Syilx flag raised permanently at Kelowna’s Okanagan College

KELOWNA – The Syilx Okanagan Nation flag is now a permanent fixture at Okanagan College’s Kelowna campus following a ceremony today June 17.

The flag represents the College’s recognition of the unseeded Indigenous territory where the campus resides, according to an Okanagan College media release.

In attendance at the flag raising ceremony was the Minister of Advanced Education, representatives from the Westbank First Nation and Okanagan Nation Alliance.

“Our people have had a long history of education with Okanagan College, which is being recognized and honoured here today,” Westbank First Nation Chief Roxanne Lindley said in the release. “As our students walk these campus lands, I hope they feel pride in seeing our flag displayed, and our Nation represented. It is truly a day for celebration."

Westbank First Nation students Janice Money and Addison Fosbery raised the flag as Amber Cardenas sang the Okanagan song.

The flag itself depicts animals, water and local landscape to signify the Syilx Okanagan people’s understanding of living in balance with nature.

— This story was updated at 2:34 p.m. Wednesday, June 19, 2019 to correct the spelling of Syilx.

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