyn James states that Orr got her
authority as a klakwilt by being culturally whole, linguistically connected to Sinixt culture,

and bringing people to spirit.The Sinixt connection to their traditional territory is
underscored by the wbuplak'n, the highest territorial and cultural legal doctrine of the
Sinixt, which sets out their territorial responsibility to all land, water, plant, animal and
cultural resources within the Sinixt territory.Sinixt in the group's northern territory host a
bi-weekly radio program, Sinixt Radio, on Nelson, B.C.Community Radio station CJLY-
FM.The northern Sinixt also host an annual Barter Fair every fall in Vallican, B.C.The event
features live music and performance, and it is set up to encourage local Bartering of goods
and services.=== Recognition of hunting rights ===
On 27 March 2017, the Provincial Court of British Columbia ruled in favor of Sinixt member
Rick DeSautel, a resident of the Colville reservation, over a dispute with Canadian
authorities on hunting in Canadian territory.The ruling effectively recognized the Sinixt as
having rights in Canada, despite being declared extinct in 1956.On May 2, 2019, the BC
Court of Appeal upheld Desautel's hunting rights.The Supreme Court of Canada agreed 24
October 2019, to hear the B.C.government's appeal of this decision.On April 23, 2021, the
Supreme Court of Canada dismissed the appeal, upholding Mr. Desautel’s right to exercise
Aboriginal rights under section 35 of the Constitution and recognizing the Lakes Tribe, a
modern successor of the Sinixt, as an “Aboriginal people of Canada.”
== Notable Sinixt people ==
In Washington, one particular family of Sinixt have figured prominently among recent-day
"urban Indians".

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Pamela Ethridge

recognition as an American Indian Tribe.=== Legal extinction in Canada ===

organization, including other native tribes or native nations.Similar to the conflicting

affected by the claim.=== Sinixt as "Urban Indians" ===

following a cultural ethic of egalitarianism, reciprocity and peaceful living.Orr was

authority as a klakwilt by being culturally whole, linguistically connected to Sinixt culture,

and services.=== Recognition of hunting rights ===

authorities on hunting in Canadian territory.The ruling effectively recognized the Sinixt as

modern successor of the Sinixt, as an “Aboriginal people of Canada.”

== Notable Sinixt people ==

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