Okanagan Indian Band

The Okanagan Indian Band is a First Nations government in the Canadian province of British Columbia, located in the city of Vernon in the northern Okanagan Valley. The band is a member government of the Okanagan Nation Alliance.

Current chief and council: Chief- Byron Louis Governors-in-council: Allan Louis, Daniel Anthony Wilson, Garett Johnny Lawrence, Leland Wilson, Shawna Whitney, Sheldon Louis, Dean Louis, Valerie Chiba, Cindy Brewer, Tim Issac,

Population

As of October 2010, 809 of the Okanagan Band's population live on one of the band's own reserves, 430 men and 379 women, with 86 people living on reserves governed by other bands (36 men, 50 women). 900 people are living off-reserve. The band's total population is 1,795.[1]

Indian Reserves

Indian Reserves under the administration of the band are:[2]

  • Duck Lake Indian Reserve No. 7, on the north shore of Ellison Lake and on the banks of Vernon Creek, 179.10 ha.50°00′00″N 119°24′00″W[3]

Environmental problems

Unexploded ordnance (UXO) has littered OKIB land at Madeline Lake and Goose Lake since the Boer War in 1906. Canadian soldiers were trained to fire "live mortars, grenades and other munitions, including white phosphorus". In 2014, over 70 years old live mortars were found; a clean up agreement specifies that beginning in 2015 ten band members will be trained to become UXO technicians.[9]

Recent history

On February 22, 2010 the Okanagan Indian Band began blockading Tolko Industries Ltd.'s access to the Browns Creek watershed to protest logging.[10] The blockade is supported by the Union of BC Indian Chiefs.[11]

In 2014 OKIB requested that the defunct Kelowna Pacific Railway be returned to the band.[12]

See also

References
  1. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada First Nation Detail - Registered population Archived 2012-05-15 at the Wayback Machine
  2. "Indian and Northern Affairs Canada - Reserves/villages/Settlements Detail". Archived from the original on 2012-05-15. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
  3. "Duck Lake 7". BC Geographical Names.
  4. "Harris 3". BC Geographical Names.
  5. "Okanagan 1". BC Geographical Names.
  6. "Otter Lake 2". BC Geographical Names.
  7. "Priest's Valley 6". BC Geographical Names.
  8. "Swan Lake 4". BC Geographical Names.
  9. staff (July 19, 2015). "Band trains UXO techs". Vernon Morning Star (BC). Black Press Inc. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  10. B.C. band fights logging on site of land claim
  11. "Union of BC Indian Chiefs Supports Okanagan Indian Band in Browns Creek Faceoff". Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2010-02-23.
  12. "Okanagan Indian Band seeks return of Kelowna Pacific Railway land". CBC.ca. July 3, 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
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