OKIB Family Ice Time
2024-10-05 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Vancouver) | okanagan training rink, 5204 27th street
OKIB Family Ice Time – Saturdays 6:30pm-8:30pm @Okanagan Training Rink, 5204 27th ave, Vernon

October 5th to March 22nd, 2025

No registration needed!

OKIB Family Ice time will run from October 5th to March 22nd, 2025

Need skates or gear? contact Brendon Caron at: 250-241-6945

Band Council Meeting
2025-03-10 09:00 - 22:30 | Head of the Lake Hall, 118 Head of the Lake Road
Band Council Meeting
Way’ Members, Please be advised the the Band Council Meeting will be hosted at the Head of the Lake Hall.
OKIB posts Band Council information to the Band Council Portal.
To access the Band Council information you must log onto the portal:
https://okib.civicweb.net/user/signin
To register for free access to the Band
Council Portal, follow this link:
Chief & Council

FitNation - OKIB Elders Program
2025-02-10 11:00 - 12:00 | Bluebird building
FitNation – OKIB Elders Program
Mondays 11:00am to 12:00pm @Bluebird building
February to April 2025
Physical activity program with modifications for all endurance levels.
Regular light exercise can reduce pain, relieve stress, improve sleep, improve flexibility and balance.

*Cancelled* Okanagan Indian Band Toxic Drug Forum series - Lake Country
2025-03-10 17:00 - 20:00 | Winfield Memorial Hall
Okanagan Indian Band Toxic Drug Forum series
UPDATE:

Toxic Drug forum in Lake Country cancelled for tonight, tentatively moving to Friday, March 14th

Way’ Members,

Due to last-minute venue issues, the Toxic Drug Forum in Duck Lake originally scheduled for tonight has been tentatively moved to Friday.

We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.

For more information contact Nicole Sullivan 250-309-7364 or Lane Brewer 250-241-7595.
The Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB) Health Department would like to announce a series of Toxic Drug Forums taking place throughout March, with the collaboration of the Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA), First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) and Interior Health (IH). These events will focus on Prevention, Harm Reduction, Substance Abuse Treatment, and Recovery/Aftercare; we will discuss the services available from each of these organizations in these areas of service delivery. We invite you to come learn what is available and provide community-based discussions to address the toxic drug crisis.
Each forum will include a meal and a roundtable discussion. Community members will have the opportunity to share their ideas, and we can discuss the direction that the Okanagan Indian Band wants to go with harm reduction, treatment, and other services needed to address the toxic drug crisis. This is an opportunity to have your voice heard and help shape the future of community health initiatives.
In the first three events at Duck Lake, Six Mile and Round Lake we will lay groundwork for the final event at Head of the Lake Hall. At the final event representatives from OKIB, FNHA and IH will provide an information session and share available resources to support band members. We will also discuss the prospectives of the community and how we can work together to minimize the impacts of the Toxic Drug Crisis.
For those interested in Naloxone training, you will be able to schedule a session with our peer support worker for personalized instruction.
As a special incentive, there will be draw prizes for meat packs, giving participants the chance to win high-quality meat packs.
Mark your calendars and join us for an evening of learning, support, and healing. Together, we can make a difference in addressing this crisis.

OKIB Elders Program - Swim for Health
2024-11-19 11:00 - 12:30 | Vernon Rec Center
OKIB Elders Program – Swim for Health
11:00am – 12:30pm Tuesdays, October to December 17th, 2024 (Excluding Holidays) at the Vernon Recreation Centre

*You Must show your OKIB Status card*

Come out and enjoy a swim / sauna / steam room or hot tub
For more information please contact:
Sharmaine Gregoire: 250-241-4934

