Artwork by WFN Member Artist Coralee Miller
To listen to our story, please click here.
Westbank First Nation is proud to stand on the foundation of a matriarchal community, deeply rooted in a rich culture and history. This vibrant heritage has shaped and strengthened us into the community we are today. What you see before you is not just a Governance structure; it is a reflection of the values that guide us, centered around the Four Food Chiefs and their core principles. Reclaiming traditional values and governance is about reconnecting with our cultural roots and ways of life, showing that we have always had, and will continue to have, the strength to guide ourselves independently.
Traditional hierarchical organizational structures often follow a top-down approach to authority, but WFN embraces a different model. Our leadership is decentralized and rooted in consensus, prioritizing collective decision-making and communal stewardship. Every action is taken with community involvement.
At WFN, we are a community-first organization, grounded in the teachings of the Four Food Chiefs and our ancestors. Each chief oversees a distinct domain, embodying values that are deeply woven into our community's fabric. Each chief's role complements and supports the others, ensuring the strength of our interconnected governance.
Why the Four Food Chiefs you ask? Legends were a traditional practice to teach others the values of community and storytelling was a means of survival of the People and connected the past, present and future.
The Community, through its’ planning sessions decided that the Four Food Chiefs story best suits their growth as a self-governing community and how we work together to survive and be sustainable.
To visualize this structure, imagine our governance as a tree: the roots represent our matriarchal based community, traditions, ancestors, and heritage, grounding us in who we are. As we ascend, we encounter the Four Food Chiefs, which are central to the Okanagan Nation culture and the teaching of "How Food Was Given."
- Chief Bitterroot symbolizes stewardship, nurturing, relationships, and protection.
- Chief Bear embodies love, tradition, generosity, and leadership.
- Chief Salmon stands for sustainability, initiative, perseverance, and resilience.
- Chief Saskatoon Berry Bush represents innovation, strength, community, and growth.
Above the Saskatoon Berry Bush, we see a fly, symbolizing accountability, humility, and persistence. It represents the often-overlooked voices in the community and reminds us that we must listen and that everyone has a purpose. Fly ensures that no one slips through the cracks by pointing out those very gaps, encouraging accountability in our actions.
The rainbow, appearing after the storm, represents the resilience and adaptability of our community. It shows that despite challenges, we remain unified and steadfast—still here, still strong.
The sun symbolizes life and vitality, nurturing plants, animals, and people—vital elements of the ecosystem that WFN depends on. It also represents WFN’s Constitution, which was crafted by the community’s members to guide how the community is governed. Much like the sun provides direction and sustenance, the Constitution serves as a guiding light, illuminating the path for self-governance and the community’s future.
The half-circle of the sun surrounding the chiefs serves as a reminder that there are no boundaries where our truths can remain hidden.
As you can see the gradience of the background reflects the waters of Kalamalka lake. WFN members have historical, cultural, and ecological connections to the land surrounding the lake.
The Chief Salmon with the salmon roe symbolizes the sacred reciprocity between the people and the salmon nation, a reminder of our ancestral duty to respect, protect, and honor the lifegivers of our waters.
These chiefs, while unique, are interconnected, each relying on the others for growth. Just as healthy fruit cannot grow without healthy roots, we must trust that we are all working together toward a shared goal.
This interconnectedness structure reminds us that, as an organization, we must operate as one unified entity to succeed. Only by embracing WFN Values—resilience, collaboration, open communication, mutual respect, and shared responsibility—can we grow and thrive together.
Collaboration is key. Keep in mind that some of these chiefs overlap ultimately belong to the same environment and represent the same ecosystem. They require food and sunlight to thrive. We only succeed when we work together toward a shared goal. By breaking down silos, these overlaps represent our collective effort to intertwine and move forward with unity.
Let us remember that when one chief is not functioning properly, it can ripple through the others. For example, consider the fruit from the Saskatoon Berry Bush, which represents our services department. Without the necessary support from the other chiefs, the fruit cannot grow, and the community will not receive the services or support they need.
Together, as a community and as an organization, we are stronger.
limlemt (thank-you) to the working group who pulled this together:
- Bonnie Coble
- Marion Radawetz
- Coralee Miller
- Alyssa Sundstrom
- Michelle Dragon
- Audrey Wilson
- Bonnie Thomas
- Jolene Esau
limlemt to all those who provided their feedback along the way:
- Zena Eli
- Angela Ross
- Michelle Ryder
- WFN Elders Group
- WFN Youth Council
- Chief & Council
- WFN Senior Leadership Team