Athena Bonneau, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
From an early age, suiki?st (Pauline Terbasket) knew there was something more for her in her community.
Being raised in a culture where women are highly valued, she was encouraged to speak up and embrace her natural talent for leadership.
It hasnsa国际传媒檛 always been easy, but suiki?st has become a strong advocate sa国际传媒� serving numerous Indigenous organizations and using her strong voice for the good of her people.
sa国际传媒淧art of that journey has been my own liberation sa国际传媒� becoming a syilx woman leader in my community,sa国际传媒� said suiki?st, a member of Lower Similkameen Indian Band (LSIB), in an interview.
suiki?st was recently awarded with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of British Columbia (UBCO) sa国际传媒� in recognition of her decades of work serving the syilx Okanagan Nation and others living on their territories.
Notably, she has spent 25 years as the executive director of the Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA), where she has worked to form strong ties with UBCO and has promoted Indigenous representation, cultural education and inclusion in university research.
sa国际传媒淢y doctorate has been (the result of) 50 years of lived experience on the frontlines of decolonization,sa国际传媒� she said.
sa国际传媒淎s a woman of colour, we have to stand up more, we have to fight the good fights for our nation.sa国际传媒�
The youngest of nine children, suiki?st was raised in the rural area of Keremeos in the Okanagan. She was given her traditional name as a girl, suiki?st sa国际传媒� which translates from nsyilxc蓹n to English as sa国际传媒淟ightning Rainbow Woman.sa国际传媒�
suiki?st started working as a summer student when she was 14, picking up rocks in the LSIB field, which eventually led to her advancement at the band office as a council member.
sa国际传媒淭hat was when my world was like, `Wow, we do all of this, we have a chief and council, and they make decisions.sa国际传媒� I was proud to serve my community, in the larger context for my work as a social justice advocate,sa国际传媒� said suiki?st.
However, it wasnsa国际传媒檛 until she attended a language gathering on the Penticton Indian Band (PIB) reserve in 1980 when she became aware of the sheer magnitude of what was possible.
suiki?st was at the PIB ball field and remembers a stage surrounded by Elders and people throughout the seven different syilx communities of the Okanagan Nation.
She recalls that only nsyilxc蓹n was spoken during the gathering and a couple of translators were present on the stage.
sa国际传媒淚 remember it so vividly,sa国际传媒� she said.
sa国际传媒淭his was my first exposure to Indigenous community activism, and that was the fire that started in my belly within my identity.sa国际传媒�
One of the speakers was Jeannette Armstrong, who gave a presentation on the rich history of the Okanagan people, school systems and the work to keep the integrity of the syilx language and culture alive.
Upon leaving this event, suiki?st became aware and curious of her own life choices and she wanted to see change, which led her on a journey of recovery and healing.
sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 a recovering alcoholic, Isa国际传媒檝e witnessed a lot of violence in my life, due to the travesty of alcoholism that was rampant in our communities,sa国际传媒� she said.
suiki?st, who lost several relatives in a short period of time, said the loss and grief process was one of her greatest sacrifices.
sa国际传媒淚 didnsa国际传媒檛 see my mom or my sister, or my brothers who all passed away in a matter of two years,sa国际传媒� she said, sa国际传媒淚 went through some dark days, grief does change you.sa国际传媒�
After years of healing herself, suiki?st knew she wanted to learn how to contribute to the betterment of her community and beyond.
sa国际传媒淚 knew that was my life path. I have been trying to find a balance in that because Isa国际传媒檓 like a lightning rod, Isa国际传媒檓 fierce sa国际传媒� or I am giving you a warm embrace like a rainbow,sa国际传媒� said suiki?st.
In 1998, suiki?st started working at the ONA where she found her true calling for community activism.
sa国际传媒淚 might be titled an executive director, but Isa国际传媒檓 really a social justice advocate for our people and for environmental justice,sa国际传媒� she said.