Okanagan Indian Band Toxic Drug Forum series - Round Lake
2025-03-12 17:00 - 20:00 | Round Lake Hall, Chilhitza Road
Okanagan Indian Band Toxic Drug Forum series – Round Lake
at Round Lake Hall March 12th 5pm-8pm
For more information contact Nicole Sullivan 250-309-7364 or Lane Brewer 250-241-7595.
The Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB) Health Department would like to announce a series of Toxic Drug Forums taking place throughout March, with the collaboration of the Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA), First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) and Interior Health (IH). These events will focus on Prevention, Harm Reduction, Substance Abuse Treatment, and Recovery/Aftercare; we will discuss the services available from each of these organizations in these areas of service delivery. We invite you to come learn what is available and provide community-based discussions to address the toxic drug crisis.
Each forum will include a meal and a roundtable discussion. Community members will have the opportunity to share their ideas, and we can discuss the direction that the Okanagan Indian Band wants to go with harm reduction, treatment, and other services needed to address the toxic drug crisis. This is an opportunity to have your voice heard and help shape the future of community health initiatives.
In the first three events at Duck Lake, Six Mile and Round Lake we will lay groundwork for the final event at Head of the Lake Hall. At the final event representatives from OKIB, FNHA and IH will provide an information session and share available resources to support band members. We will also discuss the prospectives of the community and how we can work together to minimize the impacts of the Toxic Drug Crisis.
For those interested in Naloxone training, you will be able to schedule a session with our peer support worker for personalized instruction.
As a special incentive, there will be draw prizes for meat packs, giving participants the chance to win high-quality meat packs.
Mark your calendars and join us for an evening of learning, support, and healing. Together, we can make a difference in addressing this crisis.

Tax Clinic with Gord Adam
2025-03-13 13:00 - 14:00 | social development department, 76 Head of the Lake Road
Tax Clinic with Gord Adam

Thursdays March 13 to April 24 from 1pm – 2pm at the Social Development Boardroom
Way’ Members, Gord Adam will be hosting a tax clinic at the Social Development building to help Members file their taxes for 2024. These events will be open to all OKIB Members.
For Social Development clients: Please fill out this form and bring it with you to the clinic: Tax form
For Social Development clients who may want more information before the clinic or help filling out the form please contact: sdassist1@okanagan.org or contact Dierdre by phone: (250) 241-4730

Snc’c’amala?tn Daycare Parent's Night Open House
2025-03-13 17:00 - 19:00 | Snc’c’amala?tn Daycare, 11561 Westside Rd, Vernon
Snc’c’amala?tn Daycare Parent’s Night Open House

March 13th 5pm-7pm at Snc’c’amala?tn Daycare (11561 Westside Rd, Vernon)

Join us for dinner and meet the staff

Questions? Contact us at (250) 545-3800

RSVP here: https://forms.gle/ACp9CuZehL7NzkRr5

Noxious Weeds Information Session
2025-03-14 09:00 - 12:00 | Head of the Lake Hall, 118 Head of the Lake Road
Noxious Weeds Information Session
Managing Scotch Thistle on OKIB Lands
Date: Friday, March 14th 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Location: Head of the Lake Hall
Light lunch and snack provided
Presenter: Grahame Gielens, MSc, Pag, Environmental Roadside Manager, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
Jay Louis tips on howwhen to cut thistle
How to mange invasive weeds such as scotch Thistle on OKIB lands
For more information contact Don Louis 250-542-3444

Youth Spring Break Day Camps
2025-03-17 09:00 - 16:00 | Bluebird building
Youth Spring Break Day Camps

March 17th-28th 9:00 am to 4:00pm

Pick up and drop off at the Bluebird building

Dear OKIB Families,

We apologize for the short notice, but we have been working diligently on our Spring Break Day Camp Programming and are excited to announce that we WILL have activities every day during Spring Break!

To register, please follow this link: https://forms.office.com/r/xj2ci0VhSz

Due to our current staffing situation, we are limited in the number of participants we can accommodate, so please register as soon as possible. More details will follow, but we are thrilled to announce that Monday, March 17th will feature guest facilitator Russ Wagg and his Youth Magic Camp!

Thank you for your understanding and continued support. We look forward to a fun and engaging Spring Break!

