Syilx Perspective On Ecology

The Syilx perspective on Earth ecology has some similarities to the wide spread belief in society that there are four elements-Earth, Air, Fire and Water.

With many teachings about the four elements and what they each represent to the people as a whole parallels the Syilx view. An example: Earth is the land and where we live and Air allows us to breathe. Fire is warmth or electricity and Water makes up most of our bodies and the Earth. Another example: The four elements are the balance between and the connection amongst all living things. With out these "elements" nothing can survive.

Many such teachings are accepted in modern society and such teachings have been accredited to the Indigenous populations of North America. While the Syilx people endorse these concepts, these are not in the strict sense Syilx concepts. The concept of "earth" was not divided into four 'elements' in our cultural beliefs although those elements are perceived as fundamental to all things. When our elders were asked to define and describe the four elements, separate from each other, in Okanagan territory there was confusion. Okanagan people do not consider Earth, Air, Fire and Water as separate elements at all, they are the life force of all things, each with their own power.

While the Okanagan elders would endorse the terms previously used to describe the elements, our Knowledge of the way the physical world "appears" is founded on how these elements are "related" or "bound" together to be the living "earth" which makes life possible. The Earth is not just the land that we live on "We as living things are “ earth ” in that we are made up of the very same foundational elements. "There is is so much more to it than that" we were told by the collective of elders and traditional knowledge keepers. "Earth", to the Okanagan people, "isn't just dirt to walk on here, or piles of rock there. Air is more than just being there and keeping us alive, Fire does more than keep us warm and water isn't just something to drink or swim in." While they could agree that those are a small part (described by Syilx elders as the size of 'a pebble') of what Earth's ecology means to us, the idea of the four elements as something "separate" from each other and from us is not a Syilx perspective.

Note: We would like to add that we are not disputing other explanations, opinions and beliefs on this subject. We are a people of reason and respect and do respect any reasons another person may have to support the beliefs that they hold. We respect that each person is entitled to their own beliefs and ask for the same respect in return. This is our chance to tell you, what these mean to us-as Okanagan's.