First Nations

Chief Roger Jimmie was a strong advocate for Indigenous forestry rights. In a 1990 Observer article he was demanding Kluskus be allowed to log their own land. (Quesnel Observer File Photo - 1990)

‘Fearless’ northern B.C. chief remembered after death

Roger Jimmie passed away last week

 

A pop up garden was constructed at Komasket Park, with 60 boxes, for the Okanagan Indian Band’s Food Security Initiative in 2020. (OKIB photo)

Poverty-reduction funds granted to Okanagan First Nations

OKIB focusing on food security, Osoyoos hosting community well-being sessions

 

Hundreds gathered to honour the inaugrual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Thursday, Sept. 30. They walked nearly four kilometres to bring awareness and healing to residential school survivors and victims. (Adam Louis/Observer)

VIDEO: ‘We are all brothers and sisters’ Sts’ailes chief imparts words of healing, hope on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Hundreds of people walked with the Sts’ailes First Nation to remember residential school victims

 

Splatsin Nation near Enderby encourages Canadians to learn its true history as it prepares to launch a public presentation of its history to coincide with the first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation Thursday, Sept. 30. (Black Press - file photo)

Splatsin Nation near Enderby to share its history

Band calls for Canadians to learn true history as it prepares to honour first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation Thursday, Sept. 30

Splatsin Nation near Enderby encourages Canadians to learn its true history as it prepares to launch a public presentation of its history to coincide with the first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation Thursday, Sept. 30. (Black Press - file photo)
BC Hydro plans to remove the Wilsey Dam and Shuswap Falls Powerhouse along the Shuswap River as part of a restoration project to help salmon access to historical spawning habitat. (BC Hydro photo)

Splatsin: BC Hydro decision to remove Shuswap River dam disregards title and rights

Utility to provider to decommission 92-year-old Wilsey Dam, improve access for salmon

BC Hydro plans to remove the Wilsey Dam and Shuswap Falls Powerhouse along the Shuswap River as part of a restoration project to help salmon access to historical spawning habitat. (BC Hydro photo)
Splatsin Tkwamipla7 (Councillor) George William, one of the organizers of the Splatsin Walking Our Children’s Spirits Home Journey, walks with Darrel Jones, Splatsin education director on Sept. 10, the final day of the five-day journey. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)

Hearts fill with emotion as children’s spirits walked from Kamloops to Splatsin

Pain, hope among feelings experienced during five-day journey from residential school

Splatsin Tkwamipla7 (Councillor) George William, one of the organizers of the Splatsin Walking Our Children’s Spirits Home Journey, walks with Darrel Jones, Splatsin education director on Sept. 10, the final day of the five-day journey. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)
All Splatsin events and gatherings have been suspended for the immediate future as the band deals with what Kukpi7 (Chief) Wayne Christian calls an alarming number of COVID-19 cases in the community. (Morning Star file photo)

Splatsin suspends events due to ‘alarming’ number of COVID cases

Kukpi7 (Chief) Wayne Christian says 20-to-25 individuals currently in self-isolation

All Splatsin events and gatherings have been suspended for the immediate future as the band deals with what Kukpi7 (Chief) Wayne Christian calls an alarming number of COVID-19 cases in the community. (Morning Star file photo)
Kenthen Thomas will be performing traditional stories for B.C. Culture Days. (Twila Amato/Black Press Media)

VIDEO: Salmon Arm teacher performs for B.C. Culture Days, shares Secwépemc legends

This year’s event features a video series from rural B.C. communities

Kenthen Thomas will be performing traditional stories for B.C. Culture Days. (Twila Amato/Black Press Media)
People gathered for a solidarity rally in Smithers after hereditary chiefs served Coastal GasLink with an eviction notice from a worksite on traditional Wet’suwet’en territory near Houston. (File photo)

Progress on Wet’suwet’en rights and title slower than parties would have liked

Murray Rankin said the pandemic and the complexities of the negotiations are behind the slow progress

People gathered for a solidarity rally in Smithers after hereditary chiefs served Coastal GasLink with an eviction notice from a worksite on traditional Wet’suwet’en territory near Houston. (File photo)
A child waves at cars by one of the banners that were dropped by members of the Westbank First Nation Youth Council (WFNYC) at the Westside Road interchange above Highway 97 in West Kelowna on July 1. (Aaron Hemens/Capital News)

Banner honouring residential school victims stolen: WFN Youth Council

Westbank youth hung the banner at the Westside Road overpass on Canada Day

A child waves at cars by one of the banners that were dropped by members of the Westbank First Nation Youth Council (WFNYC) at the Westside Road interchange above Highway 97 in West Kelowna on July 1. (Aaron Hemens/Capital News)
The new exhibit will showcase artifacts and documents from the past hundred years. (Oliver and District Heritage Society Museum and Archives/Web)

