suiki?st Pauline Terbasket is a proud Syilx woman, and Executive Director of the Okanagan Nation Alliance, a post she has held for over 20 years. The ONA currently serves as Host Secretariat for Bringing the Salmon Home: The Columbia River Salmon Reintroduction Initiative.
Pauline is passionate about Nation building and building partnerships and has served on many volunteer boards, including a term as Chair of the First Peoples’ Cultural Foundation. A strong advocate for tackling the issues impeding the prosperity and wellness of Indigenous people, her work addresses the full spectrum from children, youth, families, and elders to language, culture, health governance, and traditional foods.Â
She loves to share the story of how the Syilx Okanagan Nation spearheaded the return of the Okanagan sockeye salmon from the brink of extinction. Two of her current passions are advocating for Indigenous food sovereignty through the international Slow Food, Slow Fish movement, and championing the BC-based IndigenEYEZ empowerment program.
