S Y I L X OKANAGAN NATION E-NEWS April 2010 Okanagan Nation Jr. Girls Bring Home Provincial Championship Table of Contents HMCS Okanagan 2 Syilx Youth Unity Run 3 Browns Creek 4 Update Child & Family 6 NRLUT Update FN Leaders 7 Denounce Fed Funding Cuts Health Hub 8 Columbia River 9 93,000 Sockeye 10 Released Sturgeon 11 Gathering AA Roundup 12 Photo: Team Mng Lisa Reid, Ashley McGinnis, Dina Brown, Jasmine Reid, Janessa Lambert, Coach Peter Waardenburg, Erica Swan, Jade Waardenburg, Nicola Terbasket, Coach Amanda Montgomery, Kirsten Lindley, Front: Jade Sargent Family 13 Missing Courtney Louie Intervention The Syilx, Okanagan Nation, Jr Girls basketball ball it was stolen by Reid, passed to Sargent and Society Conf ONA Bursary 14 team brought home the Championship and she did a lay in to win the game. Most Sportsmanlike Team after playing 8 R Native Voice 15 “Okanagan girls were full value for the win, University Camp 16 games in Prince Rupert during Spring Break. hard working and all the class in the world.” Fish Lake 17 The final four games were all nail biters, said said Kitimat coach Keith Nyce. What’s Reid; the gym was vibrating with the fans from Happening 18 Other awards included MVP, Jade Toll Free all the villages cheering on their nations. Waardenburg, Best Defense and All Star In the final game against Kitimat there was only 1-866-662-9609 Jasmine Reid, and All Star Ashley McGinnis 9 seconds left, Okanagan down by 2, when Waardenburg drew the foal that would take The Okanagan Nation will host the 2011 Jr All her to the free throw line. She made both shots Native during Spring Break in Penticton, BC. For to tie the game and as Kitimat inbound the more information contact Tara (250) 707‐0095. CANADIAN NAVAL CENTENIAL TRIBUTE TO THE OKANAGAN NATION A HUGE SUCCESS Photo: PIB Councilor The boat became a movie star after Joseph Pierre, participating in the filming of the 1980 Commander Fergusen, Japanese disaster film “Fukkatsu no hi.” Petty Officer She was the first Canadian submarine to Chamberlain, sail the Great Lakes in the fall of 1990. Okanagan Nation Veterans, John When Swissair flight 111 crashed off of Marchand, Mike Watts Halifax, Okanagan’s paying off ceremony and Morris Jamison, was postponed while she was employed WFN Councilor Mike in searching for and finding the flight DeGuevara. recorders from the aircraft. She was paid off in Halifax on 14 September 1998. This event is part of the Naval Canadian On March 31, 2010 Elders, leaders of the Okanagan’s namesake Centennial that highlights the connection and community members gathered warship, Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship the Navy has with communities large and to pay tribute the Nation’s namesake Okanagan that will hang proudly at small across Canada. For more the “HMCS Okanagan” as part of the the Okanagan Nation Alliance. information on the Naval Centennial go Canadian Naval Centennial. Although As part of the celebration Trish to: the event started out as the Navy Manuel and Jonas Manuel sang an http://www.navy.forces.gc.ca/centennial paying tribute to the Okanagan honor song and prayer song for the /3/3‐c_eng.asp Nation people and the “HMCS veterans present as well as those Okanagan” it turned out to be a time who served and are still serving. MEDIA COVERAGE OF THIS EVENT: of honoring all the Okanagan Nation Mike Watts a naval veteran was in CHBC : veterans and those who served. The attendance and spoke of his http://www.syilx.org/events.php?locatio celebration struck the heartstrings of experience in the navy and shared a n=Community%20Events&cat_id=4&arch many of the Elders that were present few words with the guests present. ive=0 as they remembered family The Elders were thankful for this members, friends and relatives that event , Elder Margret Kruger said AM 1150: served and the stories that were “we need to recognize our veterans http://www.am1150.ca/node/1109525 told. more and have more of these To view the Okanagan Nation Alliance The Celebration opened with a song events”. Photo Gallery go to: by the Sensisyusten School Children, HMC Okanagan was one of three http://www.syilx.org/gallery.php?id_cat= a prayer from Elder Mary Anne Eli Oberon Class conventional 36 (more pictures to be added soon) and a welcome from Councilor Mike submarines built to order for the DeGuevara of the Westbank First Canadian Navy at Chatham Dockyard Nation. Chief Tim Manuel along with in the United Kingdom. Councilor DeGuevara and Councilor Commissioned into the Canadian Joseph Pierre (PIB) accepted the gift Navy on June 22, 1967 she was on behalf of the nation from assigned to Canada’s Atlantic Naval Commander Bob Ferguson, Fleet with her sister boats Commanding Officer of maintained watch in the North HMCSWinnipeg of Canadian Fleet AtlanticPhoto: