Okanagan Collaborative Conservation Program (OCCP)

Earth Day is here and it's a great time to reflect on what Earth Day means to all of us. Every year on April 22nd, awareness is raised about environmental issues and inspiring actions to protect our planet.

Since its start in 1970, Earth Day has grown into a global movement encouraging individuals and communities to make sustainable choices that ensure a healthier planet for future generations. Earth Day focuses on fostering a deeper connection with the natural world.

At OCCP, we believe everyday is Earth Day. Every single day that we are alive, we make an impact on the planet and we get to choose what impact we make. Caring for the planet is not something we do once a year, it's something we weave into everyday life. In the choices we make, the things we notice, and the future we help create.

And most importantly, everyday is Earth Day on Indigenous land. This year, the Okanagan Nation Alliance is uplifting the Syilx Nation Community Guardians for Earth Day.

"Indigenous Guardians are the land and water protectors our future depends on. They are the continuation of responsibilities that have existed some time immemorial. Rooted in Syilx law, knowledge, and relationships to the land, guardians care for watersheds, monitor ecosystem health, protect cultural sites and ensure decisions that honour future generations." - ONA

Today is a reminder of who has always led this work and who continues to show what it means to care for land and water over the long term.

Photo Credit: Lindsay Lalach