Okanagan Nation Alliance

What Okanagan Nation Alliance does

The Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) is a First Nations tribal council and self-governing political organization representing the Syilx Okanagan Nation, founded in 1981 and incorporated under the Society Act of British Columbia in 1997. It serves eight member communities — seven in British Columbia (Okanagan Indian Band, Osoyoos Indian Band, Penticton Indian Band, Upper Nicola Band, Upper and Lower Similkameen Indian Bands, and Westbank First Nation) and the Colville Confederated Tribes in Northern Washington State — with its mandate to collectively advance and assert Syilx Title and Rights over the Syilx Okanagan Nation Territory, which spans approximately 69,000 square kilometers.

ONA delivers services rather than commercial products across five core program areas: Fisheries (anchored by the kł cp̓əlk̓ stim̓ Hatchery, salmon broodstock management, and Columbia River salmon reintroduction), Natural Resources Management (wildlife, water stewardship under the siwɬkʷ Water Declaration, and land management), Wellness (health, family decision-making, youth mental health, Jordan's Principle coordination, and residential school commemoration), Education and Language Revitalization (nsyilxcən language preservation, bursary programs, and UBC Okanagan partnerships), and Governance and Advocacy (Chiefs Executive Council, Columbia River Treaty negotiations, and the Okanagan Similkameen Collaborative Leadership Table).

ONA does not sell commercial products or services and does not publicly disclose revenue. It is funded through federal and provincial government programs under the 1984 Cabinet approved Tribal Council policy and through strategic partnerships with entities including BC Hydro (Enduring Relationship, signed August 26, 2011, with a $10 million direct award target for Syilx businesses), the Columbia River Salmon Reintroduction Initiative (a 2019 five-party agreement with $2.5 million in technical funding), First Nations Health Authority, Interior Health Authority, and the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources. Day-to-day operations are managed by ONA staff under the strategic direction of the Chiefs Executive Council, and the organization operates four offices across Westbank, Penticton, and Castlegar, British Columbia.

Name

Okanagan Nation Alliance

Legal name

Okanagan Nation Alliance

Website

https://syilx.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Okanagan Nation Alliance is a First Nations tribal council founded in 1981, representing eight Syilx Okanagan Nation member communities across British Columbia and Washington State. It delivers collective governance, fisheries restoration, natural resources management, wellness, and language revitalization programs funded by government grants and strategic partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Indigenous Governance and Community Services

NAICS

American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal Governments (921150), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Minority, Indigenous & Disability Rights (BPADAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Stakeholder Engagement, Indigenous/Tribal Consultation & Social Impact (SIA) (EUAHAAAH), Environmental Permitting & Impact Assessment (EIA/NEPA) (BPAIAMAK)

Keywords

• Indigenous governance services
• Fisheries management programs
• Natural resources stewardship
• Wellness and health programs
• Language revitalization services

Headquarters

HQ city

Westbank

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) is a First Nations tribal council serving as the collective government for the eight Syilx Okanagan Nation member communities across British Columbia and Washington State. It delivers fisheries restoration (including kł cp̓əlk̓ stim̓ Hatchery), natural resources and wildlife management, wellness and family support programs, nsyilxcən language revitalization, and Title and Rights governance and treaty advocacy.

Product overview

The Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) is a tribal council representing Syilx Okanagan Nation member communities, providing governmental and community services rather than commercial technology products. Its service portfolio includes Fisheries Programs (salmon hatchery and restoration), Natural Resources Management (wildlife, water, land), Wellness Programs (health, family services, mental health), Education and Language Revitalization (nsyilxcən language preservation), and Governance and Advocacy (Title and Rights, treaty negotiations).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fisheries Programs
• Natural Resources Management
• Wellness Programs Holistic wellness services including health programs, family decision making, early years development, youth mental health services, Jordan's Principle coordination, Purple Ribbon Campaign, Okanagan Nation Response Team, and residential school commemoration and support for Syilx members.
• Education and Language Revitalization nsyilxcən language preservation delivered through partnerships with En'owkin Centre, Paul Creek Language Association, and First Peoples Language and Culture Council, including community-based language curriculum development, immersion initiatives, and the #WeLoveLanguage Campaign for Syilx members.
• Governance and Advocacy Title and Rights advancement, Chiefs Executive Council governance, Columbia River Treaty negotiations, and coordination of the Okanagan Similkameen Collaborative Leadership Table for watershed governance involving over 130 elected leaders.