Lanniethroughout Houle Courtesy the Coldof War Pacific, of a framed pictorial history era.Ruby Alexis April 2010 ONA E‐News 2 SPIRIT OF SYILX ND 2 ANNUAL YOUTH UNITY RUN RRUN ARE YOU INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING? April 22 – 25, 2010 When: Orientation/Registration/Opening Ceremonies April 22, 2010 (5:00pm) WFN Multipurpose Room. The Run will start at Westbank First Nation on Friday April 23, 2010 at 8:00 am End in Douglas Lake, Nkwala School (Merritt, BC) April 25, 2010 Where: Through a portion of the Okanagan Nation Territory: Westbank to Westwold and over to Douglas Lake (Spaxomin/Merritt) Who: Youth and Okanagan Nation Community Members Why: To create awareness on the issues of suicide and violence. The Unity run will also promote Nationhood and healthy living. It will provide our Youth with an opportunity to be leaders within their communities and among their peers and it will also allow them to demonstrate their commitment to their Nation. REGISTRATION How: Spirit of the Syilx Registrations MUST be filled out and submitted to your Youth Worker or submit directly to the Okanagan Nation Alliance at (250) 707-0166 or [email protected] . There is no registration fee required only a desire to run and support your Nation. Registration forms and more information can be found at www.syilx.org You MUST Register to Run! Or Come Out and Support the Runners For More Information: Tara Montgomery, Communications Toll Free 1.866.662.9609 Email: [email protected] or Fax 250.707.0166 April 2010 ONA E‐News 3 BROWNS CREEK – “HOLDING THE LINE” On April 13, 2010 the Okanagan Indian Band’s legal the archaeology work. The judge concluded that Tolko’s team, along with Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, Chief plan was sufficient. Tolko implemented their Jonathan Kruger (afternoon) Councillor Tim Isaac, archaeological work on February 9th 2010 under the strong Colleen Marchand, Dallas Goodwater and Chief Fabian objections of the Okanagan Nation. The Browns Creek Alexis were at the Vancouver Courthouse supporting our watershed provides much of the drinking and irrigation legal counsel Louise Mandell and Stuart Rush. The focus water for the Okanagan Indian Band and neighbouring of the Rejoinder Hearing is to argue title back into the communities. This is the same watershed that Tolko is Wilson Case; for a judge to reconsider a former decision, intent on logging and the province of BC has granted the applicant must demonstrate changed circumstances; permission for them to clear-cut. which both Stuart and Louise presented strong arguments, and Chief Fabian Alexis advised “we still have the judges Once again the Okanagan face a situation where our ear today as it’s our turn to start opening arguments”. aboriginal Title and Rights are being ignored and the health and safety of the community is being sacrificed so The hearings are scheduled for the week in Vancouver, so others can profit from the exploitation of our traditional if anyone is in the vicinity, please feel free to support and territory. The area where proposed harvesting will occur is join our leaders. in the headwaters of the Nashwito and Bouleau Creeks. Both important contributes to not only the Okanagan Band In the courtroom beside the Wilson Litigation, Aboriginal but to neighboring communities. Both creeks provide leaders are in front of the court asking the BC Supreme inflow into Okanagan Lake. Bouleau Ck is a tributary to Court to certify a class action lawsuit to stop the Whiteman Creek. Whiteman and Bouleau Creeks has devastation of wild salmon stocks by fish farming. Eight historically been an active fishery for Okanagan People (8) First Nations, representing about 6000 people, hope with the increased harvesting in the headwaters the fish the class action lawsuit will be a quicker way to save wild populations have been declining due to loss of habitat from salmon and at the same time, assert their rights to the increase spring runoff, when the trees are removed there is salmon fishery. nothing to hold the water back. Backgrounder: Tolko filed an action seeking damages To Tolko Industries this is just business they do not live against the OKIB and certain named individuals on here. This is our children's future. As was stated by October 28, 2009, and filed an injunction application to Okanagan Elder Ralph Marchand prevent interference with their logging and road building activities. The ONA and OKIB responded by filing an action in trespass against Tolko and seeking an injunction “WATER IS LIFE, WITHOUT WATER to prevent Tolko from logging the Watersheds. The THERE IS NO LIFE.” injunction applications were heard over three days on November 18-20, 2009. On January 11, 2010, the judge FUNDRAISERS ARE ON‐GOING TO ASSIST IN THE LEGAL gave her decision.