Okanagan Nation Alliance

• Decades of fish passage advocacy leads to decommissioning of BC Hydro’s Wilsey Dam

  The blockage prevented salmon from accessing nearly 30 kilometers of spawning and rearing habitat on the Shuswap River.

  Environment

  Sep 20
• Early drawdown of Okanagan Lake compromised fish restoration efforts, says BC Wildlife Federation

  'The province went out and did some sampling and found that in those areas and 75 per cent of the eggs and alevin in those areas had been killed by the drawdown.'

  Environment

  Aug 27
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• Residential school discoveries: Caravan to Kamloops ‘in response to lack of justice’

  ‘It gathers our people together in unity and support the survivors and each other through the emotional impacts of the recent findings.’

  Canada

  Jun 26
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• Supreme Court of Canada ruling could reset Sinixt presence in B.C.’s West Kootenay region

  A Native American from Washington state sparked a complex court battle after he crossed the border, shot an elk, then notified conservation officials and turned himself in.

  Canada

  May 6
• Osoyoos Indian Band chief to receive honorary UBC degree this spring

  In 2020, Chief Louie took over the Tribal Chair role of the Okanagan Nation Alliance, replacing Grand Chief Stewart Phillip. 

  Education

  Mar 31
• City of Vernon, B.C., votes to transfer Ogopogo copyright to Syilx Okanagan Nation

  The chief of the Okanagan Indian Band is welcoming news the City of Vernon has decided to turn over the Ogopogo copyright to a local First Nations organization.

  News

  Mar 25
• Second phase of prescribed burn near Keremeos to be ignited this spring

  The prescribed burn will take place near Crater Mountain, approximately 15 kilometres west of Keremeos, and will involve 1,100 hectares.

  Environment

  Mar 18
• New children’s book series written by Syilx author focuses on water education

  The four-book series, titled Follow the Water, will launch on Feb. 5, and marks author Harron Hall’s publishing debut.

  Jan 28
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• Okanagan Nation Alliance to host annual gathering for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls

  The virtual gathering will take place Jan. 11 to 14, and will feature several speakers, including the first female First Nations judge in B.C.

  Canada

  Jan 9
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• South Okanagan man pleads guilty to Highway 97 crash in 2017 that injured several people

  A South Okanagan pled guilty to causing a crash along Highway 97 in 2017. The crash injured several people. The man was sentenced to nine months in jail.

  Crime

  Dec 18, 2020