Our Protocols & Ethics
In the work that Your syilx Sisters do they always show up sqilxw' first, meaning they enact their cultural protocols and teachings to engage in business.
Here are some of the things that are important to know about when working with the sisters:
Because of the level of importance of the work, the sisters decide whom to take on as a client just as much as the client does. They are empowered to work with folks who are aligned with their values. The sisters engage potential clients in a protocol meeting before any contracts are signed to measure the level of commitment of all involved. This ensures that the work does not tokenize the sisters or anyone they bring in to support the client's needs. This is how the sisters enact informed consent in their own work.
The sisters do not engage in surface-level work; they work with companies and organizations from their roots up, requiring some challenging and complex conversations. The sisters offer a high level of compassion and care for each client in their learning journey and, therefore, only support companies and folks who are genuinely ready to tackle harmful practices and narratives they may have engaged in through ignorance or otherwise. They strive to create a safe space for all people to unpack colonization and learn new paths; therefore, the sisters ensure that people are ready to take on that work and are committed to the process; this comes from their cultural teachings.
The sisters require all clients to engage in their training before any other work takes place; this ensures that Knowledge Keepers or Holders they may bring in to support the work are safe and supported and, most importantly, valued to a high degree.
Where they can, the sisters will point you to a business similar to theirs if the client is not based on syilx or Secwepemc homelands. They are happy to offer additional support services if you're already engaged with a service on the lands you are serving or in the process of retaining services. This ensures that communication services are first derived from the people of the lands, who will understand their homeland's communication style much better than the sisters while promoting data sovereignty.
When the sisters are asked to take part in storytelling in kinship with Indigenous Peoples outside of their homelands, they give copyright to all files pertaining to the crafting of a story. This means that all photography, audio recordings, video footage, and final stories belong to the people. This is to ensure data sovereignty is honoured and upheld. Your syilx Sisters will delete all files once files have been delivered. Indigenous data belongs to Indigenous Peoples.