way̓ p isnəqsílxʷ naʔɬ islx̌láx̌t
My name is iitsakitsapoyaki (Carrie Terbasket). I’m from the Lower Similkameen Valley, and am part of Lower Similkameen Indian Band and the Okanagan Nation. I currently live in sn̓pin̓tktn̓ (Penticton) with my husband and our three children. My parents are Brenda Terbasket and twi Jim Terbasket; my paternal grandparents are twi Betty and twi Paul Terbasket of Blind Creek. My Blackfoot name, given to me by my father-in-law, means ‘standing above woman.’ My English name was given to me by my Dad to honour my great aunt, Carrie Allison. I have spent almost 20 years involved in many circles advocating for our lands, waters, and more-than-human relatives. I have come to clearly know that centering grassroots People is our way home to ourselves as sqilxw. I am also a university student in my 4th year of my Bachelor of Arts majoring in Cultural Studies.
As the Syilx Okanagan Outreach and Engagement Organizer with Bringing the Salmon Home: The Columbia River Salmon Reintroduction Initiative, I get to talk with our People about what bringing our salmon relatives home truly means, and create Indigenous-led opportunities for involvement and innovative, inclusive plans for action.
