Bringing the salmon home: a study of cross-cultural collaboration in the Syilx Okanagan Territory of British Columbia

In this study we explore the unique tripartite collaboration involving the Syilx Okanagan Nation Alliance and the provincial and federal governments, which has been pivotal in restoring Okanagan sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka in British Columbia, Canada. Using qualitative research methods, we analyze the multidimensional challenges the tripartite partnership has faced over its 25-year history, emphasizing the role of traditional ecological knowledge, adaptive co-management, and social learning. We find that a conducive authorizing environment, shared goals, and an unexpected source of financing allowed the Okanagan Sockeye Program to launch. Once underway, the partnership relied on adaptive co-management strategies to navigate inherent complexities and uncertainties. Over time, the attainment of shared objectives and capacity bridging among the partners fostered trust and confidence, enhancing the sustainability of the alliance. Acknowledging the Okanagan Nation Alliance as a legitimate government and maintaining equal decision-making powers were also critical factors; however, Syilx traditional ecological knowledge, as a holistic knowledge-practice-belief system, has been the sustained driving force behind the partnership. Over the multi-decade trajectory, the alliance grappled with institutional complexities surrounding jurisdictional conflicts, power imbalances, and systemic inequities. At a time when Indigenous co-management in Canada is at a crossroads, and demands for Indigenous environmental governance are only increasing, this study offers some insights. Our research invites further exploration into the successes and failures of Indigenous environmental governance and co-management schemes, with a view to informing future policy and programming.