Best regards,OKIB Youth Activities Team

Arrow Lakes Tribunal Hearing
2025-03-17 13:00 - 16:30 | Prestige Hotel, Vernon 4411 32nd street
Arrow Lakes Tribunal Hearing
The Arrow Lakes Tribunal is a private event for OKIB Members only.
March 17-21 at Prestige Vernon Hotel (4411 32 St, Vernon, BC)
March 17, 2025: 1:00pm-4:30pm
March 18, 2025: 1:30pm-4:30pm
Start time for March 18th has been moved to 1:30pm
March 19, 2025: 9:30am-4:30pm
March 20, 2025: 1:00pm-7:00pm
March 21, 2025: 9:30am-4:30pm
OKIB Members are invited to attend and listen to the witness
hearing.
Only community members invited to be witnesses and legal
counsel will be speaking
Background:
Specific Claims Tribunal to seek compensation for the Arrow Lake reserve. We have argued that Canada failed to honour its duties to OKIB by refusing to transfer the Arrow Lakes reserve to OKIB when Arrow Lakes and OKIB asked to be combined into one band in the 1950s.
THE ARROW LAKES RESERVE
In 1952, Annie Joseph was the last remaining member of the Arrow Lakes Indian Band. She had descendants and other relatives in the Okanagan Indian Band, so Annie and OKIB asked Canada to combine the two bands. This would have meant that the Arrow Lakes reserve would have become an OKIB reserve. But Canada refused. When Annie died, Canada declared the Arrow Lakes Indian Band extinct and gave the Arrow Lakes reserve to British Columbia.
The purpose of the community witness hearing is for community members to share their knowledge about the Arrow Lakes reserve and Annie Joseph’s request to combine the Arrow Lakes Band and OKIB.

Okanagan Indian Band Toxic Drug Forum series - New Horizons
2025-03-17 17:00 - 20:00 | New Horizons
Okanagan Indian Band Toxic Drug Forum series – New Horizons

at New Horizons March 17th 5pm-8pm
For more information contact Nicole Sullivan 250-309-7364 or Lane Brewer 250-241-7595.
The Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB) Health Department would like to announce a series of Toxic Drug Forums taking place throughout March, with the collaboration of the Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA), First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) and Interior Health (IH). These events will focus on Prevention, Harm Reduction, Substance Abuse Treatment, and Recovery/Aftercare; we will discuss the services available from each of these organizations in these areas of service delivery. We invite you to come learn what is available and provide community-based discussions to address the toxic drug crisis.
Each forum will include a meal and a roundtable discussion. Community members will have the opportunity to share their ideas, and we can discuss the direction that the Okanagan Indian Band wants to go with harm reduction, treatment, and other services needed to address the toxic drug crisis. This is an opportunity to have your voice heard and help shape the future of community health initiatives.
In the first three events at Duck Lake, Six Mile and Round Lake we will lay groundwork for the final event at Head of the Lake Hall. At the final event representatives from OKIB, FNHA and IH will provide an information session and share available resources to support band members. We will also discuss the prospectives of the community and how we can work together to minimize the impacts of the Toxic Drug Crisis.
For those interested in Naloxone training, you will be able to schedule a session with our peer support worker for personalized instruction.
As a special incentive, there will be draw prizes for meat packs, giving participants the chance to win high-quality meat packs.
Mark your calendars and join us for an evening of learning, support, and healing. Together, we can make a difference in addressing this crisis.

Elders Sewing workshop
2025-03-18 10:00 - 14:00 | Bluebird building
Elders Sewing workshop at Bluebird building
March 18th 10am-2pm at the Bluebird building with Ramona Wilson
Way’ Members, the OKIB Elders program will be hosting a soup cozy sewing workshop tomorrow at the Bluebird building from 10am to 2pm. Materials are included and no sign up necessary.

Resume writing and interview skills workshop
2025-03-18 10:00 - 15:00 | social development department, 76 Head of the Lake Road
Resume writing and interview skills workshop

March 18th, 10:00am to 3:00pm at the Social Development Boardroom (76 Head of the Lake Road downstairs)

Open to all Members! Please bring your own laptop if you have access to one.

