The Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB) is preparing to purchase the Historic O'Keefe Ranch from the City of Vernon, according to a briefing note obtained by The Morning Star from the OKIB's council meeting on Monday, Feb. 10.
Band administration was seeking chief and council's approval to finalize a purchase agreement with the City of Vernon for the acquisition of the O'Keefe Ranch Historical Site. A motion was put forward that would enable the OKIB to formally secure the O'Keefe land.
An audio recording of Monday's OKIB chief and council meeting shared with the Morning Star shows the following amended motion was tabled to finalize the purchase with the city:
"Subject to administration conducting a comprehensive assessment of the site's existing infrastructure and potential uses to ensure alignment with the OKIB cultural community and economic development priorities, subject to the CEO sustaining a risk assessment, mitigation strategy and implementation plan, and being provided back to chief and council."
The motion was passed.
Nick Nilson, OKIB manager of communications, said the band had no comment when asked about the potential sale on Tuesday.
The briefing note submitted by OKIB CEO Jauvonne Kitto states that the O'Keefe land holds significant historical and cultural ties to OKIB citizens, while the ranch's existing infrastructure provides immediate opportunities for community and economic development.
The OKIB's historical relationship with the ranch is a complicated one. Kitto's briefing note says expansion of ranching coupled with colonial land policies led to the displacement of OKIB members from their traditional lands, restricting access to hunting, fishing and gathering areas.
As well, the St. Anne's Church that was built on the ranch was part of the broader Catholic missionary efforts "that aimed to assimilate Indigenous peoples and suppress traditional cultural practices."
"Despite this history, the ranch remains a significant site for OKIB, with existing infrastructure that could be leveraged for cultural, community, and economic development," Kitto said. "OKIB has now reached an agreement with the City of Vernon to purchase the ranch site, presenting a rare opportunity for the Band to reclaim and manage this historically significant land in alignment with OKIB’s values, priorities, rights and title."
It's unclear how much the OKIB would be paying to acquire O'Keefe Ranch and its lands if the deal goes through.
What's more clear is that the City of Vernon has at various points appeared to not know what to do with the ranch, which has struggled financially in recent years.
The City of Vernon has been contractually bound to the ranch since a 1977 transfer agreement contract. The city's current 30-year lease agreement with the ranch was set to expire in 2027.
In September Vernon council rejected an $85,000 funding request from the ranch which was needed to keep it running until November, but did accept the terms of the lease going forward into 2025, which is $10,000 in annual funding. Council's refusal to provide the additional funding had some fearing the ranch could soon be no more.
In November ranch leadership outlined plans for the ranch's future after a year of "financial challenges." Those plans included adjusting its operating schedule and focusing more on events, school tours, bus tours an group bookings.
The OKIB appears poised to reclaim a part of its history with the purchase of the historical landmark.
"O’Keefe Ranch, established in 1867 by Cornelius O’Keefe, was built on unceded Syilx territory and became one of the most prominent cattle ranches in the Okanagan. While the ranch played a key role in early settler expansion, its history is deeply intertwined with the people of the Okanagan Indian Band," the briefing note states.
"Cornelius O’Keefe had a common-law marriage with a Syilx woman, Alapetsa (Rosie), with whom he had children before abandoning the relationship to marry a European woman. Many OKIB ancestors worked on the ranch as labourers, cowboys, and guides, contributing significantly to its operations."
City of Vernon spokesperson Jessica Hewitt said the city is "continuously engaged in discussions with the Okanagan Indian Band regarding various properties in the region," but was unable to comment on the potential sale as discussions are currently ongoing and confidential.
Greg Hurst, a former O'Keefe Ranch board member, said Tuesday he is "delighted" that the OKIB appears to be purchasing the ranch, though he has one concern.
Hurst said the titles to certain parcels of land on which most of the ranch buildings are situated are encumbered under the terms of the original transfer of the ranch from the Devonian Foundation to the City of Vernon. Those terms dictate that the city must maintain, operate and supervise the ranch lands "in perpetuity" as an educational, historic, public park.
"If the OKIB also accepts the obligation to 'in perpetuity' continue with operating the ranch as an 'educational, historic, public park depicting the historic way of life in the district' with the added element of highlighting the Indigenous history of the region which is egregiously absent from the ranch currently, this will be a very exciting development and a wonderful opportunity towards objectives of Truth and Reconciliation with our Indigenous residents," Hurst said in an email, adding he expects the city would have respected their "in perpetuity" obligations in striking a deal with the OKIB.
If not, Hurst believes other levels of government would be required to step in to complete a transfer of title of the land to the OKIB.