Sylix Okanagan nation, Oliver come together for anniversary celebrations

The Oliver & District Museum will open an exhibit for the One Hundred X One Hundred commemoration

The new exhibit will showcase artifacts and documents from the past hundred years. (Oliver and District Heritage Society Museum and Archives/Web)
This map that includes Shuswap Lake and Salmon Arm shows lands of the Neskonlith and Adams Lake bands outlined in red, with no dividing lines. The Switzmalph area is on the south and southwest end of Shuswap Lake within the red lines. (City of Salmon Arm image)

Salmon Arm/Switzmalph members of Neskonlith Band make plans to separate

Group points to lack of confidence in chief and council, unjust colonial governing structure

This map that includes Shuswap Lake and Salmon Arm shows lands of the Neskonlith and Adams Lake bands outlined in red, with no dividing lines. The Switzmalph area is on the south and southwest end of Shuswap Lake within the red lines. (City of Salmon Arm image)
Splatsin near Enderby has teamed up with a Calgary-based company to launch its VoyentAlert mass notification service so community members and others living in the area can be safe during emergencies. The alert delivers vital information to cell phones, landlines, and email. (Splatsin photo)

Mass emergency notification service launched by Splatsin

Band near Enderby teams up with Calgary-based company to provide emergency alert service to community members

Splatsin near Enderby has teamed up with a Calgary-based company to launch its VoyentAlert mass notification service so community members and others living in the area can be safe during emergencies. The alert delivers vital information to cell phones, landlines, and email. (Splatsin photo)
A woman screams in frustration at Campbell River RCMP members during the procession. Photo by Marc Kitteringham / Campbell River Mirror

VIDEO: Family of slain Indigenous man confront RCMP in Campbell River

‘I’ll never see my son’s face again’ — Lowndes’ mother

A woman screams in frustration at Campbell River RCMP members during the procession. Photo by Marc Kitteringham / Campbell River Mirror
Police attended a Campbell River Tim Hortons for a reported shooting incident. Photo by Alistair Taylor/Campbell River Mirror

Probe of fatal RCMP shooting of Wet’suwet’en man needs Indigenous oversight: First Nation leaders

Wet’suwet’en man shot by police in Campbell River last week

Police attended a Campbell River Tim Hortons for a reported shooting incident. Photo by Alistair Taylor/Campbell River Mirror
Photo of Kuper Island Residential School taken in the 1920s. (B.C. Archives photo)

B.C. First Nation confirms more than 160 unmarked graves found on grounds near former residential school

Penelakut Tribe offering healing sessions for those affected by the discovery

Photo of Kuper Island Residential School taken in the 1920s. (B.C. Archives photo)
St. Michael’s residential school before it was torn down in 2015. (File photo)

B.C. First Nation to search for unmarked residential school burial grounds in Alert Bay

On Vancouver Island, there are 202 children known to have died at 5 schools

St. Michael’s residential school before it was torn down in 2015. (File photo)
Songhees Nation Chief Ron Sam read the South Island First Nations’ public letter, calling for solidarity and respect and an end to vandalism in the Greater Victoria region. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)

Vancouver Island Indigenous leaders call for unity, end to violence, vandalism in Victoria area

A Malahat Nation totem was damaged in apparent retaliation of Capt. James Cook statue teardown

Songhees Nation Chief Ron Sam read the South Island First Nations’ public letter, calling for solidarity and respect and an end to vandalism in the Greater Victoria region. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)
The Site C Dam location is seen along the Peace River in Fort St. John, B.C., on April 18, 2017. The chief of a B.C. First Nation that won a landmark court case called on the provincial government to respect the decision ordering the province to stop authorizing industrial developments on the nation’s territory. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

First Nation calls on B.C. to respect, follow court ruling on industrial developments

‘We are not against industry, if this is done right there’s plenty of work for everyone’

The Site C Dam location is seen along the Peace River in Fort St. John, B.C., on April 18, 2017. The chief of a B.C. First Nation that won a landmark court case called on the provincial government to respect the decision ordering the province to stop authorizing industrial developments on the nation’s territory. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Indigenous Education Workers Theresa Johnson and Kaeli Hawrys go to Marine Peace Park in Salmon Arm with Kira Limber’s Grade 6/7 class on June 17 where Johnson helps them with their fishing skills at the wharf and Hawrys provides soapstone carving instruction. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)

Reconciliation project at Salmon Arm school catches elder’s eye

Indigenous workers say small actions can have big impacts

Indigenous Education Workers Theresa Johnson and Kaeli Hawrys go to Marine Peace Park in Salmon Arm with Kira Limber’s Grade 6/7 class on June 17 where Johnson helps them with their fishing skills at the wharf and Hawrys provides soapstone carving instruction. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)