Church camp on Okanagan Lake hoping to reopen this summer but needs archaeological assessment

Camp OAC has been ordered to conduct an archaeological assessment of its site on Okanagan Lake before it can put up buildings.

The Anglican Church camp, which is about 18 km north of the Bennett bridge on Westside Road, was built in 1950 then destroyed by the McDougall Creek wildfire last summer.

“The order for archaeological assessment was issued in response to Camp OAC’s application for building permits with the Regional District of Central Okanagan for two modular structures located outside of the restricted zones,” says a news release from the Anglican Diocese of Kootenay. “The Anglican Diocese of the Camp leadership, in collaboration with the Diocesan Steering Committee, continues to work towards reopening in July 2024, subject to the findings and requirements of the Assessment.”

Archaeological assessments are required by Archeology BC for sites with a high probability of archaeological discovery. Camp OAC (sometimes referred to as Camp Owaissi) has been identified as such a site.

“As a church and as a diocese, we take seriously our commitment and responsibility to proactively live into the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action,” Archbishop Lynne McNaughton said in the news release. “We seek to move forward in mutual recognition, respect, and responsibility for developing healthy relationships in the future.

“While the Anglican Church of Canada repudiated the Doctrine of Discovery and endorsed the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People at its General Synod in 2010, we know these are just the beginning steps to walking together on the path towards truth, justice, and reconciliation.”

The Doctrine of Discovery was established by popes in the 15th century. It gave religious authority to Christian empires to invade and subjugate non-Christian lands and their people and impose Christianity on them, according to a Canadian Centre for Human Rights posting.

While it was repudiated by the Anglican Church in 2010, the Pope did not follow suit until March 2023.

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