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First Nations
Okanagan Indian Band to continue fight for Commonage Reserve lands
VERNON - After fighting for title rights to the Commonage Reserve in Vernon for over 100 years, the Okanagan Indian Band says an unfavourable court ruling does not mark the end of the battle. “We’re not going away,” Chief Byron Louis says. “We haven’t given up on it for the last 133 years, I’d be...
Okanagan Indian Band embraces Lake Country mayor’s support for land claim
VERNON - Lake Country Mayor James Baker appears to have thrown his support behind the Okanagan Indian Band’s land claim to the Commonage Reserve including the portion which includes the CP Rail line intended for the Okanagan Rail Trail, and the band intends to hold him to his words. Chief Byron Louis says he welcomes...
Vernon School District sees best aboriginal completion rate in years
VERNON - The Vernon School District is celebrating a six year high in the number of aboriginal students completing high school. The completion rate for aboriginal students in School District 22 has reached 71 per cent, the best in six years and higher than the provincial rate of 61 per cent. The good news came...
Preschoolers tackle racial tensions using locally-designed dolls
ENDERBY - A troop of handmade, multicultural dolls called the Backpack Kids have been deployed to local childcare centres where they are bringing a message of diversity and acceptance to young children. The life-sized puppets, each representing a Canadian kid with a different cultural background, are part of a newly launched teaching curriculum designed to...
Okanagan Indian Band opposes rail corridor sale
BUYER BEWARE: BAND SAYS NO CLEAR TITLE ON RAIL CORRIDOR VERNON - The Okanagan Indian Band is speaking out against a recent deal between Okanagan municipalities and CN Rail to buy the decomissioned rail line between Vernon and Kelowna. Chief Byron Louis said Tuesday the band is advancing a land claim for the Commonage Reserve,...
Why First Nations chiefs and councillors can’t be compared to city councils
PENTICTON - The Chief of a local First Nations band says he wants to see more respect throughout the province and the country for the roles band chiefs and councillors play. New federal laws requiring First Nations to release audited financial statements publicly has brought numerous comparisons between First Nations chiefs and councillors to city...
Local bands miss deadline, given extra leeway
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – Four bands neighbouring Kamloops have missed the federal government’s deadline for financial statement submissions and could face a block on funding if the numbers aren't submitted this winter. Three weeks have passed since the cut-off date for bands to submit audited financial documents as part of the First Nation Financial Transparency Act. In...
Band financials for neighbouring Kamloops areas
KAMLOOPS – The July 29 due date has passed for First Nations to submit reports on financials including chief and council salary, remuneration and expenses as part of the First Nation Financial Transparency Act. So far, InfoNews has reported on the numbers for bands near Osoyoos, Enderby, Vernon and Kamloops. Numbers for the Penticton Band have...
Kamloopa Pow Wow expected to draw 20,000 people
KAMLOOPS - The largest pow wow in the west is just over a week away and organizers are busy preparing for the nearly 20,000 people expected to attend the event. The Kamloopa Pow Wow is set for Aug. 1-3 and will feature about 600 dancers, about a dozen drumming groups and a variety of Aboriginal...
Council approves Skaha Hills sewage connection system
PENTICTON - City council approved a sewage connection system agreement with the Penticton Indian Band for the new Skaha Hills Development. The joint-agreement project was first discussed by the Committee of the Whole in May and was approved at last night’s council meeting. The plan will cost the city $285,000 but will bring a return...
City of Penticton no longer leasing Airport Beach
PROPERTY OWNERS PROMISE NO CHANGE TO PUBLIC ACCESS PENTICTON – The Kruger family has leased Airport Beach to the city of Penticton for so long no one seems to remember when the arrangement was first put into place. The long-term public access is meaningful to the family and the reason they have no plans to...
Westbank construction projects changing the landscape this summer
WESTBANK - Expect some traffic delays as four capital improvement projects on Westbank First Nations land get rolling this summer. Construction on the Sneena Road Overpass Project is underway and should be finished in November. It includes an overpass at Highway 97 and Sneena Road and extension of Sneena Road from Tomat Avenue to Campbell...
Police hunt for man wanted for child porn charges
KAMLOOPS - A man wanted on child pornography charges may be lurking around Kamloops. Joseph Samuel Sackaney, 49, is wanted by Prince George RCMP after failing to show up for court. He's wanted on possession of child pornography, possession of child pornography for the purpose of distribution and accessing child pornography. Police believe Sackaney, formerly...