Okanagan wild horses are helping Indigenous youth heal and reconnect with cultural traditions
In the heart of the Syilx Okanagan Nation, the sound of horses whinnying and the laughter of youth express a way to wellness for extended families and tmxʷúlaxʷ (“the land that takes care of us”). By weaving together traditional Sqilxw (a term for Interior Salish and Indigenous) equestrianism, language and connection to tmixʷ (all living things), this first-of-its-kind equine-assisted therapy initiative in Thompson Okanagan responds to the need for culturally grounded wellness frameworks for Indigenous youth.
Central to the Youth, Elders, Ecology, Horses, and Health (YEEHAH) project are Dr. Bill Cohen, assistant professor at UBC Okanagan School of Education (OSE), nk’lxwcin Chad Eneas, En’owkin Centre Syilx Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) coordinator, and postdoctoral research fellow and project manager, Dr. Róisín Seifert, the En’owkin Centre, Sqilxw youth, elders and parents, and snkɬc̓aʔsqáx̌aʔ—the Syilx name for “horse which is as old as the language.”
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