Okanagan Nation Alliance

Member Bands

Lower Similkameen Indian Band

Location: Located on Similkameen River, near Keremeos. The main community is on Skemeoskuankin Indian Reserve #7 & #8. (Nine reserves on 15,048.8 hectares.) (Source: First Nations Profiles, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and British Columbia First Nations websites)

Number of Band Members: 461 (Source: Registered Indian Population by Sex and Residence, December 2007, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada)

Okanagan Indian Band

Location: Near Vernon. Main community is on Okanagan Indian Reserve #1, north of Vernon, between the north end of Okanagan Lake and the Salmon River. (Six reserves on 11,282.5 hectares.) (Source: First Nations Profiles, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and British Columbia First Nations websites)

Number of Band Members: 1,735 (Source: Registered Indian Population by Sex and Residence, December 2007, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada)

Osoyoos Indian Band

Location: Near Osoyoos (Two reserves on 13,052.3 hectares). (Source: First Nations Profiles, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and British Columbia First Nations websites)

Number of Band Members: 459 (Source: Registered Indian Population by Sex and Residence, December 2007, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada)

Penticton Indian Band

Location: Located in the Southwest section of the Okanagan Valley, adjacent to the City of Penticton. (Three reserves on 18,698.6 hectares). (Source: First Nations Profiles, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and British Columbia First Nations websites)

Number of Band Members: 922 (Source: Registered Indian Population by Sex and Residence, December 2007, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada)

Upper Similkameen Indian Band

Location: Main community is on Chuchuwayha I. R. No. 2, on the Similkameen River near Keremeos. (Seven reserves on 2,708.5 hectares.) (Source: First Nations Profiles, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and British Columbia First Nations websites)

Number of Band Members: 68 (Source: Registered Indian Population by Sex and Residence, December 2007, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada)

Westbank First Nation

Location: On the west shore of Okanagan Lake, across from Kelowna. (Five reserves on 2,161 hectares.)

Number of Band Members: 664 (Source: Registered Indian Population by Sex and Residence, December 2007, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada)

For information about discussions with the Westbank First Nation inside the treaty process, click here click here.

NOTE: The Upper Nicola Indian Band is listed by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada under the tribal council affiliation of Nicola Valley Tribal Association (NVTA). The Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) also lists the band under its affiliation. The band lists its political affiliations with both the NVTA and ONA.

Upper Nicola Band

Location: Approximately 35 km west of Merritt. Main communities are located on Nicola Lake Indian Reserve #1 and Douglas Lake Indian Reserve #3. (Eight reserves on 1,600 hectares.) (Source: First Nations Profiles, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and British Columbia First Nations websites)

Number of Band Members: 866 (Source: Registered Indian Population by Sex and Residence, January 2007 [last available data], Indian and Northern Affairs Canada)

Background

Participation:

Location

Total band members

Discussions

The B.C. Government undertakes discussions with First Nations outside the treaty process on a wide range of topics. Initiatives can involve building new relationships with First Nations and addressing concerns associated with land and resource use on asserted traditional territories.

Upper Similkameen Cut-Off Claim

In 2001, the Upper Similkameen Indian Band (USIB) Cut-Off Claim Settlement Agreement was ratified by Canada, B.C. and the USIB. The agreement returned land removed from the Iltcoola Indian Reserve #7 to the band. It also included a small land exchange contiguous to the Indian Reserve #7 in compensation for utility and highway rights-of-way, and compensated the band for timber harvested from the same reserve.

Land and Resource Agreements

• February 2005 – Upper Nicola Band and the Province signed a forest and range agreement that provided the band with $2 million in revenue sharing and access to 222,760 cubic metres of timber over five years in the Merritt, Kamloops and Okanagan timber supply areas
• November 2005 – Westbank First Nation and the Province extended a $1.5-million interim measure forestry agreement giving the First Nation access to 90,000 cubic metres of timber over five years in the Okanagan timber supply area.
• January 2006 – Lower Similkameen Indian Band signed a $1.1-million, five-year forest and range agreement with the Province for access to 67,500 cubic metres in the Okanagan Timber Supply Area. Depending on future decisions on annual allowable cuts as a result of the mountain pine beetle epidemic, the band may also have access to an additional 53,490 cubic metres from the Okanagan, Merritt or Boundary timber supply areas.
• July 2006 – Upper Similkameen Indian Band signed a Mining and Minerals Protocol Agreement with the Province, the first mining-related consultation agreement shaped by the principles of the New Relationship. The agreement ensures that consultation is held before any mining activity is done in the band’s asserted traditional territory.
• April 2007, Upper Similkameen Indian Band received $135,000 to establish a woodlot and access to more than 256,000 cubic metres of timber in the Merritt timber supply area, through two forestry agreements reached with the Province.

Economic Development Agreements

• June 2006 – Osoyoos Indian Band and the Province signed a revenue sharing framework agreement for the development of Crown lands within Osoyoos Indian Band traditional territory – land that is slated for development as part of the expansion of the Mt. Baldy ski area near the band’s Nk’Mip Resort. The Osoyoos band and the Mt. Baldy Ski Resort have also reached a partnership in which the band purchased an interest in the resort giving it a share of revenues from real estate development, job opportunities for band members at the resort, as well as an agreement that archaeological sites and traditional land use will be respected in all future expansion activities.
• October 2006 – Upper Similkameen Indian Band, the Province and the Town of Princeton signed a statement of intent to work together to develop a 28-hectare parcel of Crown land for potential residential development within the municipality of Princeton.
• March 2007 – A milestone agreement between the Province and Westbank First Nation is signed that will see the First Nation manage the construction of a $12.97 million interchange at the western end of the Okanagan Lake Bridge.

Education & Social Initiatives

• May 2006 – Upper Nicola Band received a $500,000 major capital grant to create 20 new quality child care spaces for Aboriginal families.
• June 2006 – B.C.’s 28th Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreement is signed. The agreement is the result of co-operative efforts by the Penticton Indian Band, the Métis Culture and Heritage Society (Penticton), the Elders Council of the Penticton Indian Band, the Ooknakane Friendship Centre and the Okanagan Skaha School District.
• September 2006 – The Province joined leaders from Osoyoos Indian Band, the Upper Similkameen Indian Band and the Lower Similkameen Indian Band and officials of the Okanagan Similkameen school district in signing B.C.’s 29 Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreement to help Aboriginal students succeed in school.
• December 2006 – The Province joined leaders of the Okanagan Nation and officials of the Central Okanagan school district to sign B.C.’s 30th Aboriginal enhancement agreement to improve Aboriginal student achievement.