skʷnkʷinm̓ Krista Lindley
way p isnqsilxʷ
isnqlxʷskʷist skʷnkʷinm̓, kn̓ tum uł skʷuy̓. Kn̓ t̓l̓ sn̓ƛ̓xuxtán. kn̓ kaʔłup̓n̓kst uł naqs spintk. Intum Bernedette Louis iʔ skʷists. Inmistəm Henry Allison Jr iʔskʷists. Istmtimaʔ uł inkikw̓aʔ Diane uł tw̓i Walter Louis iʔskʷskʷistselx. In̓qaqnaʔ uł isx̌ax̌paʔ Barbra uł Henry Allison Sr iʔ skʷskʷístselx. Isx̌ilw̓í Lonnie Lindley iʔ skʷists uł kʷu kł kmusməs iʔ sqwəsqwasiʔatət. Lozen, Quill, Takoda, uł Beau iʔ skʷskʷístsəlx. ʕapnáʔ kʷu kʷliw̓t l̓ sn̓qatqłəniw̓t.
skʷnkʷinm̓ Krista Lindley, is the daughter of Bernedette Louis and Henry Allison Jr and the granddaughter to Diane and Walter Louis and Barbra and Henry Allison Sr. Krista is a wife and mother of four. She is the executive director and a co-founder of the tiʔ kʷu tiʔ x̌ilx Indigenous Association. Mentored by Michele Johnson of the Syilx Language House to start a not-for-profit association that created a language program with the main purpose of immersing young children and their parents to speak the language through a play-based learning model. As well as teaching adult language classes that support the parents with language learning opportunities with added child-care.
skʷnkʷinm̓ is a learner as well as a teacher of the n̓syilxcn̓ curriculum that was created by the Salish School of Spokane. From a young age she always had a hunger to become a speaker of n̓syilxcn̓. She is a determined mother who is motivated to learn the language for her children and future generations. Her biggest achievement is that she opened the door to language which was also a step-in healing from some of the intergenerational traumas suffered through the colonization of the land and of the indigenous people across turtle island.
st̓aʔqʷál̓qs Hailey Causton
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In 2020 st̓aʔqʷál̓qs graduated from the University of British Columbia Okanagan with a Bachelors of Arts majoring in Indigenous Studies. With mentorship from the Syilx Language House səxʷt̓úms and st̓aʔqʷál̓qs co-founded tiʔ kʷu tiʔ x̌ilx Indigenous Association. After attending language classes together these two young parents realized a gap in accessing language as families. st̓aʔqʷál̓qs started her language journey in 2010 after meeting her mistəm, Grouse Barnes. Programs like the Paul Creek Language Curriculum now the Salish School of Spokane Curriculum, En'owkin Center, Inchelium Language Association, Syilx Language House and UBCO all contributed to her language journey, not to mention the countless camps, programs and various conversations. st̓aʔqʷál̓qs and her partner have three young boys, Kasimiwt, Ksultikn and Nxsils. She is a co-founder of tiʔ kʷu tiʔ x̌ilx and is committed too assisting community and nation members in accessing opportunities to part take in language and cultural activities.
stk̓masq̓t Skye Fay
way̓, iskwíst stk̓masq̓t. Hello, my name is Skye (she/her). I am Syilx and Metís. I was born in the Okanagan and I spent many of my growing up years on the prairies. I recently moved back home with my husband and 3 of our children. We are an unschooling family focusing on land-based education and language learning.
tiʔ kʷu tiʔ x̌ilx Indigenous Association Board of Directors
Diane Louis
Okanagan Indian Band
Ernest Jack
Ernest “Stmilx” Jack is a Penticton Indian Band (PIB) Member. He has learned Nsyilxcn 1 and Captikwl 1 in the Fall, Winter & Spring 2019-20. He looks forward to more Nsyilxcn learning in the future. Ernest has extensive Board experience in supervising the activities of an organization. He serves as President of the First Nation Administrators Association since 2007-present, has been the President of the PIB Development Corporation and served on the BC Assessment Board of Directors, a Crown Corporation. He enjoys the outdoors by golfing and skiing with his wife Sharon (Smxikn).
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Sarah Alexis
Skawílx, Sarah Alexis is a graduate student at the University of British Columbia Okanagan. Her research area focuses on Syilx water responsibilities. She has been a strong advocate for language revitalization and water governance throughout the Syilx Nation.
Jasmine Peone
Jasmine Peone practices and works in the revitalization of Syilx language and culture. She is also an Archaeology Field Technician for Westbank First Nation.
Dina Brown
Dina Brown’s Nsyilxcən name is k̓ʷak̓ʷíslaʔqn given to her by her late great grandfather Edward Fred. Dina is Syilx from nk̓maplqs, ‘Head of the Lake’ but lives and works in the Similkameen in the health care sector as an occupational therapist in community and long term care. Dina works closely with elders and folks with disabilities. Dina’s stm̓tímaʔ, maternal grandmother, Rose Marchand (Bessette) spoke to her in Nsyilxcən as a little girl. Since then, she has been learning more Nsyilxcən to become a better speaker. Dina is passionate about the language, culture, health and health care, wellness and living on the Red Road.