nk’lxwcin Chad Eneas is a young Traditional Knowledge Keeper (TEK) of the syilx Okanagan Nation and has worked closely with the spiritual leaders and knowledge keepers of our communities. His kinship ties through southern British Columbia and Washington State, USA span from the last Salmon Chief at Kettle Falls to the last Chief of the Northern Arrow Lakes. With the responsibility being handed down through mentorship and training he will uphold those teachings and protocols to host and facilitate a number of our ceremonies. Chad is also trained in the facilitation of an Okanagan process known as the Enowkinwixw, founded in syilx Okanagan captikwł (oral literature).
As a past Penticton Indian Band Councillor and Chief, he continues to support the revitalization of language, culture and syilx land use activities in the restoration of roles and responsibilities within the community and the land. Chad is employed as the Syilx Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) coordinator with En’owkin Centre. He has assisted in the development of the Penticton Indian Band’s Comprehensive Community Plan, the development of the PIB Land Use Plan, along with the development of the Okanagan Nation Alliance Natural Resources Council, the Sockeye Recovery Management Plan and the Sockeye Harvesting Plan. As an apprentice to calyx, he provides spiritual cultural support through the Okanagan Nation Alliance in carrying out the ceremonies as directed by our spiritual leaders.
Chad is Chair of the Indigenous Knowledge Council with Bringing the Salmon Home: The Columbia River Salmon Reintroduction Initiative.
Chad’s passions are to be in the mountains, practicing traditional activities in harvesting and ceremony. In his 25-year rodeo career, he has traveled all over North America in bull riding and saddle bronc competitions. The meaning of his life is to live, and what’s meaningful in his life is the land, the language and the people.
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nk’lxwncin