Quantifiable outcome

• 330,000 sockeye fry released throughout Syilx Okanagan Nation Territory in 2026
• +4 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Okanagan Similkameen Collaborative Leadership Table signatoriescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 November 2024Memorandum of Agreement signed November 15, 2024 uniting over 130 elected leaders from Syilx communities and local governments (City of Penticton, Vernon, District of Lake Country, Peachland, Summerland, Coldstream, Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, Township of Spallumcheen, Town of Oliver, Osoyoos, City of Armstrong, Town of Princeton, Village of Keromeos).
• Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Syilx Nation partnered with CIER in 2022 to initiate the collaborative process that led to the Okanagan Similkameen Collaborative Leadership Table.
• Columbia River Salmon Reintroduction Initiative (Ktunaxa Nation, Secwepemc Nation, Province of BC, Government of Canada)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 July 2019Five-party agreement signed July 29, 2019 for salmon reintroduction into Upper Columbia River Basin. Initial three-year agreement with $2.5 million in technical funding. First of its kind between Indigenous Nations and senior governments for salmon restoration.
• Interior Health AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 June 2012Letter of Understanding signed June 13th, 2012 for engagement, planning, collaboration, consultation and partnerships for improved health outcomes through shared decision-making.
• BC HydrocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 August 2011Enduring Relationship agreement signed August 26, 2011 at Glimpse Lake. BC Hydro committed to new era of reconciliation, trust and meaningful strategic engagement for all activities on Syilx territories. Includes $10 million direct award target for Syilx businesses from BC Hydro's Ten Year Capital Plan. Benefits include lump sum payments, job and training opportunities, regular project involvement, and clean energy opportunities.
• First Nations Health AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth service delivery organization responsible for administering health programs for First Nations in BC. ONA partners with FNHA to plan, design, manage and fund health programs serving Syilx communities.
• Ministry of Children and Family DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerONA works with MCFD to coordinate effective services for at-risk children and families, with goal of evolving toward more autonomy in caring for vulnerable children and families in a culturally-appropriate way.
• University of British Columbia OkanaganminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for teacher candidate Community Field Experience, cultural safety research, and wellness program development. ONA hosted Welcome Ceremony at UBCO to welcome university to Syilx territory.
• Slow Food Thompson Okanagan ConviviumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for regional traditional food systems, security and resilience. Slow Food Okanagan Sockeye Presidium aims to protect, enhance and conserve sockeye salmon while promoting restoration strategies.
• FortisBCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEstablished Education for Life Award bursary ($1500-$3000) for ONA members pursuing post-secondary education since 2009. Partnership formed during Terasen Gas Southern Crossing Pipeline construction.
• EMB Management Ltd.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerEstablished Building a Better Future bursary program with $10,000 in awards introduced in 2022. Includes Engineering Scholarship ($3500), Business Bursary ($1500), Surveying/Geomatics Bursary ($1500), and Walking My Learning Forward Award ($1500).
• Okanagan Collaborative Conservation Program (OCCP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOCCP partners with ONA to host the Okanagan Similkameen Collaborative Leadership Table.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Ktunaxa Nation Council: BC-based tribal council governing the Ktunaxa Nation, with similar treaty negotiation participation, salmon reintroduction co-management, and self-government structure to ONA — and a direct partner in the 2019 Columbia River Salmon Reintroduction Initiative.
• Secwepemc Nation (Shuswap Nation Tribal Council): BC tribal council representing Secwepemc communities with parallel fisheries, natural resources, and self-government functions. Co-signatory with ONA on the 2019 Columbia River Salmon Reintroduction Initiative.
• Tsilhqot'in National Government: BC tribal council representing Tsilhqot'in communities, with comparable Title and Rights advocacy mandate, member-driven governance structure, and federal/provincial funding model — and a leading Aboriginal title case precedent relevant to ONA's territorial work.
• Nisg̱a'a Nation: BC self-governing First Nation with modern treaty, comparable governance scale, language and cultural revitalization mandate, and natural resources co-management functions parallel to ONA.
• Haida Nation: BC coastal First Nation governing body with similar self-determination, language preservation (Haida language parallels nsyilxcən revitalization), and natural resources co-management mandate to ONA.
• Métis Nation British Columbia: BC Indigenous governance organization representing Métis communities with parallel provincial government engagement, rights-based advocacy mandate, and member-services model comparable to ONA.
• BC Assembly of First Nations: Regional Indigenous political organization representing BC First Nations with comparable advocacy, treaty support, and government liaison functions to ONA but operating at the provincial rather than single-Nation scale.
• Colville Confederated Tribes: US tribal government representing Syilx member communities in Washington State, directly connected to ONA through the 2010 Syilx Unity Declaration and shared nsyilxcən language and territory across the Canada-US border.

Broad incumbents

• Assembly of First Nations: National umbrella organization representing First Nations across Canada with policy advocacy and government liaison functions that parallel ONA's governance and Title and Rights mandate, but at a national rather than regional scale.

Others

• First Nations Health Authority: BC First Nations health service delivery organization that is a direct partner of ONA's wellness programs. Not a peer in governance terms, but operates a comparable member-driven mandate in health service planning and delivery for BC First Nations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Okanagannation
• Facebookfacebook.com/OkanaganNationAlliance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Okanagan Nation Alliance