Learn how to:

-Write resumes and cover letters

– Practice interview skills

-Make a positive first impression

For more information contact:

250-558-3706 ext. 3008 or pespnorth@okanagan.org

Okanagan Indian Band Toxic Drug Forum series - Head of the Lake Hall
2025-03-18 17:00 - 20:00 | Head of the Lake Hall, 118 Head of the Lake Road
Okanagan Indian Band Toxic Drug Forum series – Head of the Lake Hall
at Head of the Lake Hall March 18th 5pm-8pm
For more information contact Nicole Sullivan 250-309-7364 or Lane Brewer 250-241-7595.
The Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB) Health Department would like to announce a series of Toxic Drug Forums taking place throughout March, with the collaboration of the Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA), First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) and Interior Health (IH). These events will focus on Prevention, Harm Reduction, Substance Abuse Treatment, and Recovery/Aftercare; we will discuss the services available from each of these organizations in these areas of service delivery. We invite you to come learn what is available and provide community-based discussions to address the toxic drug crisis.
Each forum will include a meal and a roundtable discussion. Community members will have the opportunity to share their ideas, and we can discuss the direction that the Okanagan Indian Band wants to go with harm reduction, treatment, and other services needed to address the toxic drug crisis. This is an opportunity to have your voice heard and help shape the future of community health initiatives.
In the first three events at Duck Lake, Six Mile and Round Lake we will lay groundwork for the final event at Head of the Lake Hall. At the final event representatives from OKIB, FNHA and IH will provide an information session and share available resources to support band members. We will also discuss the prospectives of the community and how we can work together to minimize the impacts of the Toxic Drug Crisis.
For those interested in Naloxone training, you will be able to schedule a session with our peer support worker for personalized instruction.
As a special incentive, there will be draw prizes for meat packs, giving participants the chance to win high-quality meat packs.
Mark your calendars and join us for an evening of learning, support, and healing. Together, we can make a difference in addressing this crisis.

captikʷɬ: k̓ʷəck̓ʷəcstim iʔ stəɬtaɬtet
2025-03-20 10:00 - 15:30
captikʷɬ: k̓ʷəck̓ʷəcstim iʔ stəɬtaɬtet
DATE: March 20, 2025 (postponed from Feb 21 due to Nation funeral)
TIME: 10:00 am – 3:30 pm
LOCATION: Virtual via Zoom
CONTACT: Raven Mikuletic, Senior Communications Coordinator rmikuletic@syilx.org or 250-707-0095 ext. 121
Okanagan Nation Alliance will be hosting several captikʷl Forums this year, in partnership with the En’owkin Centre. The captikʷl forums are held for feedback and community engagement in examining Syilx captikʷl on the Syilx Nation Building, how lessons from the captikʷl connect with our modern way of living, and how to integrate Syilx values and principles within captikʷl in Policy & Planning.
Open to Syilx Nation Members only, including those with Syilx lineage or Syilx spouses and children.

REGISTER HERE: https://forms.gle/5Zwj4jgtVK1zd4of8

Elders program - Music Trivia
2025-03-20 11:00 - 14:30 | Bluebird building
Elders program – Music Trivia

March 20th at the Bluebird building from 11:00am to 2:30pm

Syilx Water Forum
2025-03-21 10:00 - 13:30
Syilx Water Forum

DATE: Friday March 21, 2025

TIME: 10:00 am

LOCATION: nx̌ʷaqʷaʔstn, Mission Creek (details will be emailed once registered, seats are limited).

CONTACT: Hailey Wright, Communications Coordinator, haileyw@syilx.org

www.okanagannation.com

Syilx Okanagan Nation Water Ceremony

Every year in recognition of World Water Day the ONA hosts a forum that focuses on various water tributaries, watersheds or bodies of water to raise awareness around the state of Water within the territory. This year the forum is focused on nx̌ʷaqʷaʔstn, Mission Creek. The forum will include a blend of syilx teachings, habitat restoration, and water informed collaborative conversations.

REGISTER HERE: https://forms.gle/8txrtXni9Y5xAEUS9
