Okanagan Indian Band

About Okanagan Indian Band

The Okanagan Indian Band is working toward ensuring the future through Cultural, Social and Economic Development, guided by the leadership of an elected Chief and Council. The band administration is organized departmentally to deliver services and manage the strategic goals of the Chief and Council and Okanagan Indian Band membership. The Okanagan Indian Band is one of the eight member Band communities of the Okanagan Nation; the other member Band communities are Lower Similkameen Indian Band, Upper Similkameen Indian Band, Osoyoos Indian Band, Upper Nicola Band, Penticton Indian Band, Westbank First Nation and the Colville Confederated Tribes. The presently known Okanagan valley is also known as the Okanagan Indian Nations traditional territory, or as the “Syeelhwh Nation”, which means the people who live here”. “S-Ookanhkchinx” or Okanagan translates to mean “transport toward the head or top end”. This refers to the people traveling from the head of the Okanagan Lake to where the Okanagan river meet the Columbia river. In other words Okanagan Lake and Okanagan river were the traditional transportation routes of the people and their traditional boundaries encompassed this area.