Okanagan Indian Band

As of March 2024, the Okanagan Indian Band has a total population 3,244; this includes band members residing on and off reserve.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-18 |title=Home |url=https://www.okib.ca/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=Okanagan Indian Band |language=en-US}}

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Indian Reserves under the administration of the band are:{{Cite web |url=https://fnp-ppn.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/fnp/Main/Search/FNReserves.aspx?BAND_NUMBER=616&lang=eng |website=Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada |publisher=Government of Canada |title=Indian and Northern Affairs Canada - Reserves/villages/Settlements Detail |date=14 November 2008 |access-date=2010-11-09 }}

• Duck Lake Indian Reserve No. 7, on the north shore of Ellison Lake and on the banks of Vernon Creek, 179.10 ha.{{coord|50|00|00|N|119|24|00|W|display=inline|name=Duck Lake Indian Reserve 7}}{{BCGNIS|65649|Duck Lake 7}}
• Harris Indian Reserve No. 3, two miles southeast of Otter Lake, 64.80 ha.{{coord|50|23|00|N|119|14|00|W|display=inline|name=Harris Indian Reserve 3}}{{BCGNIS|65651|Harris 3}}
• Okanagan Indian Reserve No. 1, in the Okanagan Valley between Okanagan Lake and the Salmon River, 10302 ha.{{coord|50|21|00|N|119|19|00|W|display=inline|name= Indian Reserve 1}}{{BCGNIS|65670|Okanagan 1}}
• Otter Lake Indian Reserve No. 2, at the south end of Otter Lake, nine miles north of Vernon, 25 ha.{{coord|50|24|00|N|119|15|00|W|display=inline|name=Otter Lake Indian Reserve 2}}{{BCGNIS|65669|Otter Lake 2}}
• Priest's Valley Indian Reserve No. 6, on Vernon Creek at its mouth on the east side of Okanagan Lake, southwest of Vernon, 33.60 ha.{{coord|50|15|00|N|119|20|00|W|display=inline|name=Priest's Valley Indian Reserve 6}}{{BCGNIS|65652|Priest's Valley 6}}
• Swan Lake Indian Reserve No. 4, on the north shore of Swan Lake, 32.20 ha.{{coord|50|20|16|N|119|15|32|W|display=inline|name=Swan Lake Indian Reserve 4}}{{BCGNIS|60460|Swan Lake 4}}

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.{{cite news|author1=staff|title=Band trains UXO techs|url=http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/community/316289701.html|access-date=21 July 2015|work=Vernon Morning Star (BC)|publisher=Black Press Inc|date=July 19, 2015}}

On February 22, 2010 the Okanagan Indian Band began blockading Tolko Industries Ltd.'s access to the Browns Creek watershed to protest logging.[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-band-fights-logging-on-site-of-land-claim-1.899440 B.C. band fights logging on site of land claim] The blockade is supported by the Union of BC Indian Chiefs.{{Cite web |url=http://www.ubcic.bc.ca/News_Releases/UBCICNews02211001.htm |title=Union of BC Indian Chiefs Supports Okanagan Indian Band in Browns Creek Faceoff |access-date=2010-02-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716021629/http://www.ubcic.bc.ca/News_Releases/UBCICNews02211001.htm |archive-date=2011-07-16 |url-status=dead }}

In 2014, OKIB requested that the defunct Kelowna Pacific Railway be returned to the band.{{cite news|title=Okanagan Indian Band seeks return of Kelowna Pacific Railway land|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/okanagan-indian-band-seeks-return-of-kelowna-pacific-railway-land-1.2695157|access-date=21 July 2015|work=CBC.ca|date=July 3, 2014}}

White Rock Lake Wildfire: In the summer of 2021, the Okanagan Indian band was affected by the White Rock Lake wildfire which spanned 833 kilometers, losing 10 homes and one business.{{Cite web |title=Okanagan Indian Band confirms structures lost to White Rock Lake wildfire {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8120139/okanagan-indian-band-structures-lost-white-rock-lake-wildfire/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}

Komasket Arbor: In May 2022, the Okanagan Indian Band celebrate the reopening of their newly refurbished arbor located at Komasket park, replacing the original arbor built in the 1980's.

First Annual Komasket Powwow - In June 2023, Okanagan Indian Band hosted the first annual Komasket Powwow in honor of twi Kel-Ta-Muka, the late Emery Robins Sr. who played an essential role in bringing powwows to the OKIB community in the 1980s. This was the first powwow held in the newly reconstructed arbor, and the first in the OKIB community in several years. {{Cite web |date=2023-06-09 |title=Okanagan Indian Band holding huge powwow in honour of late councillor |url=https://www.vernonmorningstar.com/news/okanagan-indian-band-holding-huge-powwow-in-honour-of-late-councillor-3361821 |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=Vernon Morning Star |language=en}}

In 2023, OKIB held a ground breaking ceremony for a new Cultural Immersion School underway. – nk̓maplqs iʔ snm̓am̓ay̓ʔtn iʔ k̓l sqilxʷtət. The immersion was founded in September of 2006, with the intent of cultivating a sense of cultural identity and language revitalization for generation to come. A brand new facility scheduled for completion for the 2025 school year. The new facility will be a positive place for students to learn their language, culture and traditions. A sense of pride for both the leadership and community.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-13 |title=March Edition of Senklip News |url=https://www.okib.ca/news/march-edition-of-senklip-news/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=Okanagan Indian Band |language=en-US}}

• Okanagan people

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• [http://www.okib.ca/ Okanagan Indian Band Website]

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Category:Okanagan

Category:Syilx governments