First Nations

The Splatsin community is in the midst of a COVID-19 outbreak as of Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022. (File photo)

COVID-19 cases in Splatsin triple in less than a week

Fifteen test positive, 49 in self-isolation during current COVID-19 outbreak

 

Takla First Nation shared the announcement of the loss of Carmelita Abraham late Friday, Jan. 14. (Facebook photo)

Investigation into missing Indigenous woman leads to homicide charge against B.C. man

Carmelita Abraham, 33, had been missing since late December

 

Former councillor Doug Thomas has been elected new Chief of the Splatsin band following the band’s general elections on Monday, Jan. 10. Thomas defeated seven-term incumbent Chief Wayne Christian by five votes. (Splatsin photo)

New Chief (Kukpi7) elected for Splatsin

Former councillor Doug Thomas defeats seven-term incumbent Chief Wayne Christian by five votes

 

Kukpi7 (Chief) James Tomma is the new chief of the Little Shuswap Lake Band, declared elected on Dec. 1, 2021. (Contributed)

Determined candidate sworn in as chief of Little Shuswap Lake Band

Kukpi7 James Tomma would like to make sure youth prosper on and off reserve

Kukpi7 (Chief) James Tomma is the new chief of the Little Shuswap Lake Band, declared elected on Dec. 1, 2021. (Contributed)
Traditional healers Edna and Laureen Felix from Splatsin were invited by the Shuswap Emergency Program to the reception centre at the Prestige Harbourfront Resort to provide support and healing for evacuees. They will be there this weekend, Nov. 27 and 28. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)

Traditional healing available to evacuees in Salmon Arm this weekend

Splatsin mother, daughter to offer a safe space so people can talk or take part in a Healing Circle

Traditional healers Edna and Laureen Felix from Splatsin were invited by the Shuswap Emergency Program to the reception centre at the Prestige Harbourfront Resort to provide support and healing for evacuees. They will be there this weekend, Nov. 27 and 28. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)
Scientists Chloe Immonen and Curran Crawford with the University of Victoria-based Pacifical Regional Institute for Marine Energy Discovery stand with their group’s state-of-the-art wind measurement buoy, Nov. 10 in Victoria. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

Plan to replace diesel with wind energy buoy launched by University of Victoria

Data collected from buoy could help shift rural, Indigenous communities away from diesel

Scientists Chloe Immonen and Curran Crawford with the University of Victoria-based Pacifical Regional Institute for Marine Energy Discovery stand with their group’s state-of-the-art wind measurement buoy, Nov. 10 in Victoria. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)
The Splatsin Workplace Vaccination Policy has been approved by band council, meaning all employees, contractors, and elected officials will have to provide proof of vaccination by Nov. 30.(Canadian Press - file photo)

Splatsin council approves vaccination policy

All employees, elected officials, contractors must have proof of vaccination by Nov. 30

The Splatsin Workplace Vaccination Policy has been approved by band council, meaning all employees, contractors, and elected officials will have to provide proof of vaccination by Nov. 30.(Canadian Press - file photo)
Williams Lake Mayor Walt Cobb reads a written statement at council Nov. 2. (Angie Mindus photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Williams Lake mayor ‘seriously sorry’ for sharing offensive post about residential schools

Mayor Walt Cobb apologizes for offending, but says WLFN open letter was a ‘personal attack”

Williams Lake Mayor Walt Cobb reads a written statement at council Nov. 2. (Angie Mindus photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
The water off Port Renfrew could be threatened without a federally-funded search and rescue and environmental response service in Port Renfrew, says the Pacheedaht First Nation. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

B.C. First Nation wants feds to expedite plans for marine rescue centre

Vancouver Island’s Pacheedaht chief says talks stalled on $22-million project for Port Renfrew

The water off Port Renfrew could be threatened without a federally-funded search and rescue and environmental response service in Port Renfrew, says the Pacheedaht First Nation. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
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

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)
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

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)
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

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)
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)
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)