In her role, she directs her efforts towards a wide range of issues spanning from children, Youth, families, and Elders to language revitalization, culture, health governance and traditional foods.
suiki?st says one of her most cherished involvements has been around the incredible achievement of the ONA supporting the vision of chiefs and Elders to restore the Okanagan sockeye salmon back to their historical spawning grounds.
sa国际传媒淚t took years but our nation didnsa国际传媒檛 quit, and now we have salmon in our river again,sa国际传媒� said suiki?st.
Her dedication to community service is evident through her active involvement on numerous volunteer boards, where she once held the position of chairwoman at the First Peoplessa国际传媒� Cultural Foundation (FPCF).
Currently, she is actively engaged in two particular passions. The first involves her advocacy for Indigenous food sovereignty, which she champions through her involvement in the international Slow Food and Slow Fish movements sa国际传媒� aiming to reclaim and protect the rights of Indigenous communities around their traditional foods.
sa国际传媒淲ater is life. Our salmon need water, we need water and clean water for future generations and the ability to grow food, which comes to Indigenous food sovereignty,sa国际传媒� she said.
Additionally, suiki?st is a strong supporter of the IndigenEYEZ empowerment program. This program empowers Indigenous individuals and communities to develop their full potential, fostering a sense of self-reliance and actualization.
sa国际传媒淲hat community means sa国际传媒� what sn蓹qsilxw means sa国际传媒� is that we need each other,sa国际传媒� suiki?st said.
She said it was a humbling surprise when she found out she is receiving an honorary degree from UBCO. She was sitting at her desk when she received an email from the vice-chancellorsa国际传媒檚 office requesting a Zoom call.
sa国际传媒淭hey called to say they would send me an attachment, and in the letter it said, `Yousa国际传媒檝e been selected, do you accept this honour,sa国际传媒漵a国际传媒� she said.
UBCO honors individuals who have made substantial impacts to society, which are awarded as three types: Doctor of Laws, Doctor of Letters, and Doctor of Science.
suiki?st was bestowed with a Doctor of Laws in June for her significant contributions to law and policy change as it relates to care of the environment and cultural revitalization.
Expressing her joy and astonishment, suiki?st shared: sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 humble to it because I like to think Isa国际传媒檝e made change, Isa国际传媒檓 claiming that validation and recognition of years of service to my community opposed to years of research.sa国际传媒�
suiki?st has played a pivotal role in the development of incorporating Indigenous symbols into the regalia of the universitysa国际传媒檚 chancellor, president and Board of Governors.
Additionally, she contributed significantly to the inclusion of Indigenous names on campus street signs, reinforcing a sense of belonging and recognition for Indigenous cultures.
sa国际传媒淧eople need to see that the university is paying more attention to the land acknowledgements and artwork, thatsa国际传媒檚 throughout the campus, I advocated for that,sa国际传媒� she explained.
suiki?st received her appreciation for her exceptional contributions to UBCO at the graduation ceremony.
sa国际传媒淲hile a universitysa国际传媒檚 role is to teach our students and conduct research, we also hope our university helps to inspire people sa国际传媒� just as we have been inspired by Pauline and .125fellow recipient Lindsay Gordon.375,sa国际传媒� says UBCO Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Dr. Lesley Cormack, in a press release.
sa国际传媒淏y giving honorary degrees, we are recognizing people who have made great strides to make our world a better place to be. I am thrilled to see these honorary degrees presented to two people who have contributed significantly to UBC and, specifically, the Okanagan campus.sa国际传媒�
Although this public recognition is through a colonial institution, suiki?st says she has accepted it for her people and community.
sa国际传媒淚 feel so loved, so valued in public. Many of my mentors are in the spirit world, but this is for them and this is for my nation because this work gives me purpose and meaning in my life,sa国际传媒� she said.
sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檝e never been so grateful for my job that I love.sa国际传媒�
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